ARIZONA DAILY STAR:  Sun., Feb. 8, 2009

County considers boosting impact fees on SW Side

By Andrea Kelly

 

Pima County is considering raising road impact fees for a portion of unincorporated land on the city's Southwest Side to pay for planned growth there.  The road impact fees would more than double if the Board approves the Southwest Infrastructure Plan, but the higher fees would bring necessary improvements to handle anticipated growth, said Ben Goff, deputy county director of transportation.

Road impact fees in unincorporated Pima County are $4,695 for a house built in a medium-density development. Under this proposal, they would climb to $10,200 for a similar house in the Southwest Side area.  The area is bounded by Tucson Mountain Park on the north, Mission Road on the east, the Tohono O'odham-San Xavier District and Pascua Yaqui Pueblo on the south, and Sandario Road on the west.

Goff said the county eventually wants to look at all impact-fee areas. The fees now do not bring in enough money to build or widen roads, he said.