Planning Panel Increases Fees

This city--already noted for its high cost of property--has tacked on another expense.

Early this month, the city Planning Commission adopted new fees affecting building construction.

Processing costs for residential conditional use permits will rise about 7%, and fees for environmental reviews will go up over 60%. The Commission also set up fee schedules for 10 new project classifications that will fit into the city’s Downtown Plan (restriction of office space) and Proposition K (the open space sunlight ordinance).

Planning Department Director Dean Macris said the fee increases, the first since 1981, were made necessary by added procedures required in the new legislation and by complexities of the application reviews. The Planning Department estimates the new overall schedule of fees will generate annual revenue of between $2.4 million and $2.9 million.