The way impact fees for transportation are calculated in Sarasota County could soon be overhauled. County officials are in the process of studying fees, and considering implementing a mobility fee that could be used not just for roads but also sidewalks and transit needs. Among the consequences for such a switch, there could be different fees assessed depending on where a building is constructed. “It would recognize in the more urbanzed areas, people tend to drive shorter trips,” said John Paul, special projects planner for the county.

Assessing different rates for development in various parts of the county is something County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo has supported since joining the board in November. Similar systems have worked in counties like Pasco and Collier, he said. “It could help incentive development in some areas, or disincentivize it in other areas if we like,” he said.

It’s something people on both sides of the development debate are watching—with caution. “The big question is how much that mobility fee is going to be,” said attorney Dan Lobeck, a critic of county policy who feels developers in recent years have been given too many breaks because of weakening rules for concurrency and fiscal neutrality. On the flip side, homebuilders say the last time anyone took a hard look at impact fees, it cost much more to build than it does today. Alan Anderson, executive vice president for the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association, said a switch to a mobility fee instead of a traditional impact fee matters less to builders than the way the fees are figured. “The fairness of how it is collected is more of an issue.”

Of course, many officials remain mum on what will happen, largely because numbers won’t be known until an impact fee study is released in late March. “Until that point, the question is premature,” said County Commissioner Alan Maio.