TUSTIN : Fees Adopted for Border Projects
The City Council on Monday approved fees for developers who build in designated areas along the Santa Ana-Tustin border.
Last November, the council approved a joint powers agreement with Santa Ana to charge the developers and use the money for street improvements. But after Councilman Ronald B. Hoesterey resigned, the four-member council deadlocked on the fees to finance the improvements.
While Mayor Richard B. Edgar and Councilwoman Ursula E. Kennedy said charging the developers was like implementing a user fee, Councilmen Earl J. Prescott and John Kelly opposed the fees, calling them a tax.
But with Kennedy and Kelly gone and three new members on the council, the fees were approved 4 to 0 with Prescott abstaining becaused his family owns property in the designated area.
In one area, north of the Santa Ana Freeway, the fees will be 2% of the cost of construction. In another area, south of the freeway, the fees range from $1 per square foot for industrial to $2.60 per square foot for commercial/office projects. Residential development will not be affected.
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