The study attributed any slack in economic development to a lack of incentives provided by the County, rather than to impact fees. Building permit data supplied by the County supported the contention that impact fees assessed in Indian River County did not stop construction. More than 500,000 square feet for commercial building permits were issued from 1996 through September 1998 and more than 1,600 residential units were permitted during the same period. Building permit data supplied by Palm Beach County lends further support to the contention that impact fees do not stop construction. While it can not be answered conclusively that more building would have occurred without impact fees, it can certainly be seen that impact fees did not halt development.
Businesses go where there is a market.
Businesses look for skilled labor, access to markets, land with adequate infrastructure and a good place to live. Impact fees make a community more, not less competitive because they are used to increase the supply of buildable land, help to provide infrastructure when and where needed and raise the quality of life. There is no credible evidence showing that impact fees are associated with the inability of businesses to meet market demands while there is strong statistical evidence that suggest that impact fees sustain economic development. Officials in Palm Beach County contend the driving force determining demand in that county is the national economy and interest rates. Impact fees charged in Palm Beach County appear to be such a minor part of the development costs that they can find little if any correlation with economic development.