Thoughts on whether Clover schools should charge impact fees? Now’s the time to speak.
Anyone for or against new impact fees in the Clover School District can show up Tuesday to make those feelings known.
York County Council will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday. It will be at McCelvey Center rather than council chambers in York, to accommodate a larger crowd. Two years ago the same venue hosted hundreds of Fort Mill residents when council held a public hearing on whether to increase a school impact fee there. That meeting came before COVID-19 and public distancing measures.
The hearing Tuesday involves new fees the county would charge, if approved, within Clover School District boundaries. Impact fees are a one-time cost on new development. Council will consider fees of more than $15,000 per new home, almost $10,000 per mobile home and more than $7,000 per apartment unit.
Revenue from the fees would be used by the school district to keep pace with growth, including new school funding. District leaders in recent months spoke of impact fees as a way to take some tax burden off existing homes and businesses. Operations funding for the growing district otherwise would come largely from bond referendum votes.
There has been pushback from some in the building community to the use of impact fees. State and county homebuilder associations filed suit against the county and state after the county increased those school impact fees in Fort Mill.
Council will consider the second of three readings needed to adopt the new fees on Tuesday night, along with the public hearing.
Trish Startup, county spokesperson, said efforts will be made to let as many people as possible participate.
“It will be streamed on our website and York County YouTube channel,” she said. “Seating will be limited to approximately 200 and social distancing measures will be in place.”
York County doesn’t have a mandatory mask rule, but they will be recommended.
“Masks are recommended, but not required,” Startup said. “Anyone will be able to speak, just like a normal public hearing. Speakers must be present to speak, no comments will be taken via phone or internet.”
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