GRANGER — On Jan. 10, the Granger City Council discussed possible impact fees for new development and considered adding a traffic light in town.
Impact fees
An impact fee is typically a one-time payment imposed by a local government on a property developer to offset the financial impact a new development places on public infrastructure, such as roads, schools, parks, recreational facilities, water and sewerage, among other services. Impact fees are based on the size of the new development, the cost of implementing it, and how much it will impact the surrounding area.
City Administrator Christy Cavness Bradshaw told the council Granger’s water and sewer hookup fees are $2,500 each. Councilman David Hajda believes those rates are very low. He reported Jonah’s hookup fees are $10,000.
The council’s impression that the total $5,000 fees for Granger water and sewer hookups don’t really match the actual impact cost on the area.
Councilwoman Deborah Carter-Todd said that Granger needs to get ahead of the game, as development is coming. She requested CavnessBradshaw find out what the hookup fees are for Jarrell, Thrall, Thorndale, Taylor and other nearby communities.
Mayor Monica Stojanik stated having up-to-date impact fees helps a city obtain grants and other benefits because it demonstrates the city is proactive, and making an effort to better itself. She directed CavnessBradshaw to move forward with the tap fee assessment.
The council took no further action.
Traffic study
The council also discussed a traffic control study at the intersection of SH 95 (Commerce Street) and Davilla Streets, which is the town’s primary intersection with the blinking traffic light.
Todd commented that traffic continues to grow, and navigating the intersection is getting riskier. She contacted TXDOT, who agreed to do a traffic survey for the possibility of installing a stoplight. The study will commence sometime the first half of 2022 and involve traffic cameras.
If approved, it may take two to three years to get a stoplight installed. If not approved, another study would have to take place.
She noted lots of cities in the area are getting stoplights thanks to impact fees from incoming subdivisions. If a municipality contributes around $2,000 for a stoplight, they tend to get installed more quickly.
The historical number of accidents and deaths at a particular intersection also comes into play, and Todd asked Granger Police Chief Jess Eckard to keep track.
The council took no action.
