City of Fernandina Beach returns $732,115 in partial impact fee refunds

Photo courtesy of Charlie Hutchins

$732,115 was refunded to 91 customers due to the City's failure to provide a 90 day notice of impact fee increases.  In 2008 and 2009, the City amended the water and sewer impact fee calculations based on Equivalent Residential Units (ERU) resulting in an increase in impact fees.  Florida Statutes require a 90 notice.

At a recent meeting the city commission voted 5 - 0 to repeal the Impact Fee sections regarding the increase and provide partial refunds noting the refunds were "in the best interest of the City." Those qualifying for refunds paid water and sewer impact fees from 2009 to 2013 when the ordinance was repealed.

The big winners were developers and construction companies.

Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit builder of affordable housing, came out on top of the three non-profits receiving refunds.

Restaurant owners Al Waldis (Salty Pelican)  and former City commissioner Tim Poynter (Cafe Karibo upstairs expansion) also received refunds.

On the city commission agenda for Tuesday, September 3, will be a request to raise water and sewer rates by 3%.  The City of Fernandina Beach is currently defending itself in an impact fee lawsuit.  Click here for previous Fernandina Observer article, "Primer on Impact Fee Lawsuit" by Charles Burns.

August 29, 2013 6:35 p.m