Smyrna, Tennessee

Roads, Parks and Fire Impact Fee Study
   

In 1999, Duncan Associates assisted the Town of Smyrna in developing impact fees for roads, parks and fire protection facilities. In December 1999, the Town adopted impact fees for non-industrial uses at 50% of the maximum rate calculated in the original impact fee study. The rate was increased to 75% effective in January 2001. In July of that same year, fees were implemented for industrial uses also at the 75% rate. In 2004 the Town planning department did its own impact fee update, calculating maximum road fees that nearly doubled, park fees that moderately increased, and fire fees

that decreased. The new fee schedule was adopted by the Town in December 2004 at 36.8% for roads, 49.4% for parks, and 100% for fire. In July 2006 the rates were increased to 60% for roads and parks, while fire fees remained at 100%. In 2007, Duncan Associates was retained to perform a comprehensive update. One of the changes made was to discontinue the road impact fee credit for existing deficiencies, which is no longer considered necessary in the context of a consumption-based methodology. The study determined that fees could be increased by 50-60 percent for most land use categories. The study is currently under review by the Town.