Carroll County adopts deposit-based fees for 2232 reviews to recover staff and expert costs

Carroll County’s Board of Supervisors on Jan. 15 adopted an ordinance establishing a cost-recovery fee structure for 2232 reviews — the local determinations required when certain public facilities or services are sited or constructed. County staff told the board that growing interest in projects such as solar generation means the county must recover costs for staff time, advertising, and outside experts used in technical reviews.

"Staff will review and estimate the costs in terms of staff time and outside experts and advertising cost," Mr. Durbin said, describing a process in which applicants submit an application and a deposit based on that estimate. "The deposit would be refundable if the county spends less on the review or on, expert assistance, than the deposit. If the cost actually exceeded at any point what the deposit was, then the county could submit a bill for the applicant to then pay those additional charges."

Durbin offered comparative figures from other Virginia localities to illustrate typical ranges for 2232 or similar reviews: Fairfax ($2,025), Mecklenburg ($325), Fauquier ($1,100), Westmoreland ($600), and noted Montgomery County’s $500 fee for a comp-plan amendment as a point of reference.

He said the county does not yet have extensive experience with 2232 reviews, so the ordinance adopts an estimated-cost deposit system now with the option to move to a flat fee in the future after staff accrue experience. The planning commission recommended the ordinance to the board and the board voted unanimously to adopt the measure as amended.

Next steps: applicants will submit deposits with 2232 applications and staff will return or invoice for differences after review; the ordinance language will be corrected to reflect the actual hearing date in the recitals.