Lafayette Stimulus Package - Taking Care of Business
By Cathy Tyson
City staff aren't just paying lip service when they say that Lafayette is open for business. In an innovative move to encourage business growth and make development more attractive during our current financial meltdown, they have adopted a number of cost reductions to entice businesses to locate here, their own Stimulus Package. "The City Council and the Lafayette Redevelopment Agency Board recognize that Lafayette has been negatively impacted by the economic downturn currently plaguing California; and that this economic downturn has created a ripple effect across the community causing a slowdown in the development of property," said City Manager Steven Falk in a prepared statement.
Incentives in the
Stimulus Package include:
- Waiving the fee for a sign permit
- Waiving the Waste Management performance security fee
- The cost of street trees required to be planted as a condition of development will be reimbursed if developer submits a building permit application by 12/31/09.
- The expiration date of hillside development permits, design review and land use permits will be extended for one additional year from the date of expiration.
- Walkway construction and improvements will be reimbursed up to $50,000. if required as a condition of development.
The City of Lafayette is clearly making an effort to tempt businesses and development that in turn would strengthen the local economy. Given the current recession, only time will tell if it works.
Incentives in the
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA