(12/1) Thurmont’s Board of Commissioners voted to approve fees related to planning and zoning during their November 27 meeting. The objective of installing a set of fees is to recoup some of the costs that the town has been and will be investing on behalf of those that are coming forward to build within the town.

The recommended fees for planning and zoning are based on similarities to other neighboring municipalities and what they use the fees for. As noted by Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick, Thurmont is the last municipality that has not yet begun to capture these costs. Many fees, especially fees related to advertising site plans can be quite costly to the town, but have thus far been covered by town funds.

The recommended fees fell under five categories covering different types of site plans. Any work and discussion with town staff before "official" plans are presented does not come at a cost to potential builders. For a concept plan submission and review, which includes subdivision plans, the town recommended charging a $250 base fee plus any additional professional services including advertising, legal and engineering fees.

Three categories existed within preliminary site plan and review. For a category site 1 plan, residential, the town proposed a $350 base fee plus $25 per lot or dwelling unit plus any additional professional service fees. Category 1, residential, includes larger construction projects such as new construction or the relocation of buildings, commercial and industrial building. For category 1, non-residential site plans, the town recommended a $350 base fee plus $50 per acre and any additional professional service fees. Category 2 site plans, which include smaller projects that are typically residential, the town recommended charging the zoning certificate fee (which is already in place) plus any additional professional service fees.

Lastly, for an annexation submission and review, a $500 base fee plus $25 per acre and any additional professional service fees was recommended. The additional professional service fees within each recommended category would be invoiced to the applicant, meaning they would pay for the additional services as they are accrued.

After discussion among Commissioners and staff, it was proposed to change the annexation submission fee to $500 plus an additional $25 per acre for any acreage above 25 acres plus the additional professional service fees. Additionally, they proposed increasing the Category 1, non-residential base fee to $500 and eliminating the per acreage fee of $50 per acre. The additional professional service fees will remain in place, as they do within each provision.

The recommended fees were adopted and will become effective on January 1. These fees can be re-visited in the future and revised as necessary.