Recently, the state House passed legislation I authored to allow municipalities to recoup the costs they incur when they evaluate a conditional use application’s impact on their zoning ordinances.

The technical nature of a conditional use application often necessitates that the municipality appoint professional consultants for assistance. While both the municipality and the applicant benefit from the advice, the cost of the expert’s review and recommendations is borne solely by the municipality.

As a township supervisor for seven years, I found it frustrating that a developer was required to reimburse local governments for consultant review fees for routine zoning applications, but that no similar requirements existed for conditional use development. This costs the taxpayers money.
 
My bill, H.B. 1831, would close this loophole by authorizing municipalities to charge fees to compensate for their review of conditional use applications, because I see no reason why the municipalities’ taxpayers should have to fund the review, which many times runs into six figures.

The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.