Impact fees and developer payments

May 28 · MinutesFirst mention

At the May 28, 2026 work session, the Rockingham Planning Commission's assistant director explained that impact fees are charges tied to expected capital costs from growth. They can only pay for growth-related costs, not regular upkeep. She said many small towns collect these fees but struggle to use them because there is little growth. A board member said some impact fees, such as school impact fees, had to be returned after six years because the population did not grow as expected, which made it hard to justify spending them. No vote was recorded on this topic.

May 28 · Minutes

At the May 28, 2026 work session, the Rockingham Planning Commission's assistant director said payments from developers into a sidewalk fund, agreed through negotiation, are a way to offset a project's effects and are not impact fees. These can be written into site plan or subdivision rules. A board member said Newfields has a sidewalk plan that developers who do not build sidewalks have partly paid for. No vote was recorded on this topic.

Sep 15 · Minutes

Planning Board update: Town Plan and impact fees