McCORDSVILLE — Starting next year, the fastest-growing area of Hancock County will charge new developments an extra fee to create more parks and trails to keep up with its population boom.
For each residential building permit issued after Feb. 14, 2019 in McCordsville, permits will cost an additional $832 park impact fee, the town council OK’d on Tuesday. That money will go into a special town fund that’ll be used for open space and trail development, town manager Tonya Galbraith said.
The town’s Impact Fee Advisory Committee and consultant, Lehman & Lehman, Inc. of Mishawaka, conducted a six-month study on an infrastructure improvement plan for the parks and recreation facilities, which generated the fee amount. Galbraith said the state allows towns to enact park and road impact fees.
Chuck Lehman, president of Lehman & Lehman, presented the study on Tuesday. Through the firm’s analysis, Lehman said they estimate McCordsville’s population will grow to 12,660 residents by 2027, resulting in 1,800 more residential units. Lehman said with that estimated residential growth, the town will have a $1.5 million need for future parks and trails over the next 10 years.
Galbraith said McCordsville officials have been thinking about creating an impact fee for a while. The town will soon have two new subdivisions moving in and possibly a third, she said. McCordsville is also one of the fastest-growing areas in the state. The 2017 census estimate puts the municipality at 6,838 residents. The town had 1,148 residents in 2000, and 5,106 in 2010.
“Now that we’re growing so quickly, this seems like the time to do it,” Galbraith said.
The town hasn’t developed much open space or trails to coincide with its high population growth over the past few years, Galbraith said, so creating the fee will have a long-lasting effect on the parks system.
Before officials can use the impact fee monies, Galbraith said they first have to pay for the town’s deficiencies — the amount of open space and trails being insufficient for the number of residents — through their yearly budget funds. Once they meet those deficiencies, Galbraith said the town can use the impact fee funds for future park and trail developments, she said.
Over the next six months, Galbraith said town officials will conduct outreach about the added fee with residents and prospective developers. Most areas nearby, such as Greenfield, Fishers and Noblesville, all have park impact fees, Galbraith said. She wants residents to know that having a good park and trail system is one of the main reasons why people keep moving into a booming area.
“We’re now coming into the game,” she said. “It’s probably the best time for us.”
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The town of McCordsville will add an $832 park impact fee to its building permits starting in February 2019. The funds will be used for future park and trail expansion as the town expects to keep growing in population.
2010 Census: 5,098 residents
2017 Census estimates: 6,838 residents
2027 impact fee study estimates: 12,660 residents
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Lehman & Lehman
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