St. Augustine mobility fees to go into effect in May (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) —
A mobility fee will soon be added to new building projects in the city limits of St. Augustine following a decision by the City Commission on Monday.
The fee will be imposed for any new residential or non-residential development and redevelopment activity that requires a building permit, results in increased use of the existing property and impacts the city’s transportation infrastructure, according to city documents.
It’s a different schedule from what the unincorporated sections of St. Johns County use. In those areas, there are impact fees assessed to new construction. St. Augustine does not levy those fees but will now charge the mobility fee starting May 17.
The decision was made by the City Commission on Monday following months of discussion by commissioners, staff, the planning board and residents.
There is a detailed schedule for the fee. But here are some common land uses and their corresponding fees:
- Residential uses will pay $1.05 per square foot.
- Short-term lodging (including vacation rentals) will pay $1,763 per room.
- Local retail (entertainment, restaurant, retail, sales, services) will pay $1.71 per square foot.
- Multi-tenant retail will pay $3.42.
The fee was created in order to help St. Augustine achieve its transportation goals set forth in its new Mobility Plan. According to the city, the Mobility Plan consists of four distinct plans that include parking and shuttle alternatives, pedestrian and bicycle improvements that will aid in the reduction of vehicular traffic and congestion in the downtown area, and complete street design recommendations to improve quality of life and livability conditions for residents. The plan recognizes both citywide and regional mobility alternatives.
City leaders have expended a great deal of energy over the past two decades trying to address the increasing congestion of a place that has grown in popularity with visitors. The surrounding area has also added a great number of permanent residents in recent years.
The new Mobility Plan seeks to ease some of that congestion with solutions that go beyond building new roads or parking garages.
“Mobility Fees collected within the City can be spent on multimodal projects throughout the City,” says the executive summery of the mobility plan and fee report. “Travel patterns are citywide and multimodal projects will serve residents and businesses throughout the City.”
Photo courtesy of FloridasHistoricCoast.com