The Bryan County Commission voted during its Jan. 8 meeting to pass an ordinance establishing transportation impact fees for all new residential and certain new non-residential construction in unincorporated South Bryan County, effective April 1, 2019. The fees will be applicable to any developer who submits building plans from that point forward, and the money will be collected at the same time as the building permit fee.

Under the ordinance, fees are based on the cost of the construction necessary for providing a transportation system needed to adequately serve the area after the new development occurs. The fees were designed to help the county keep up with the growth and its effect on the roadways while not placing any additional property tax burden on current property owners.

“We don’t want to increase taxes but we do need a way to handle the influx of new residents Bryan County welcomes annually. Major roadwork and road creation cost a lot and there’s not much debate on whether it’s needed. Where the population expands, new infrastructure is absolutely necessary,” County Commission Chairman Carter Infinger said. “In this case, growth will help pay its own way. We’re proud of our expanding community and we know people come here to enjoy a great quality of life. Access to plenty of well-maintained and convenient roads is a big part of that.” 

The fees were included in the county's Transportation Capital Improvement Element as an amendment to Bryan's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. As required by state law the County submitted the proposed amendment to the Coastal Regional Commission and Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Both reviewed the capital improvement element and found the Capital Improvement Element to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and met local planning standards, allowing the commissioners to vote and formally adopt the change.