Ball Ground Postpones Final Vote on Impact Fee Program

Although Ball Ground officials gave initial approval to an impact fee program last month, a final vote to implement it has been postponed.

The Ball Ground City Council was scheduled to vote July 11 on the second reading of a proposed impact fee program ordinance.

According to the city, a decision had to be tabled because the Georgia Department of Community Affairs is still reviewing the program. The Atlanta Regional Commission reviewed the proposed program before sending it to the Georgia DCA for further review.

“Without their blessing, we cannot adopt,” Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth told the council.

The vote on the second and final reading is now scheduled for Aug. 8.

“That is providing that the Georgia Department of Community Affairs has completed their review and has no issues with our ordinance,” Wilmarth said.

If the council adopts the program as drafted, impact fees paid by residential developers will be applied to parks and recreation, and roads — $3,000 for every new residential permit pulled (each house or each apartment unit). Of that, $2,000 would be dedicated for parks and $1,000 would be for roads.

Commercial and industrial development would only pay an impact fee for roads. The total fee would be calculated depending on the actual use and square footage or vehicle trips per day, based on a $1,000 base rate, Wilmarth said.

The program will go into effect once approved by the city council.

Council members approved the first reading of the impact fee ordinance May 30.

Ball Ground Mayor Rick Roberts told the Tribune in May that officials were considering impact fees due to “historic growth and residential development.”

The impact fee program could generate about $300,000 annually if building continues at historical rates, according to the city.

The fee will only be applied to new building permits and is not expected to affect current residents.

The Ball Ground City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at City Hall, 215 Valley St. Council meetings can also be viewed online at www.youtube.com/@cityofballground9862 . For more information, City Hall can be reached at 770-735-2123.