The Lake Success Board of Trustees implemented a set of non-refundable impact fees for new construction projects across the village on Monday, which officials said would create a special fund to offset repair costs to the village.
New construction of a residence features a $5,000 fee, alterations deemed worth more than $100,000 by the building inspector come with a $2,500 impact fee, a new pool or driveway would require a $1,500 fee, and demolishing a structure on a residential lot and not filing a building permit within 90 days comes with a $5,000 impact fee.
Any new commercial construction or demolition of a commercial structure would come with a $10,000 impact fee.
The impact fees come on top of the costs already present to build a home in Lake Success, which can go as high as $30,000.
“I spoke with the Building Department and permit fees for a new structure tend to cost approximately $25,000 give or take $5,000 depending on the size of the property,” Deputy Clerk Angelique Melnyk said.
Additionally, according to the law, if any “public improvements are damaged during the course of construction in connection with the building permit that has been issued, the village shall require that the owner repair damage in a good and workmanlike manner, meeting all the Village standards.”
The law goes on to say that if the owner does not make repairs, the village may make necessary repairs and charge these costs to the owner so long as they notify the owner of its intention and the property owner does not make those repairs within 10 days of the notice.
If the owner does not reimburse the village, a lien and “charge against the realty involved” would be added to the property and “shall be collected by the Village Treasurer in the manner provided by law for the collection of delinquent taxes.”
In unrelated business, the Board of Trustees also swore in trustees Robert Gal and Sugnam Peter Chang, who were elected on June 19 in the general village election, and Mayor Adam Hoffman.
This followed a contested Village Party primary election where Stephen Lam, Peter Chang and Robert Gal received the three most votes out of four candidates.
Fred Handsman, who served on the board for more than two decades, was not returned to the board.
Trustee Alan Mindel had also declined to seek re-election, citing “family and other commitments,” which in turn opened up a seat.
In other unrelated business, the village also approved the allocation of $20,000 toward the village’s block party, slated to take place on Saturday, July 28, according to the village calendar.
