A consultant is recommending local Florida cities increase impact fees by 219 percent to deal with budget deficits.
"James Nicholas, a professor of urban planning and law at the University of Florida and an expert on impact fees, says there are no laws governing impact fees or how they are charged. Instead, legal decisions drive standards for impact fees... 'The courts have said impact fees must be reasonable, and in Florida, we talk about the fees being fair and proportionate,' explains Nicholas. 'But the devil is in the details. When does a fee become unreasonable or disproportionate? You can't look it up in an encyclopedia.' "
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Sudden impact

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

NYC Outdoor Dining Could Get a Re-Do
The city council is considering making the al fresco dining program year-round to address cost concerns from small businesses.

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.
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