Resolution 26-R18 considering an Application for an Impact Fee Offset Agreement in respect of Transportation Impact Fees for property dedication by Wheaton Holdings in the sum of $8,857.73. 

On April 22, 2023, Wheaton Holdings LLC received Site Plan approval from the City of Fort Pierce for a project known as Treasure Coast General Contractors, on Hartman Road. The approval contained a condition to include a request from St. Lucie County for a conveyance of 15 feet of property to be used as right-of-way along Hartman Road, to the County, for future expansion of the right of way.

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.

Wheaton Holdings, LLC has paid the city a total of $8,857.73 in Transportation Impact Fees in respect of this site plan development. Therefore, Wheaton Holdings LLC, share amount eligible for refund from City Transportation Impact Fee payments is calculated as $8,857.73. 

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 property donation.

It has been determined through review that the roadway right of way dedication is not eligible for consideration for City of Fort Pierce Transportation Road Impact Fee Credit of $8,857.73, by reason that it does not meet the definition of an 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.

or

Approve the impact fee offset agreement with Conditions.

Kev Freeman, Planning Director.

City Attorney's Office
Finance Department