Resolution 26-R19 considering an Application for an Impact Fee Offset Agreement in respect of Transportation Impact Fees for roadway capacity improvements by LDL of Fort Pierce, LLC in the amount of $56,719.67.

On September 20, 2021, LDL of Fort Pierce received Site Plan approval from the City for a project known as Project Hurricane, on Peters Road.
The approval contained a condition to include a request from St. Lucie County to construct a portion of Peters Road for future traffic capacity expansion.

Section 113-10 of the Code allows for impact fee offsets by the City Commission pursuant to an offset agreement, for offset-eligible improvements; and  based upon the provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Pierce at Section 113-10 - Offsets against impact fees due, which states that offsets may be provided by the city commission, pursuant to an offset agreement, for offset-eligible improvements, and that offsets shall be given only for the same category of public facility as the offset-eligible improvement.

LDL of Fort Pierce has paid the city a total of $56,719,67 in Transportation Impact Fees in respect of this site plan development. Therefore, Wheaton Holdings LLC, share amount which is possibly eligible for refund from city transportation impact fee payments, is calculated as $56,719.67.

The request has been reviewed under Sec. 113-10. - Offsets against impact fees due, which sets out:
(a)Applicability; eligibility.
(1) Applicability. This section shall apply to any request for an offset against impact fees due and payable after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived.
(2) Eligibility.
a. Offsets may be provided by the city commission, pursuant to an offset agreement, for offset-eligible improvements.
b. Offsets shall be given only for the same category of public facility as the offset-eligible improvement.

The request involves transportation improvements located within the County’s right of way and would therefore not appear in the City’s CIP and meet the requirement at Sec.113-10 (a)(2) of an Offset-eligible improvement as defined by City Code. Therefore, any request for the offset of such impact fee payments that are within non-City right-of-way, would not meet the requirement of City Code 113-10, notwithstanding that the County has agreed to an impact fee credit for the same roadway improvements not to exceed $375,853.89.

It has been determined through review that the roadway right of way improvement is not eligible for consideration for City of Fort Pierce Transportation Road Impact Fee Credit of $56,719.67, by reason that it does not meet the definition of Offset-eligible improvement as required within Sec. 113-10.  
 
Therefore, Staff recommend that the City Commission REJECT the attached Impact Fee Credit Agreement, by reason the improvements are not within the definition of an “Offset eligible improvement” under the Code.

Approve the impact fee offset agreement and accompanying Resolution.
Or
Approve the impact fee offset agreement and accompanying Resolution with conditions.
 

Kev Freeman, Planning Director.

City Attorney's Office
Finance Department