Hanford Municipal Code Ch. 15.48 Transportation Impact Fees

In order to implement the goals and objectives of the land use and circulation elements of the city's general plan, and to mitigate the transportation, traffic and air quality impacts caused by new development in the Hanford city area, certain public transportation system facilities must be or had to be constructed. The city council has determined that a transportation development impact improvement fee is needed in order to finance these public improvements and to pay for the developer's fair share of the construction costs of these improvements. In establishing the fee described in the following sections, the city council has found the fee to be consistent with its general plan.

(Prior code § 10-1.201)

A transportation development impact improvement fee is established on issuance of all building permits for development in the Hanford city area to pay for transportation system facilities improvements. The city council shall, in a council resolution, set forth the specific amount of the fee, describe the benefit and impact area on which the development fee is imposed, list the specific public improvements to be financed, describe the estimated cost of these facilities, describe the reasonable relationship between this fee and the various types of new developments and set forth the time for payment. As described in the fee resolution, this development fee shall be paid by each developer prior to issuance of a building permit. On an annual basis, the city council shall review this fee to determine whether the fee amounts are reasonably related to the impacts of developments and whether the described public facilities are still needed and/or what additional facilities may be needed.

(Prior code § 10-1.202)

The following shall be exempted from payment of the transportation development impact improvement fee:

A. Alterations or expansion of an existing building where no additional units are created, where the use is not changed, and where no additional vehicular trips will be produced over and above those produced by the existing use;

B. The construction of accessory buildings or structures which will not produce additional vehicular trips over and above those produced by the principal building or use of the land;

C. The replacement of a destroyed or partially destroyed building or structure with a new building or structure of the same size and use provided that no additional vehicle trips will be produced over and above those produced by the original use;

D. The installation of a replacement mobilehome on a lot or other such site when a transportation development impact improvement fee for such mobilehome site has previously been paid pursuant to this article or where a mobilehome legally existed on such site on or prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

(Prior code § 10-1.203)

The revenues raised by payment of this fee shall be placed in a separate and special account and such revenues, along with any interest earnings on that account, shall be used solely to:

A. Pay for the city's future construction of facilities described in the resolution enacted pursuant to Section 15.48.020, or to reimburse the city for those described or listed facilities constructed by the city with funds advanced by the city from other sources; or

B. Reimburse developers who have been required or permitted by Section 15.48.050 to install such listed facilities which are oversized with supplemental size, length or capacity.

(Prior code § 10-1.204)

Whenever a developer is required, as a condition of approval of a development permit, to construct a public facility described in a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 15.48.020 which facility is determined by the city to have supplemental size, length or capacity over that needed for the impacts of that development and when such construction is necessary to ensure efficient and timely construction of the facilities network, a reimbursement agreement with the developer and a credit against the fee, which would otherwise be charged pursuant to this chapter on the development project, shall be offered. The reimbursement amount shall not include the portion of the improvement needed to provide services or mitigate the need for the facility or the burdens created by the development.

(Prior code § 10-1.205)

A developer of any project subject to the fee described in Section 15.48.020 may apply to the city for an adjustment of that fee by completing an independent fee calculation study as provided for in the city's resolution establishing the fee.

(Prior code § 10-1.206)

The transportation impact fee established hereunder may be adjusted by resolution of the city council of the city of Hanford on or before July 1st of each fiscal year by a percentage no greater than the engineering cost index as published by the Engineer News Record for the preceding 12 months.

(04-08, Added, 05/04/2004)