Industrial Park Possibility
Kudos to the County Commission and the Economic Development Authority for funding an engineering study to see the feasibility of a 205-acre industrial park in Catoosa County.
Here's an article from the Catoosa County News about it...Rather than impact fees, increased property taxes, or development-related SPLOSTs, the best way to fund service demands is through increased business and industrial development. As we all know, businesses generate far more revenues than they demand in the form of services (schools, roads, landfill, police/fire, etc.). So, business is a good investment for a residential community.
Oh, not to mention the jobs. Yeah... houses have people. People need jobs. People prefer to work close to home.
Impact Fees... Action Alert!
Action Alert!
As many of you are aware, the County Commission has been struggling with how to address the burdens resulting from rampant residential growth in Catoosa County. One proposal being reviewed at present would be to impose Impact Fees on any new development in an effort to help defray the future costs of servicing the development.
This proposal has been fairly widely reported in the local press. What has not been reported is that the Impact Fees would apply to ALL types of development, not just residential. So, what does this mean? And, why is the Chamber getting involved in this issue?
When reviewing the proposed fees on BUSINESSES (both new and existing expansions), it became startlingly clear that this proposal would significantly and detrimentally impact business development in Catoosa County. Catoosa County could find itself unable to compete when trying to attract new business and industry. Similarly, for existing industry seeking to expand their operations, they would face significant impact fees, which might result in either foregoing the expansion or leaving the county altogether.
Perhaps some examples would help. Below is a listing of several real projects and the kinds of fees that would be required under the proposed Impact Fee system:
- A 5,000 sq. ft. automotive parts store would pay $17,050.
- A major home improvement store (appx 105,000 sq. ft.) would pay $188,324.
- A specialty retail center (appx 200,000 sq. ft.) would pay $294,772.
- A typical bank branch (appx 11,000 sq. ft.) would pay $118,810.
- A 10-plex movie theater (appx 36,000 sq. ft.) would pay $161,140.
- A small steel fabricator (appx 32,000 sq. ft.) would pay $20,945.
- A major distribution center (appx 1,000,000 sq. ft.) would pay $482,398.
Every business category is subject to impact fees, not just those listed above.
But, what about houses?
- Any single-family detached home would pay only $1,347 – regardless of size, number of children, etc.
Imagine adding $1,347 to the price of a 30-year mortgaged home. Would the homebuyer even notice it? Do you think this would impact residential development? Unlikely.
On the other hand, imagine your business as one of the categories above, making a decision either to locate in Catoosa County or expand an existing operation. Do you think these high impact fees would impact the decision? Most certainly!
As a result, the Chamber Board has voted to publicly OPPOSE the Impact Fee proposal currently before the County Commission. We certainly do not have all the information or even any answers at this point. But what is clear is that the current proposal could be devastating to the economic and entrepreneurial prospects for our County. We must tell the Commissioners that they cannot adopt this program, for it would simultaneously decrease our competitiveness to attract and retain industry, as well as fail to achieve any marked impact on residential development.
Catoosa County needs your help!
Action Required:
- Attend the public hearing(s), the first of which is scheduled for Tuesday, November 15 @ 7:00 pm at the Courthouse Annex building in Ringgold. Your presence (or your voice!) is needed to let Commissioners know that the Impact Fee program being considered would be harmful to economic development and should not be adopted.
- Make a commitment to call, write or personally speak with at least one County Commissioner to tell him how important it is that he vote against the current Impact Fee proposal.
There are many individuals, comprising a very vocal minority, who are opposed to all forms of development. They believe that any development is bad – both residential and commercial. These people are very involved in making sure that the County Commissioners do nothing that would increase the service demands made upon County resources. If you do not show up at public meetings, then theirs is the only voice heard by the Commissioners!
If you cannot attend the meeting on November 15th, it is important that you send another in your place. You can be assured that individuals in support of shifting the tax burden onto business and industry will be there in force.
