Can Development Impact Fees Help Mitigate Urban Sprawl?

Journal of the American Planning Association, 2013

37 Pages Posted: 28 Aug 2014

See all articles by Gregory Burge

Gregory Burge

University of Oklahoma

Trey Dronyk-Trosper

Tulane University, Murphy Institute

Arthur C. Nelson

Virginia Tech

Julian Conrad Juergensmeyer

Georgia State University - College of Law; Georgia State University College of Law

James C. Nicholas

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Date Written: July 1, 2013

Abstract

Many local governments have reacted to sprawl by adopting urban containment policies to limit fringe growth and encourage core development. An alternative is to design impact fee programs that account for the higher costs of providing services to remote locations. Zone-based impact fee programs carry this potential, but there is no empirical work investigating their effects on residential development. We explored the effects of a zone-based impact fee program on residential permits issued across the Albuquerque MSA using 21 years of data, identifying countervailing influences on density. We found the program mitigated sprawl by reducing the share of construction occurring near the urban fringe and increasing the share in more centrally located areas. However, we found no evidence the program increased core development. During a brief period when Albuquerque had impact fees but an adjacent community did not, spill-over effects that exacerbated sprawl were observed.

Keywords: urban sprawl, infill, impact fees, residential permits

JEL Classification: H71, R21, R31

Suggested Citation

Burge, Gregory and Dronyk-Trosper, Trey and Nelson, Arthur C. and Juergensmeyer, Julian Conrad and Juergensmeyer, Julian Conrad and Nicholas, James C., Can Development Impact Fees Help Mitigate Urban Sprawl? (July 1, 2013). Journal of the American Planning Association, 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2487406

Gregory Burge (Contact Author)

University of Oklahoma ( email )

307 W Brooks
Norman, OK 73019
United States

Trey Dronyk-Trosper

Tulane University, Murphy Institute ( email )

6329 Freret Street
Robinson 303
New Orleans, LA 70118
United States

Arthur C. Nelson

Virginia Tech ( email )

250 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
United States

Julian Conrad Juergensmeyer

Georgia State University College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 4037
Atlanta, GA 30302-4037
United States
404.651.2437 (Phone)

Georgia State University - College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 4037
Atlanta, GA 30302-4037
United States
404.651.2437 (Phone)

James C. Nicholas

University of Florida Levin College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 117625
Gainesville, FL 32611-7625
United States
352.392.0997 ext. 492 (Phone)
352.392.3308 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
86
Abstract Views
864
Rank
527,956
PlumX Metrics