News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville will consider increasing a fee it charges developers for sidewalk construction.
Planning Director John Ward said the city implemented the fee system in 2002.
“Any new development requires you to build sidewalks,” Ward said. “There is an option where you can request to pay a fee in lie of construction and the public works director can approve that.”
Under the proposal, fees would increase anywhere from $7 to $13 per linear foot depending on the width of sidewalk. Ward said the city wants to raise the fee because of the increased cost for sidewalk construction.
“Current fees are $15 per foot for four feet, $17 per linear foot for five foot wide sidewalks, and $19 for six foot sidewalks,” Ward said. “We’ve consulted with our public works department and this is what they recommend we increase those fees to. That’s $22 for four feet sidewalks, $26 for five feet sidewalks, and $32 for six foot sidewalks.”
The Planning Commission will be asked to consider approving the fee increase during next week’s meeting.
“About every developer asks us to take a payment in lieu of,” City manager James Mills said, “because this is much cheaper than what it’s going to cost them to put it in.”
If approved, the Cookeville City Council will consider the measure at a later date.
