BY KATIE THISDELL

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a proposal to repeal developer road impact fees in certain areas, making way for countywide fees that could take effect later this year.

Impact fees were first set in one area in Stafford in 2003 to help pay for road improvements necessitated by new growth. A second area was set in 2005.

The impact fee change is one of nine matters up for public hearings, which begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The repeal of the two impact fee areas is the seventh hearing on the agenda.

Developers currently pay $1,603 for each new single-family home in the so-called Central West area, and $5,171 in the South East area. Different amounts are paid for other types of development.

Any developer now paying these fees will no longer have to for current projects.

County supervisors will also discuss new fees that would be mandated for residential growth countywide. They are scheduled to authorize a public hearing, possibly for October.

Under the new plan, developers would be required to pay $5,465 per single-family home in new subdivisions, with lower amounts for town houses and apartments.

Funds would go toward the estimated $204 million cost of upgrading 20 roads in Stafford.

The board's Infrastructure Committee recommended that in the cases where preliminary plans have already been approved, the developers should be exempt from the fees.

According to a staff memo, more lots would be exempt from the impact fees under this recommendation than if the board considered exemptions to other stages of the development process, such as for approved subdivision plats.

That also means that "virtually no revenue" would be collected via impact fees for several years, according to the memo by Keith Dayton, deputy county administrator.

By 2020, the county estimated getting $80 million in revenue from the fees based on the total growth that is expected.

But releasing approved preliminary plans and construction plans would mean a loss of about $36.3 million in the the revenue, since much of the county's current growth is taking place on lots that are already approved.

Staff recommends only exempting approved subdivision construction plans, which are much further along in the development process. There are 1,100 lots that have this approval now.

"This approach would provide some relief to builders and developers nearing the construction stage," Dayton wrote in the memo. Revenue would also start coming in much sooner.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, supervisors will:

Authorize a public hearing to greatly reduce fees associated with cluster development concept plan applications. Base fees are currently $1,975 and $125 per lot. A recommendation calls for the base fee to be $250 and $5 per lot.

Discuss a loan agreement to upgrade the Celebrate Virginia Parkway so it can be accepted into the state highway system.

Hear a presentation on the Rappahannock Baseball Initiative, to bring an independent pro baseball league team here.

Get a briefing on fiscal 2012 preliminary year-end results.

Katie Thisdell: 540/735-1975
Email: kthisdell@freelancestar.com