Greeley, Colorado

Cost of Development and Road and Fire Impact Fee Study
   

For the City of Greeley, Duncan Associates first prepared a “Cost of Development Study” in association with Clarion Associates that analyzed available alternative infrastructure financing tools, such as impact fees, excise taxes and special districts. The Cost of Development Study concluded that City street, drainage and park development fees covered only about half of the capital costs of general fund facilities (roads, drainage, parks and fire). Drainage and park development fees were found to cover a somewhat higher percentage of costs,

while there was no fee for fire protection facilities. Following a thorough review of the Cost of Development Study, the City retained Duncan Associates to prepare detailed impact fee studies for roads and fire protection facilities. The City desired to have road impact fees vary by house size in order to encourage affordable housing by keeping fees for smaller units lower. Fire impact fees were based on a rather unique "threshold analysis" developed by the Fire Department for quantifying the need for additional fire stations. Road and fire impact fees were adopted in 1997.