Approved March 12, 2007 and effective April 1, 2007, the City of New Braunfels has adopted a set of road impact fees to offset the increasing cost of new road construction which is a result of new development.

Communities use development impact fees to help pay for extensions and improvements caused by new developments. Examples include new or larger water or sewer lines, funds for parks acquisition and improvements, and the widening or construction of new roads. The City of New Braunfels has begun to require impact fees such as these in response to the rapid growth experienced over the past decade, and the lack of desire to use taxpayer funds to provide all the funding for these types of improvements.

Development impact fees are calculated based upon the anticipated burden a new development will place upon the existing infrastructure and addresses the costs associated with accommodating the increased demand. Each type of development has a different effect, so the fees differ.

The City of New Braunfels has completed the process as required in Chapter 395 to adopt roadway impact fees. In the Fall of 2006, Council appointed a Road Impact Fee committee consisting of members of the development community, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Council, to hire a consultant, review land use assumptions, and work through the process to determine the proper fees. The City was divided into six areas, and the city's Thoroughfare Plan was used to identify roads for improvement and expansion within the next 10 years to be funded by the impact fees.

The roadway impact fee Land Use Assumptions and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was approved by Council on January 8, 2007. The Road Impact Fee Advisory Committee met on January 24 and made fee and policy recommendations which were considered by Council. First reading of the impact fee ordinance was held on February 27.

View existing land use map with proposed areas
View growth map with proposed areas
View the report with appendix

Road Impact Fee Ordinance