Building boom boosts fees

Published 3:56 pm Friday, June 17, 2016

Both Bowling Green and Warren County are experiencing construction and development booms.

All that activity is demolishing revenue projections.

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The City-County Planning Commission of Warren County looked over its budget amendment Thursday and saw those growing revenue numbers.

Just before the close of the 2015-16 fiscal year, planning commission members saw increases in the amounts of review fees and construction fees collected compared to what amounts were forecast in their budget.

Revenue from construction fees tripled, from an anticipated $30,000 to $90,140.

Revenue from review fees, among them subdivision review fees, were also up. Although $70,000 was forecast, $94,178 was actually collected.

The subdivision inspection fee revenue increased from $4,125 to $33,540.

Ben Peterson, executive director of the City-County Planning Commission, said the increases reflect more construction and development activity since the fee amounts themselves haven’t been increased. “There are more subdivisions being developed, therefore more subdivision inspection fees,” he said. The 2015-16 budget shows $1.2 million in income and nearly $900,000 in expenses.

“We are just experiencing rapid growth,” Peterson said.

In other matters Thursday, the planning commission voted to recommend:

•A new detailed development plan for The Vue being developed by New Millennium Real Estate LLC at Block 4 of the Downtown Re-development District, bounded by State Street and Seventh and Eighth avenues. The project’s commercial space was adjusted in the new DDP. The three-story residential, retail and restaurant space has already broken ground.

•A rezoning to permit a mobile home on property owned by C.P. Thompson Jr., 4658 Galloway’s Mill Road. The 2.22 acres is being rezoned from agricultural to rural residential.

The planning commission will next meet again July 7.

— Follow business reporter Charles A. Mason @BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.