91视频

The Portland City Council won’t vote whether to increase system development charges (SDC) for parks until Wednesday, but developers already have an extension.

At the May 20 council meeting, Mayor Charlie Hales introduced an amendment to the proposed ordinance that will delay its implementation until July 2016. Originally, it was supposed to take effect in July 2015, and a subsequent amendment, now superseded, would have set the implementation date for January 2016.

The amendment passed unanimously, but Commissioner Amanda Fritz noted that exemptions as noted in the plan can be filed 30 days after final approval of the ordinance.

The new SDCs for parks would mean higher costs for homebuilders and developers, but allow Portland Parks and Recreation to increase capacity and buy land for future parks, according to the bureau’s website. The fees could not be used for parks maintenance.

The proposed plan has drawn criticism from several sources. Dave Nielsen, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Metro Portland, has complained that the new rates are not fair because they more than double commercial rates and unfairly penalize construction of big houses. Sandra McDonough, president and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance, wrote to parks director Mike Abbat茅 and stated her concern that 鈥渢he city still lacks a plan鈥� for park maintenance. 鈥� Beverly Corbell