The Woodland City Council on Wednesday, Jan. 21, opted to send the planning commission’s recommended school impact fee increase back for further revision, with most council members saying the proposed jump was too steep to implement all at once.
The recommendation before the council would have raised school impact fees for new residential construction, increasing current rates of $5,900 for a single-family home, $5,900 for a multi-family residence, and $2,000 for an accessory dwelling unit to higher amounts. Under the proposal, single-family home fees would rise to $10,545.93, multi-family residence fees would increase to $13,664.57, and accessory dwelling unit fees would climb to $5,272.97.
Planning commissioners voted 5-0 earlier this month to approve Ordinance No. 1579, which updates school impact fee rates and aligns Woodland School District’s 2026–2031 Capital Facilities Plan.
During council discussion, several members stressed they support raising fees but want a phased approach rather than a single, large increase.
“They’re asking for at this time is a little excessive considering they haven’t had any raised,” Michaelson said. “I am not against raising the impact fee. I think that it needs to be done. Right now, we’re looking at approximately an 80% increase. That’s a little excessive to just hammer them like that.”
Michaelson suggested gradual increases over several years to reach the recommended level, saying it would give builders and property owners time to adjust while still addressing school funding needs.
Council members also heard from Ridgefield resident and Woodland property owner Daniel Soare, who purchased Woodland Heights in 2017. He said higher impact fees could jeopardize planned housing projects and ultimately be passed on to renters.
“In my opinion, this impact is not ready for prime time,” Soare said. “If this impact fee goes through, then that means the whole project is gonna cost an extra $105,000. And then guess where all the money is gonna come from, the renters. So if you want affordable housing, you gotta keep those fees down,” he added, regarding a future housing project.
Soare told the council he supports raising impact fees in principle but said the proposed increase would make financing future developments difficult and discourage new housing.
Freimarck was the lone council member who argued the city should adopt the planning commission’s recommendation as written, warning that delaying or reducing the increase would shortchange students.
“I rarely agree with our planning commission 100%, but in this case, I think I’m gonna have to,” Freimarck said. “We cut this back, somebody’s gonna suffer. I surely don’t want to be our kids.”
After discussion, the council voted to send the proposal back to the planning commission to explore a gradual fee increase over a multi-year period. Freimarck cast the only dissenting vote.
The revised proposal is expected to return to the council after further review.
