During a Feb. 22 meeting, council members discussed impact fee lows and highs before voting to create a $2,000 impact fee as a stimulus across the city for six months.

The plan, which includes an initial trial period, was established in the hopes of attracting residents to the city and new developments like Magnolia Ridge, which has struggled to attract homebuyers in the midst of a tough economy.

Area builders and developers have spoken out to the council about lowering impact fees for several months.

Impact fees are costs a home builder is required to pay to the city when requesting to be connected to the city’s utility services.

Legally, the city cannot completely waive impact fees under the current ordinance, city attorney Leonard Schneider said during the meeting.

“We’re trying to stimulate some kind of movement so people will buy in Magnolia,” said Mayor Jimmy Thornton of why the stimulus plan was created.

Thornton said current impact fees in Magnolia are $3,500, an amount that would be cut to $2,000 in the stimulus plan.

Magnolia Ridge developer Aaron Polatek has already been contacted by home builders since the stimulus plan was voted in Feb. 22, Thornton said.

He added that the trial period should begin this week and last until August.

For more information on the stimulus plan, contact the city of Magnolia at 281-256-2266.

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