LABELLE – Updated fee schedules for zoning/planning building department and the fire department were approved by LaBelle commissioners during its regular meeting Feb. 8.

The resolution passed 4-0, with Commissioner Jessica Ratica absent from the meeting.

City Planner Alexis Crespo told the commission it’s been several years since the city has looked at its fee schedules.

“With the budget constraints we’re really trying to get applicants to cover the cost of the processing their applications,” she said, adding that the new fees were competitive with those of neighboring areas.

“The bulk of these are developer fees,” she said. “They are the cost of doing business and should not directly impact LaBelle residents.”

Also, fees that would impact mom and pop type businesses were kept low, discounted fees to large developers have been discontinued and a cost recovery ordinance has been created.

“So, we’re working hard to ensure we’re billing the applicants for the time it takes to process their applications,” she said.

Some of the highlights include mandatory pre-application meeting fees of $500 for planning and zoning, unless waived by the city planner of public works superintendent; administrative PUD amendment fee of $300; increased single-family fee of $500 per variance, up from $250 and other variances $1,000, up from $400.

Fees for vacation of easement, right-of-ways (including alleys) and plats or portions more than doubled increasing from $500 to $2,500; $1,000 to $2,500 and from $1,500 to $2,500, respectively.

To see the full list, visit https://cms2.revize.com/revize/labelle/document_center/Agendas%20&%20Minutes/Agendas/2024/Commission/2024-02-08%20Commission%20REVISED.pdf