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5. QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION <br />Commissioner O'Bryan said he had suggestions for staff going forward. He addressed <br />comments from certain speakers regarding new homeowners paying higher taxes because of the <br />"Save our Home" discrepancy, and comments about impact fees paying for all infrastructure. <br />Commissioner O'Bryan expressed his personal concerns that builders were not coming in <br />and building affordable homes. He wanted to see the Board take the time to discuss the matter in <br />a timely manner; he did not support lowering our level of service standards as it is what makes <br />this County unique; and he did not think any temporary pause or freeze in the current impact fees <br />would be subsidizing any new development. His big concern was that the methodology we are <br />using right now does not allow us to move or adjust those impact fees in a timely manner either <br />up or down, to take into account current market conditions and the cost involved to provide that <br />infrastructure. <br />Commissioner O'Bryan agreed with Mr. Mechling and did not think that the State road <br />pricing should be included when we look into traffic cost and construction. On the issue of <br />affordable housing, he wanted to see, instead of three categories, a four -category breakdown <br />dropping the lower level to less than 1200 square feet, and impact fees would be staggered <br />proportionately based on size. He concurred that we desperately need to reevaluate how we <br />assess, in particular, traffic impact fees to our commercial, industrial, and retail development. <br />He also wanted to see a concentrated effort from staff, the Consultants, and the members of the <br />community, taking a real hard look at commercial/industrial impacts, because he believed there <br />was double-dipping and he was not clear how that is assessed. <br />Commissioner Flescher appreciated everyone's comments. He remarked that this <br />examination of our impact fees has been done by schedule, and the timing could not be worse for <br />17 <br />March 6, 2008 <br />Public Workshop <br />