Bonney Lake council discusses development rate
Published 4:39 pm Monday, September 21, 2009
Bonney Lake City Council members had to meet in the Public Works Building, but spent just 35 minute in their workshop session Sept. 17.
The council discussed a proposed ordinance on multi-family sewer system development charges.
In July, FCS Group presented an updated SDC rate that indicated a 2009 rate of up to $10,366 for a single family house. The rate projection was supported by growth projects in the city’s Comprehensive Sewer System Plan update.
Using the FSC Group rate analysis, multi-family housing units would be charged 70 percent of the single family rate. They also reported a 73 percent rate could be supported on their analysis.
Currently the SDC rate for all family housing is $9,099 per unit with distinctions between single and multi-family dwellings.
City Administrator Don Morrison said the council has spent considerable time discussing what the SDC rate should be for multi-family units and how to base it.
The council is looking at three options. The first option would base the SDC rate on a percentage of a single family home. The second bases the rate on unit size and the third on a rate of $6 per square foot.
Councilman James Rackley said all the options can work in one way or another. He suggested the council look closely at the first option.
Councilman Mark Hamilton agreed with Rackley and said he feels the percentage would be easier to administer.
Public Works Director Dan Grigsby said the only question with using percentages is where to start the different percentage bases on the number of bedrooms.
Councilwoman Laurie Carter said she also likes the first option because it doesn’t limit the square footage.
Under the first option, the fee for a multi-family home with more than two units would be:
• 58 percent of $9,099 for a studio unit.
• 63 percent of $9,099 for a one-bedroom/bonus room unit.
• 68 percent of $9,099 for a two-bedroom/bonus room unit.
• 73 percent of $9,099 for a three or more bedroom/bonus room unit.
Rackley suggested changing the percentages to 50, 60, 70 and 80.
The drafted ordinance does not increase the current SDC rate for single family homes. It also makes the rate retroactive to June 1, 2009 to coincide with other incentive ordinances and does contain a “sunset provision” consistent with related incentive ordinances.
The Growth Management Act requires cities to provide a variety of more affordable housing types.
