CAPE MAY CITY – The city is raising its license and development fees.
Saying that the city has been less than diligent in reviewing and, when needed, raising license fees, City Manager Paul Dietrich said a recent review resulted in some consolidations of codes, creation of some new codes and a new fee structure based on a five-year consumer price index study.
“The fees are there so that the city does not lose money in processing applications,” Dietrich said. An entirely new section was added to the city code, covering new fees for activities as varied as running an arcade to beach concessions, to low-speed vehicle vendors, to residential short-term rentals. The complete list can be viewed on the city’s website in the agenda packet for the Sept. 3 council meeting.
Two ordinances that set the fees were introduced by the council Sept. 3.
City clerk Erin Burke told the council that some of the fees have not been altered in 20 years. This prompted council member Maureen McDade to tell the public that the city needs a more disciplined business approach to the issue of fees.
McDade said the new fees will be reviewed every two years to see if new city expenses warrant an increase. “We are not saying we will raise the fees at that pace, but that we will review them every two years,” she added.
The second ordinance deals with development fees, which include application fees for putting projects before city boards for approval as well as escrow fees held by the city to pay for planning and zoning professionals, including lawyers and engineers who may review the same plans multiple times if changes have been made as part of the approval process.
Dietrich said the city is spending too much time tracking down developers for increases to the escrow accounts, a process that becomes especially difficult if the developer’s request was denied by one of the city boards.
He said it was a more efficient process to raise the fees required, and if those fees turn out to be in excess of costs, the city will return the unused portion to the applicant. The list of proposed fees is available in the same agenda packet referenced above.
Both ordinances are scheduled to come up for required public hearings and a vote to adopt at the City Council meeting on Oct. 1.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
