Agenda Date: 01/20/2026
Subject:
Title
Ordinance 04-2026: An ordinance on first reading amending Title1, Chapter 14 of the Littleton City Code regarding land development impact fees
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Laurie Matta, Finance Director |
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Presentations: |
Laurie Matta, Finance Director |
PURPOSE:
Does city council support adoption increasing impact fees for the City based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Denver, Aurora, Lakewood metro area?
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
High-Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
The city imposes impact fees as per the Colorado Revised Statutes for land development. The intent is that such fees only cover the full cost of capital resulting from the development of new service units caused by the new development and is not intended to be a tax under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Land development impact fees collected pursuant to the Littleton City Code are to be used to fund expenditures for capital facilities attributable to land development. These development impact fees should be imposed upon land development based upon the principle of new growth paying for the costs attributable to new growth.
The city’s code further states rates will be subject to an annual inflation factor as determined by the finance director and amended accordingly. Staff’s recommendation is that the impact fees be increased by the Denver, Aurora, Lakewood Consumer Price Index inflation factor of 2.7%.
BACKGROUND:
In 2013, council adopted capital facility impact fees/land development impact fees. These fees have been amended over the years with the last amendment occurring in October 2023 for inflation and multimodal transportation phase II increases.
Prior Actions or Discussions
The current 2025 impact fees were adopted by ordinance December 3, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The following are the proposed fee changes for 2026:
|
Use |
Land Development Impact Fee Rate |
Total |
|
|
Residential (per unit) |
|
|
|
Multimodal |
Museum |
Library |
Police |
Facilities |
Transpor- |
|
|
|
Improvements |
|
|
|
|
tation |
|
|
Single Family |
$1,237.93 |
$1,027.37 |
$779.95 |
$421.42 |
$2,188.06 |
$2,547.03 |
$8,201.76 |
|
Multiple Dwelling Unit |
$812.31 |
$674.13 |
$511.79 |
$276.53 |
$1,435.76 |
$1,975.02 |
$5,685.54 |
|
Use |
Land Development Impact Fee Rate |
Total |
|
|
Non-Residential (per square foot) |
|
|
|
Multimodal |
Museum |
Library |
Police |
Facilities |
Transpor- |
|
|
|
Improvements |
|
|
|
|
tation |
|
|
Auto Dealership |
$0.93 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.42 |
$1.89 |
$3.27 |
$6.51 |
|
Industrial |
$0.93 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.42 |
$1.89 |
$0.55 |
$3.79 |
|
Lodging |
$0.93 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.42 |
$1.89 |
$1.28 |
$4.52 |
|
Office |
$0.93 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.42 |
$1.89 |
$1.07 |
$4.31 |
|
Retail/Commercial |
$0.93 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.42 |
$1.89 |
$3.27 |
$6.51 |
|
Warehouse/Storage |
$0.93 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.42 |
$1.89 |
$0.20 |
$3.44 |
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance adopting the 2026 impact fees.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Adopt fees as proposed.
2. Adopt different fees, understanding the impact to current and future projects.
3. Maintain fees at the 2025 level, understanding the impact to current and future projects.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Ordinance 04-2026 on first reading amending Title 1, Chapter 14 of the Littleton City Code regarding land development impact fees, and to set the second reading and public hearing for February 3, 2026.