Land use fees in Ansonia just went up.
The Board of Aldermen last week approved new fees for planning and zoning applications ranging from earth removal permits to zone change proposals.
The new fees are substantially higher than the old ones, but finally fall “in line with area communities.”
“We haven’t done anything (to increase them) for years and years,” Ansonia Board of Aldermen President Stephen Blume said last week at the Board of Aldermen meeting. “It seems like it’s a big jump, but only because it’s taken so long.”
It’s been 15 to 20 years since the city reviewed or increased its land use fees, according to Planning and Zoning Commission chairman Bart Flaherty.
“Costs of processing applications, public hearings, publications, etc. has greatly increased during this time,” Flaherty wrote in a letter of support of the fees.
The Fees
The new charges in some cases are twice as much as previously charged. One major change is the addition of fees for public hearings, which include the cost of advertising and creating verbatim minutes.
The changes include:
Site Plan Applications:
Old fee — $75 plus $10 per parking space and $15 per unit.
New fee — $500 application fee. $500 review fee. And if needed, a $450 public hearing fee and a $450 transcript fee.
Zoning Permits:
Old fee — $25
New fee — $50 for up to $100,000 construction costs, plus $50 for each $50,000 over that.
Certificate of Zoning Compliance:
Old fee — $25
New fee — $30 residential, $100 non-residential
Subdivision Application:
Old fee — $125 plus $150 for each lot
New fee — $250 for up to 10 lots, $500 for 11 or more lots PLUS $150 for each additional lot. Also, a $450 public hearing fee, if the hearing is required.
