Applicants with remodeling and building projects in Woodside will pay more for Town Hall's review of their projects in coming months, but the practice of not charging them the full cost will continue -- for the time being.

The Town Council on Tuesday (July 24) directed staff to prepare a fee schedule that may incrementally raise fees by 20 percent to 30 percent for services such as analysis of significant projects by the Architectural and Site Review Board, conditional use permits, and extensions on development permits.

September would be the earliest staff could return with a proposal for council action. The council is on its annual August recess.

A year-long analysis of five projects in town and 10 fees showed that the town recovered only 40 percent of its costs, according to the report. The proposed fee increases could raise cost recovery to near 50 percent.

The town's finance management policy states that services that "should be self-supporting" are "development services activities, recreation, maintenance and assessment districts, and enterprise funds."

The council did take one action on July 24: Acknowledging changes to the town's costs of doing business, a unanimous council agreed to change hourly rates for staff who provide building, engineering, code enforcement and planning services in Town Hall.

Hourly rates dropped by an average of $22 for services by the building official, the director of planning, and the town geologist.

Rates rose by an average $2 an hour for 13 other services, including code enforcement and plan check.

Click here for the PDF file that includes the new rates. Turn to Attachment 2 (on Page 7).

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