Document text
Commission gives OK to new fee on boundary growth By Dani Dodge People building in Medford�s urban growth boundary will pay a little more for the privilege. Wednesday, Jackson County Commissioners approved a surcharge to the systems-development charges in the area ringing the Medford city limits that will help fund a planned overhaul of the congested South Medford freeway interchange. The systems-development charge is a fee paid by builders of new homes and businesses. The surcharge, which takes effect Jan. 1, was welcomed by developers and business people because it will go toward their $5 million share of the proposed interchange project. "There was much study done on how the private sector money should be raised and it was determined the best way was a surcharge on SDCs," said attorney John Hassen, who represents some of the businesses and developers interested in the project. "Private people need to know ... this will be on the development community and people who develop their property." Commissioner Sue Kupillas called the participation of businesses and developers taxing themselves for a good cause "an extraordinary effort." County Administrator Sue Slack said the money will simply pass through the county to help fund the community�s share of the state project. Congestion has been building at the south Interstate 5 interchange, which in turn has limited development in the south end of town. In order to address traffic problems and restrictions on development, the city of Medford committed to Oregon Department of Transportation to help pay $15 million toward the interchange fix, estimated at $30 million to $35 million. Of that, the city agreed to pay $5 million; the Medford Urban Renewal Agency $5 million; and developers $5 million. Much of that will come from big developers, paying street fees and surcharges on the new homes and buildings they build. The city of Medford already passed a surcharge on development inside the city. In the city of Medford, the surcharge on single-family homes is $1,000; larger developments, such as commercial buildings or apartments, paying correspondingly higher fees because their effect on traffic is greater. The county�s surcharge is half the county�s � $500 on a single-family home. Both the city and county surcharges will expire when the $5 million match is raised. Craig Stone, a land use consultant who represents local developers, said his clients own "a good portion" of the vacant land in Medford and the urban growth boundary. He said they are completely in favor of the surcharge. "This is absolutely unique where a group of business owners get together and say �We want you to tax us,� " Stone said. Commissioner Jack Walker praised the project and the participation of the business and development community in a project to make transportation flow more smoothly. "The local community has to understand ... we have to take the bull by the horns and deal with at least part of it to make things happen," Walker said. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.