MADEIRA BEACH â Developers of both commercial and residential properties will soon be paying impact fees to the city based on the size of their projects. The purpose is to help recover some of the costs to the city associated with development.
Fees will be assessed in three areas impacted by new developments and redevelopment of existing properties. There will be mobility fees for roads; health and safety fees for fire, EMS and police services; and fees to benefit parks and quality of life.
Recognizing the fees could have a negative impact on potential developments in the city, at least when first introduced, the commission decided to phase in the charges. The recommendation by Mayor John Hendricks was to charge a lesser amount, 40 percent of the total fee, during the first year after introducing the fee, then increasing it 10 percent each year for the next six years.
seaboard. arthur strengthened to a category 1 hurricane early this morning and is now packing winds of about 80 miles per hour. arthur is expected to pick up some speed throughout the day. 25 north carolina counties are on high alert, including the region s most popular holiday vacation spots along those barrier islands. meanwhile communities in five states from north carolina to massachusetts have already rescheduled fourth of july fireworks, and fema chief craig fugate is pushing for people to take this seriously, despite the so-called weakness of it being a category 1. the big question right now is going to be people heeding evacuation orders. we really want people if you re in an evacuation zone and the officials have said it s time to go, it s time to go. if you live from brownsville all the way up to maine, it s hurricane season. get ready. so let s check conditions in north carolina with the weather channel s jim cantore who joins us live. jim, i think the biggest fear of