Study of the Fair Share Development Impact Fee Report The Town’s Fair Share Development Impact Fee Report from 2004 took a conservative approach. The fees were concentrated on the high school and parkland. An “Educational Facilities Study and LongRange Facilities Plan” was completed in 2002, projecting the highest increase in number of students, over the years, expected at the high school level. Focus on a parkland impact fee came from the Town’s desire to maintain the community standard of 67 acres of parkland per 1,000 persons. Given that the Impact Fee Report is significantly outdated, the Town is seeking a comprehensive study of the report to address the following: • Identify the current state of public services and infrastructure in the Town. • Assess the total amount of impact fees currently being collected by the Town. • Determine which departments are receiving the impact fee revenues. • Identify the capital needs and costs associated with anticipated growth. • Review annual projections of population, employment, housing, commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential square footage data for at least 10 years. • Study the demand factors that generate the need for new capital facilities. Evaluate existing levels of service. Update of the Fair Share Development Impact Fee Report The updated report must explicitly demonstrate that the methodology used to calculate the impact fees is in accordance Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 45-22.4. The updated Impact Fee Report should utilize the findings from the study and, at a minimum, include the following: • Executive summary. • Detailed description of methodologies used during the study. • Detailed description of all public services/infrastructure, their cost factor, and the rationale behind the cost/impact fee calculation. o In other words, a needs assessment, accurately reflecting the cost of the increased need for police, fire, roads, public schools and libraries, recreation land and facilities, open space, utilities, and other public facilities as defined in the Rhode Island Development Impact Fee Act. • Detailed schedule of all proposed fees for each category of public facilities. o A defensible fee schedule should be produced for each of the applicable public facilities as defined in the State statute. • Other information which explains and justifies the recommended fee schedule.
