Should the city assess a “capacity reservation fee” on undeveloped properties in areas where utilities are available?

Tonight MSNBC reports that within the 150 market areas they monitor in this 3rd quarter. "The housing recovery is not even in existence." Home value is almost every market sector fell another 4.5%. This information comes from an impartial observation not the local Board Of Realtors. The 2011 taxes are not even paid yet and the 2012 budget still has wet ink! Cape Coral needs to be worried about keeping the existing people in developed land. It does not have to worry about foreclosing on undeveloped lots. The heat map showed if the city is lucky they get to put large parcels together from the 16,000 empty lots. The city could do a lottery for free lots with payment of utility infill to those wanting to build. Sort of like the land rush to settle the U.S. in the 1800's. I think Indiana was developed that way. Someone ask Marty!

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How interesting it is that other communities put water& sewer infrastructure in the ground and do not have the problems this sandbox of a city has. Any other project charges undeveloped land owners for the engineering, installation of pipes passing in front of their property. They are assessed like the developed land owner with a 20 year assessment. They do receive a pass on the hook up because they only have the land and no structure to hook up. Ah but here in Cape Coral they just never seem to be able to get it right. Does anyone believe that IF the undeveloped land owner sells the property it will not bring him the benefit of a selling point and an additional profit that the utilities are available? I'll tell you right now the developers and builders will and as it stands now have been garnering the profits off the rate payers.

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Sure, why not add another fee to a piece of land that isn't and will not sell in the forseeable future but atleast it looks as though someone is trying to do something about...what was we talking about? Oh..yeh...raising money from non-existing customers.

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Lets be perfectly clear. “capacity reservation fee” is another name for "impact fee". The Mayor tried to get this applied to properties WITHOUT utilities, but the city attorney clarified that a "start date" MUST be included. He would not make a commitment. The Utility Expansion Program (UEP) needs to begin the forward process now. MWH is GONE! Out of the picture. The infrastructure is complete for water and sewer. New bids should be solicited for??? 1)Smaller sections 2)Single phase i.e. water & irrigation lines but not sewer. 3)Preference for local contractors. You fill in the planks. I know people want WATER, but "don't need" sewer. Not going to happen! Everyone has heard how expensive the "North Water Plant" was. Here's a dirty little secret. THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER RECLAMATION (SEWER) WAS DOUBLE THE WATER! It is all or nothing. START THE PROCESS!

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This is a much better option than increasing the water rtes for the next two years. The system was built to handle the needs of these lots and has made the lots more valuable. The owners of these lots should have to pay to maintain the infastructure built and reserved or their use. This should not be paid by the current rate payers. it would be very unwise to restart the UEP now as it will just drive the foreclosure rate up and force additional burdens on the current rate payers. Oct. foreclosure rtes are up.

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