The week the city council in Columbia, Missouri voted unanimously to raise fees for develpers to connect new homes to utility service. This couldn't be coming at a worse time. In our area, the construction industry is struggling and building permits are at a low point. This is the same city council that believes we don't have enough "affordable" housing. One of the council members said the developers aren't paying their "fair" share of develpment cost. What imaginary world are they living in! In Columbia right now, this is what developers do before they can sell one lot:
1. find and purchace land that could be develped, paying $35,000 an acre or more
2. hire and pay an engineering firm to help them lay out the subdivision in a way that will be acceptable to the city
3. clear and grade the land to the city's satisfaction
4. improve existing roads, build new roads, install storm drainage
5. pay for sewer to be installed
6. pay for water to be installed
7. install sidewalks
8. make arrangements for the city to put in electric service
9. make arrangements for gas to be installed
10. pay fees to the city for the privilege of hooking up each house to the sewer and water that you paid to have put in
11. pay a fee to the city for inspecting your work to see if it is acceptable to them
In the meantime, paying quarterly interest payments to a local bank until your subdivision is sold out, usually for 2-10 yers.
Comments(1)