Arlington Planning and Development Services is revamping its fee schedule for permits, impacting special events, zoning and more as it looks to catch up to fees collected in nearby cities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The fee increases<\/a> have been in the works for nearly a year as the city government looks to change its permitting software, said Gincy Thoppil, the director of Arlington Planning and Development Services. The increases will take effect July 15.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in that mode of thinking through the processes,\u201d Thoppil said. \u201cIt made a lot of sense for us to think through the fees related to recovering costs for the services we are providing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The changes also feature new fees, such as applications and appeals for land development within city limits.\u00a0<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/p>\n The department changed many of its processes since the fees were last updated, such as adding a meeting with land developers before they submit their full application to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Thoppil said.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the past, the constant need to shift a zoning or development proposal as the plans were evaluated led to a bottleneck in the commission process. The new system is meant to expedite the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}}))}();<\/p>\n Thoppil has seen other cities make similar changes. She brought the proposal to local developers who were on board with the idea, she said.<\/p>\n New special event parking fee raises concerns\u00a0<\/p>\n Some of the fees had not been updated in more than 15 years, including a special event parking permit fee that was first introduced in 2009, according to Planning and Development Services.\u00a0<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/p>\n Rather than holding a $150 flat fee for renewing permits, the department will now charge the initial fee of buying a permit each time a company looks to renew.\u00a0<\/p>\n Stadium Parking subleases parking lots from other businesses in Arlington to use as special event parking during Dallas Cowboys games and has been doing so since 2009, owner Tyler Smith said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Stadium Parking currently has six active special parking permits, according to permit data<\/a> from the city. To renew all six, Smith will have to pay $2,500 annually.<\/p>\n Smith now plans to renew his lots before the fee increase goes into effect. After the World Cup, he plans to look at how the increases will affect his business.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJust based on what few new interactions I\u2019ve had with City Hall on this topic recently, it seems like they are trying to kind of force us out of business,\u201d Smith said. \u201cNo one\u2019s been helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n The increases are concerning for Smith, who said that they feel unfair given that some in Arlington set up special event parking without a permit and do not \u201cpay their fair share\u201d in fees or sales tax.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere are people who will show up at a random lot, throw up an $80 fee sign and then leave when the lot is full,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe city is missing out on a bunch of revenue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The current penalty for failing to have a special event parking permit is a misdemeanor and up to a $500 fine.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Arlington Municipal Court fines $130 for each violation of the special event parking chapter of the city code, according to fine listings<\/a> on the court\u2019s website.<\/p>\n Higher permit fee for special events<\/p>\n The overhaul will also change the price of permits for special and temporary outdoor events.<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/p>\n Special event permits will be based on the number of attendees, rather than a flat $150 fee.\u00a0<\/p>\n The new fee structure is meant to maintain the ease of permitting for small businesses looking to host events, and the higher fee for large events is meant to reflect the extra work that is needed from the department, Thoppil said.\u00a0<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/p>\n The new structure will be increasingly important as the city brings in larger events, Thoppil said.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2026, the city will host the IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington in March and nine games during the FIFA World Cup in June and July.\u00a0<\/p>\n Large events hosted in the Arlington Entertainment District will pay a $2,000 fee and multiple $500 pre-application meeting fees if needed, Thoppil said.<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/p>\n More fee changes coming<\/p>\n The fee increases come as Arlington faces a $2.3 million budget shortfall, and leaders are looking to close the gap, including a potential property tax<\/a> rate increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thoppil confirmed new fee revenue will funnel into the city\u2019s general fund. However, she said the additional funds most likely will be offset by salaries.\u00a0<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/p>\n Another batch of fee increases will be presented to City Council in late summer. If council members approve, the new fees will go into effect in September.\u00a0<\/p>\n Chris Moss is a reporting fellow for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n