BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Starke’s reintroduction of higher impact fees on new development has been delayed by post-storm legislation.
Not long after being presented its updated impact fee study in November, the city learned that Senate Bill 180 (2025), which limited local governments’ ability to regulate land development following hurricanes, also affected the city’s ability to increase impact fees.
The legislation prohibits governments from charging impact fees for replacing destroyed structures with like-kind rebuilds. This is to alleviate some of cost of recovery. The problem for Starke, however, is the law also requires a unanimous vote to increase impact fees, and the higher fees must be phased in.
At the recommendation of the city’s attorneys at Folds and Walker, City Manager Drew Mullins engaged a law firm in Tallahassee which specializes in impact fee implementation. Mullins said he didn’t want to open the city to liability, so for a maximum cost of $15,000, the firm will write a new ordinance and properly repeal and replace the previous ordinance.
The city manager reported to the commission Jan. 20, that dealing with the legislation was proving complicated, and a call between the law firm and impact fee consultant was scheduled to discuss the calculations. Mullins also said there was pending litigation over the state law. Dozens of cities and counties have sued saying the legislation violates home rule.
Determined to bring the commission an ordinance, Mullins said he would report back when it was ready for a vote.
Technically, Starke already had impact fees on the books. Adopted in the 2000s, the commission declared a moratorium to encourage development. Because so much time had passed since the moratorium, a revised study was performed and presented last November to update the fee calculations. These were the maximum amounts the city could impose, but most commissioners did not agree they should start that high. They discussed raising the former fees by 25%.
The study looked at fees for road improvements, the fire department, parks and public buildings, which were all fees formerly collected. It eliminated fees for the police department, which no longer exists. It proposed adding fees for water and wastewater infrastructure, for which new homes and businesses have previously only been charged a few hundred dollars in connection fees.
The impact fee maximum for a new single-family residence was $7,658 plus $6,579 if the new water and wastewater fees were adopted, for a total of $14,237. Based on the former maximum fees, the total was $6,204 but only included $215 as a water connection fee.
For a multifamily residential development, the total per unit was $12,176. The prior maximum impact fee was $4,910 per unit. Again, that only included a water connection fee per unit.
Square footage would be used to calculate the fees for new nonresidential development. The consultant used a typical fast-food restaurant as an example. At 3,000 square feet, the total would come to $43,755 plus $32,895, which is the equivalent water and wastewater usage for five residences. The total is $76,647. That is significantly more than the prior maximum fee of $29,718, which only included a water connection fee of $315.
For a 30,000 square-foot grocery store, the total maximum fee would come to $279,183, up more than $100,000 from $171,345.
Thursday food distributions
Starke Church of God by Faith and Farm Share distribute food on the first and third Thursdays of the month. The next distributions are Feb. 5 and 19 from 9-11:30 a.m. at 730 Old Lawtey Road in Starke. This is a drive-thru only giveaway.
The Duncans in concert
The Duncans will be in concert at Lifeline Ministries in Starke on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 11 a.m. The church is located at 325 N. Christian St. All are welcome.
Purchase pavers in Rosenberg Garden
The Woman’s Club of Starke is honoring longtime member Della Rosenberg and offering personalized brick pavers to be placed in the Rosenberg Garden. These pavers make meaningful gifts for weddings, anniversaries, Christmas and memorials.
For details, please contact Cleo Elder at 904-796-7427 or Charnelle Whittemore at 352-235-1825.
