By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The cost of building permits and inspections is about to go up drastically in Port Angeles but, because of some huge subsidies, the city will also be one of the least expensive places in western Washington to build many kinds of housing.
Why are basic fees going up by as much as 500% or more in a city that has made getting more affordable housing its number one priority? Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Services Calvin Goings says it’s because the current rates, which haven’t been adjusted in 15 years, are costing the City over a million dollars per year.
“Currently the city subsidizes the development review process to the tune of 1.1 million dollars a year. That’s money that’s not going to the fire department, not going to the police department, not going to parks and not going to transportation. So, it’s important that costs for services bear some of the charges that are necessary.”
The City compared, through an independent study, the current rates with those of comparable cities in western Washington, found themselves at the bottom of the scale in nearly every category, and determined that it is not sustainable. Even with the proposed increases, Goings says the general fund will still be subsidizing the process by around a half million dollars a year.
Goings says City staff are going to recommend to the City Council that the fee hikes be raised in two stages, half and then half again, over two years.
That said, while the City is raising rates in some areas, they have completely eliminated fees in most areas, according to Goings.
“So, under this proposal, if you are wanting to build in the city of Port Angeles an accessory dwelling unit, and ADU, a duplex, triplex, four-plex, apartment, supportive housing, transitional housing, you will pay absolutely zero in permitting fees. That will make us the lowest cost on the Olympic Peninsula, if not the entire state. So, we are incentivizing these very important affordable, infill units. And then, for the rest of the permits, we are catching up with 15 years of not having any adjustments.”
The process of these proposals is not happening in a void. Goings says they’re taking public comment very seriously and will present an amended proposal at the October 17 council meeting, where they will hear additional public comment.
“We’re also looking to even expand further the type of housing units that will not pay building permits under this. We’ve heard from low income home ownership program advocates. And so, under the proposed amendment that you’ll see on the 17th, those type of programs will also be exempt from paying permits and building permit fees, as well. We’ve also heard that we need to do a better job in our review permit process. And so, we’re looking forward to working with stakeholders, like the builders and realtors, to come up with some key performance indicators, and how we have a transparent dashboard of how efficient the review system is and should be.”
The Council can, if they want, approve the proposals at that meeting on the 17th, but Goings says they are going to suggest that the council postpone that decision to the first meeting in November.
“The city has very much appreciated the dialogue and conversation about this, and we want to make sure that all voices are heard in this dialogue. And another part of what you’ll see on October 17th is, we’re going to make a suggestion to continue this dialogue even further into November, to make sure that we hear from as many people as possible. And so, I’d just really encouraged the public to be engaged, to participate in person if possible on the 17th. But, we are making some important revisions, and that’s in part because of the great input we’ve received thus far, and we want to encourage that to continue.”
(Photo: Calvin Goings)