Leesburg Waives Impact Fees to Spur Economic Development

In its latest effort to promote economic development, the Leesburg City Commission on Monday unanimously agreed to waive city impact fees up to $100,000 for each new project developed within municipal limits.

The waiver is approved for one year. It applies to several city fees charged for new development to offset impacts to water, sewer and other municipal services.

The change will benefit new construction such as residential, commercial and industrial projects. Though Leesburg now will absorb the cost of impact fees, the city hopes to encourage development during the challenging national recession by bringing in new businesses and jobs, homes for families and also expand its tax base to help fund important public services.

“Hopefully it will speed up construction and people will pull building permits and build homes and businesses,” said City Commissioner John Christian.

City Commissioner Bill Polk: “I think it’s a good idea.”

The decision waives only Leesburg’s impact fees up to $100,000 per project. Much larger developments with greater impacts and benefits to the community could be considered separately for extra potential waivers.

The waiver does not cover Lake County’s own impact fees, which also are charged for new development in Leesburg. In March, however, the county opted to waive transportation impact fees.

Nearby Tavares also waived impact fees, which successfully led to new business development around that city.

Leesburg is a progressive city of more than 20,000 residents in northwest Lake County. The city government serves twice as many people with its electric, gas, water, wastewater and fiber-optic public utilities. Leesburg also is a central hub for commerce, attracting 50,000 people to work each weekday.