An ordinance that would require Lakewood builders and developers to pay an impact fee for new homes, has the developers up in arms, TLS has learned.
The proposed ordinance, part of the Smart-growth plan proposed several years ago, would require the builders to pay an extra fee for each home built to cover the costs of road repairs, traffic lights and other services that would impact the area of the homes.
But with the ordinance being reviewed for finalization, developers are hoping the fees could either be reduced, or completely abolished.
A meeting between developers was held this week to discuss the issue, and there are plans to meet with Township officials to negotiate a deal, and/or to hire an attorney to fight the new fees, sources tell TLS.
[TLS]
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Did they not just raise prices on new housing to well beyond the impact fee?
these fees do not make sense to be on the developers they should be included in the regular home tax
With the prices of houses going skyrocket high and the developers making a mint let them pay these fees and give the little guys a break
Why are the developers upset about this? They will surly pass on the cost to the home buyer.
Should I cry for them?! Why should the local taxpayers have to pick up the tab for expenses caused by the developers? Besides, we all know the developers will just pass this fee right on to the end buyer, so what are they hitting the roof about?
whats so bad about that? they ruin the roads when they build let them pay for the repairs… makes sense to me! so we’re worried builders wont be making enough profit? good joke!
This has been long overdue. i hope its not “to little to late”…
Of course, developers are primarily concerned with profit, as they should be. Assuming they can pass these fees along to buyers in the price of the homes, how does this affect their profits? I will venture a guess that the increase in prices may make it harder to sell homes and another guess that they still have to finance the impact fees during the development phase which means money out of their pocket until the home is sold and the impact fee is recovered.
I’m not so convinced by either reason. It seems that the demand for homes here in Lakewood is so strong, there are almost always buyers available at any price point. A few thousand dollars one way or the other is not going to seriously impact demand. Likewise, given the sums developers already have to finance in development costs, that additional increment is not a big issue.
Perhaps they are simply taking the long view, as they should: every time the government extends its reach into private sector industries, they are imposing a little more cost and a little more control over how business operates and taking just one more little slice of profit at some point. Although the impacts on price and finance may be small relative to the overall costs and profits, the point is that it all adds up.
OTOH, it only seems fair and right that new developments should share in the increased burden on the community.
Of course the developers are opposed. They build their houses and move on to the next project, while the residents are left dealing with jammed roads, inadequate drainage, lack of traffic signals, and generally failing infrastructure. At that point its the township which needs to step in and make the improvements at taxpayer expense. This one of the main reasons Lakewood taxes are out of control. Every responsible municipality in the country has some sort of impact fee structure.
This is amazing news! I have been saying this for the longest time!
Builders in Lakewood have caused massive traffic all over the city, especially on Route 9 South which at times is like a parking lot with all of these massive developments pouring into a one lane highway.
And the crazy traffic is coming to County Line, Chestnut, New Hampshire, East End and plenty of other roads. Every builder has full right to build whatever he wants, but it makes NO sense that they are not required to cover the cost of the negative impact. Whether its adding lanes to the road (rt 9?) lights, repairs etc..Why should they get a free pass to make millions at the expense of tens of thousands of drivers?
Which city would not require vigorous research to study the impact of building, say 100 homes on a one way street? Is traffic and safety not important? And by the way, even when a light is put up, it causes a backup, especially on a clogged artery like rt 9.
It goes without saying that the builders are up in arms. But, please, do not base your decision on what they say because all they are doing is trying to avoid the fee! Listen to the townspeople!! Listen to the tax payers! We have a right to demand that builders pay to offset the damage!
People need to show up to these meetings and make the home owners and commuters voice heard!!!
If we do not act, this place will become an impossible city to navigate in a couple years. Accidents will only happen more. And it will be our own fault if we did not do anything to stop the madness.
Because the last thing Lakewood really needs is to fit as many more people as possible, while collecting as little money from them as possible. If you let the roads get bad enough the state will probably step in anyway, it worked with the schools.
Why for once can’t our elected officials be for the common man? The traffic and taxes are terrible. We need the impact fee because these developers are impacting the traffic and we can’t pay taxes to solve the resulting trafffic issues.
How much is the fee?
The impact fee is a good thing. Even if it raises the price of the house slightly, the impact fee will reduce congestion (a critical issue), and lower taxes. It’s simply practical.
When as builder builds a large development , he should have to build a school. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about bussing!
all i can say is about time. They make a mint of money and every one else has to deal with all the affects .Let there at least be a fee that pays to offset some of the costs currently being borne by everyone else. There are a few people making money on the backs of everyone else. I certainly hope the committee stands strong
The developers are concerned? Gimme a break! The developers always get their way even when it appears to the rest of us that they didn’t. Let them stop with the crocodile tears. They know they’ll get whatever they want, as they always do.
Does the “impact fee” go into the pockets of the government, or into the pockets of the “impacted” taxpayers?
i agree the builders should pay as opposed to the tax payer and the reason is simple, we have approval for construction of apartments for mosdos that are building units and are not for profit = no tax income for township with negative impact on all tax payers
i would love to see an Ordinance implemented where zoning should be no less than 1/3 of an acre per house, this town is getting to look more and more like a ghetto
It’s about time! Builders should have to pay for the impact they cause in the township. In the 35 plus years I have lived in my house, all I’ve seen is the roads getting worse, more congestion, higher taxes etc. I don’t think town expansion is an improvement. I left the city to live in the “country” which has now become a city!
@AE and the fees are gonna help, how?!
These fees are going to help the same way a $75 fee makes a suitcase lighter to be allowed onto a plane…..
There used to be an ordnance the lot sizes were 1/3 acre. Look at some back ordances,maybe they should be immplimented again. Houses are being built to close.
why negotiate. we should hold the township officials responsible if the don’t implement the full impact fee. stand up for us the residents for once!