Our View - May 17, 2008

Santa Rosa County is facing yet another issue as the commissioners start their workshop on local impact fees.

Do we want business or do we want to keep the status quo?

The status quo might keep people from investing in Santa Rosa and, therefore, send the growth to those neighboring communities which are more receptive.

Here’s a recent case in point:

The Old Post Office on Highway 90 in Milton is being restored and turned into an antique type mall. This should be good news as a historic building is put to use and an investment is made into downtown Milton, but it almost came to a grinding halt.
Why?

The impact fee was $33,000.

Here is the rub as we see it:

• This building will generate much less traffic than when it was a post office.

• It is in the city limits of Milton.

• The County is not going to be forced to pave Highway 90 or the road running along side the old post office because of this business.

So where will this money go?

And what about the other buildings that are in existence?

Wouldn’t it be nice if someone wanted to take over the old Piggly Wiggly facility?

But could they afford to do it knowing they would have to pay a hefty impact fee as if they were a new building?

We are not suggesting impact fees are bad—they have a real function of making those who cause infrastructure expense  pay for it. Neither are we suggesting doing away with them, but the idea behind the impact fee was to allow the County to generate funds to help build roads and assist with the impacts these new businesses and developments would have on roads in their area.

Since road repair with a municipality is usually paid by the municipality, should a Milton business have to pay an impact fee to the County?

What will the County do with the money it gets from businesses in Milton? Will that money go to the City to help offset infrastructure costs?

These are interesting questions when you think of the use of an existing building and the fact such use is saving dwindling green spaces.

Subdivisions, shopping centers, and other such large projects require new development and, by their very nature, have quite an impact on the County.

And that is just what an impact fee is designed to address.

Just think how many of us have wanted that old motorcycle shop on Highway 90 torn down because it is an eyesore.

If you look on the sign, the United Way of Santa Rosa County is looking to make this building their new home.

How much is it going to cost this charitable organization when it goes to pull a building permit?

They are on a state road.

Where will their impact fee dollars go?

If we don’t look at what we are doing, those who are willing to invest in Santa Rosa County may start opting to go elsewhere.

Most leaders are aware of all these testy issues, we merely throw all this out as the issue approaches debate.