The following definitions apply within this chapter consistent with the provisions set forth in the South Carolina Development Impact Fee Act, or as it may be amended in the future. Where terms are not defined, the definitions used in the Town of Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances shall apply.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Housing affordable to families whose incomes do not exceed 80% of the median income for the service area or areas within the jurisdiction of the town.
BUILDING PERMIT. A permit issued for construction on or development of land.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. Improvements with a useful life of five years or more, by new construction or other action, which increase the service capacity of the public facility. Public facility categories for the purpose of this chapter include parks and recreation facilities, fire protection, municipal facilities and equipment and transportation.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN (CIP). A multi-year planning tool used to identify capital projects and coordinate financing and implementation. The Plan also identifies capital improvements for which impact fees may be used as a funding source.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. A certificate allowing the occupancy or use of a building and certifying that the structure or use has been constructed or will be used in compliance with the Town of Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances and all other applicable regulations.
CREDITS. Impact fee deductions allowed to a fee payer for eligible off-site capital improvements funded by the fee payer.
DEVELOPER. An individual, corporation, partnership or other legal entity undertaking new development.
DEVELOPMENT. Construction or installation of a new building or structure, or a change in use of an existing building or structure, any of which creates additional demand and need for public facilities (i.e., parks and recreation, fire protection, municipal facilities and equipment, or transportation). A building or structure shall include, but not be limited to, modular buildings and manufactured housing. DEVELOPMENT does not include alterations made to existing single-family homes.
DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL. A document that authorizes the commencement of a development.
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE. A financial payment imposed as a condition of development approval to pay a proportionate share of the cost for certain off-site system improvements needed to accommodate future growth. DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES (or IMPACT FEES) are collected by the town for recreation facilities, fire protection, municipal facilities and equipment, and transportation.
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. A permit issued for construction on or development of land when no subsequent building permit issued pursuant to Chapter 9 of Title 6 is required.
DWELLING UNIT. Shall include the definitions for Dwelling, Big House; Dwelling, Duplex; Group Dwelling; Group Care Dwelling; Manufactured Housing Unit; Multi-Family Dwelling; Single-Family Dwelling; and Townhouse Dwelling contained in the Town of Mount Pleasant Zoning Ordinance.
FEE PAYER. A fee payer is any person who, after the effective date of this chapter, seeks to develop land by applying for the issuance of a building permit, or other development permit, subject to development impact fees.
FIRE PROTECTION IMPACT FEE. A payment of money imposed as a condition of approval to pay a proportionate share of the cost for improvements to the fire protection system identified to serve new development.
MUNICIPAL FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT IMPACT FEE. A payment of money imposed as a condition of approval to pay a proportionate share of the cost for improvements to the municipal facilities and equipment system identified to serve new development: public services, police, stormwater and government services associated with managing growth (i.e., planning and development, public services, and the administrative offices on the Town Hall Complex only for recreation, transportation and fire).
OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS. Capital improvements located outside of the boundaries of a development that are required to serve the development's proportionate share of future year system demands and needs.
PROPORTIONATE SHARE. The portion of system improvements costs for public facilities determined in the Development Impact Fee Study Report for Mount Pleasant and the Town of Mount Pleasant Transportation Impact Fee Program Update Report that reasonably relates to the service demands and needs of the development.
PUBLIC FACILITIES. Improvements to and/or construction of capital improvements identified in the Town of Mount Pleasant Capital Improvements Plan, the Development Impact Fee Study Report for Mount Pleasant, or the Town of Mount Pleasant Transportation Impact Fee Program Update Report. PUBLIC FACILITIES for the purpose of this chapter shall include parks and recreation facilities, fire protection, municipal facilities and equipment, and transportation.
RECREATION IMPACT FEE. A payment of money imposed as a condition of approval to pay a proportionate share of the cost for improvements to the recreation system identified to serve new development.
SERVICE AREA. A defined geographic area in which specific public facilities provide service to development within the area defined.
SQUARE FOOTAGE. The total floor space within the exterior walls of a building not including space in cellars or basements.
SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT. A capital improvement to a public facility which is designed to provide service to a service area.
SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT COSTS. The costs incurred for construction and reconstruction of system improvements, including design, acquisition, engineering and other costs attributable to the improvements, and also including the cost of providing additional public facilities needed to serve new growth and development. SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT COSTS do not include:
(1) Construction, acquisition, or expansion of public facilities other than capital improvements eligible for impact fee funding that are identified in the Town of Mount Pleasant Capital Improvements Plan;
(2) Repair, operation or maintenance of existing or new capital improvements;
(3) Upgrading, updating, expanding or replacing existing capital improvements to serve existing development in order to meet stricter safety, efficiency, environmental or regulatory standards;
(4) Upgrading, updating, expanding or replacing existing capital improvements to provide better service to existing development;
(5) Administrative and operating costs of the governmental entity; or
(6) Principal payments and interest or other finance charges on bonds or other indebtedness except financial obligations issued by or on behalf of the governmental entity to finance capital improvements eligible for impact fee funding that are identified in the Town of Mount Pleasant Capital Improvements Plan.
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE. A payment of money imposed as a condition of approval to pay a proportionate share of the cost for improvements to the transportation system identified to serve new development.
VOLUME TO SERVICE CAPACITY RATIO. A measurement of the relationship between average daily traffic volumes (demand) and average daily maximum service capacities (supply) for transportation facilities in the Mount Pleasant Study Area. A volume to service capacity ratio greater than 1.00 identified the need for a capacity-enhancing improvement. This measurement is consistent with the methodology used by the Charleston Area Transportation Study (CHATS) Metropolitan Planning Organization for developing the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan.
(Ord. 17009, passed 4-3-17; Am. Ord. 18068, passed 10-9-18)