INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS:  Mon., May 4, 2009

City sets extension fees

   The Tucson City Council April 28 approved a fee structure for 83 projects that have been granted development extensions due to the slow economy.   The new fees are:

• $500 application fee plus 30% of the previously paid original development review fee for unphased projects given three-year extensions.
• $500 application fee plus 50% of the original development review fee for phased projects extended for five years.

   While the fees may seem high, David Godlewski of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, says they are 50% to 70% less than what developers would otherwise have paid to restart the approval process.  Pima County has started a similar program extending the life of more than 200 projects. Developers in the county pay  25% of the initial approval fee for the extension.