The Rancho Cordova City Council recently voted to reduce transportation impact fees to stimulate new development in the City. The City of Rancho Cordova partnered with the Building Industry Association (BIA) to reduce fees by 20 percent retroactively, effective January 1 of this year for new residential and non-residential development. Impact fees affecting older existing areas of Rancho Cordova will be maintained at their already reduced rates.

The Citywide Transportation Development Impact Fee Program was established by the City Council in 2005 to support the demand for future development. The program’s purpose is to fund new or expanded roadway improvements, transit improvements, bikeways, and walkways that are needed to support the growing community and ensure an efficient transportation system within the City.

The new fee schedule will remain in effect for the next 12 to 18 months until the group further collaborates on updating the fee program to shorten the timeframe, revise the projected development to match the new timeframe, and revise the transportation improvements to match projected development.

“This partnership is part of a larger effort to build Rancho Cordova as a quality community,” said Rancho Cordova Assistant City Manager Joe Chinn. “Our goal is to create a premier community where businesses and residents wish to locate and have opportunities to prosper.”

In addition to transportation fees, the City and BIA are also focusing on parks and other capital facilities fees and finding ways to reduce costs while providing quality facilities supporting the community.

The Rancho Cordova City Council recently provided direction, on a recommendation from the City and BIA, to reduce capital facilities fees by 15 percent. These fees fund the fair share of construction costs for building facilities such as City Hall, the Police Department, and Rancho Cordova Library. The City Council in coordination with the Cordova Recreation and Park District also provided direction to lower the parks and open spaces impact fees, which are used to improve community parks and facilities.

“Our partnership with the City of Rancho Cordova has developed into successes that support the building industry and future of the City,” said John Costa, BIA Director of Governmental and Public Affairs. “The City has taken a forward-looking approach, and we are proud of our continued collaboration.”

The Center for Collaborative Policy, a program of California State University of Sacramento, acted as the mediator for fee discussions. “It’s a testament to the City and BIA that they recognized greater faith in being partners rather than adversaries,” said Dave Ceppos, Associate Director of the Center. “And they came to a mutual conclusion.”

For more information about this partnership, contact Troy Holt at 916-851-8847.