A new proposal will increase the overall amount of cash proffers a developer has to pay the county per house — but it also reduces the number of services proffers contribute to, particularly with Parks, Recreation and Community Services.
When the current board took office, it reduced the amount of cash proffers a developer had to pay per single-family-detached house from $37,028 to $33,034. During a six-month review chaired by Supervisor Mick Staton (R-Sugarland Run), every service department made its case to his committee. The newly proposed number, or capital intensity factor, is $37,660 — nearly identical to the previous board's calculation.
That has lead to preliminary approval for the new number from both ends of the board's political spectrum. Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) roundly criticized the board last summer for lowering the number. This time, he publicly praised Staton's "very thorough, very objective" look at the services each cash proffer pays for.
"You look at the bottom line. Essentially the capital intensity factor is the same as what the previous board adopted, which this board had said was excessive, just ridiculed," Burton said.
Two major changes are proposed: the new factor takes into account fire and rescue services, which weren't even included previously. That means that cash proffers will contribute to ladder trucks, stations, tankers, ambulances and more.
SECONDLY, THE NEW proposal no longer has athletic fields as separate considerations. Instead, the number of public parks defines how many athletic fields the county wishes to have, or the county's desired "standard." For example, the county would like one regional park per 75,000 residents under the new proposal. Previously, the standard was one regional park per 35,000 residents, meaning the county wanted seven regional parks total. Currently, the county has two.
With the one regional park per 75,000 goal, the county only needs three parks.
Under the old standard, the county aimed for one adult softball field per 3,600 people, meaning 67 total. Currently, the county has 12 adult softball fields.
Under the new standard, the county would aim for four adult softball fields per regional park. If the county has three regional parks in the future, as per the new report's goal, that's 12 adult softball fields — which the county already has.
Which also means that developers won't have to contribute to additional athletic fields. The story is told again with youth softball fields — the old standard asks for 79, the new standard asks for 15, the county already has 31.
Additionally, the new standards combine all other athletic fields — lacrosse, football, soccer — into one category, "multi-purpose athletic fields." Under the new proposal, 10 multi-purpose fields are the standard per regional park. So with three regional parks, the county will have 30 fields for all lacrosse, football or soccer games.
These numbers were compiled with the help of Ed Gorski, land-use planner with the Piedmont Environmental Council, whose similar number-crunching on last fall's comprehensive plan amendments also came up with a familiar result: developers aren't covering the costs of services demanded by the new population they bring.
BRUCE McGRANAHAN, facilities manager for Parks, Recreation and Community Services, pointed out that there are other options to get new athletic fields besides proffers.
"I don't think that's the only way we'll be delivering the fields," McGranahan said. But he did note that the county is "deficient" in the number of ball fields available.
Cindy Welsh, newly retired director of Parks and Rec, defended the old standards that required many more athletic fields, but added that the proposed standard is still a step in the right direction.
"I don't think [the old standards] were unrealistic," she said. "It was fiscally unrealistic, that's for sure."
Staton defended the standard, saying that "co-location" of fields saved money in maintenance and added convenience.
"You can't ask proffers to play catch-up for something else," he said. "You can only ask proffers to offset the development."
What's Next
The county will hold a public hearing on the new capital intensity factor Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m., in the Government Center at 1 Harrison St. in Leesburg. The report on the new capital intensity factor can be found at www.loudoun.gov/box/documents.htm in the public hearing packet file.
What Does This Mean to New Home Buyers?
When developers are faced with cash proffers, they tack the required amount onto home prices. Currently, the average cost of a single-family-detached home is $579,940. That includes the $33,028, or capital intensity factor, that would go directly to county to help pay for services. Under the new proposal, developers would add $37,660 to the home's base price.