THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160251
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 38 lines
The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to delay a vote on cash proffers - a growth-management tool that's been a source of contention among city officials and developers.
While city officials say proffers will help Suffolk defray some of the expenses that new development brings, builders say the monetary gifts are bargaining tools that will be used against them in return for zoning changes.
Council members questioned whether the revised policy would bring enough money to the city to pay for schools and roads - some of the services that localities must provide for new homes.
``We have to generate some money for education and police and fire,'' Councilman Curtis R. Milteer said. ``This is one of the major mechanisms.
``It's unfair,'' Milteer continued. ``Some people will be caught, and some are not. It's like a thief. You can't catch them all.''
Proffers, which have long been used by localities, can only be accepted as part of rezoning requests. They are voluntary payments from developers to the city to help offset the cost of services to support new homes.
Suffolk has roughly 61,000 acres of property zoned for residential development and only about 21,000 homes. That's enough already zoned land - not eligible for help from proffers - for about 61,000 homes, officials have said.
More than 30 developers pleaded with the council to not impose the tougher cash proffer policy - which sets a maximum amount that developers can offer for different projects.
The developers argued that imposing such a policy would hinder Suffolk's ability to attract economic development and would force builders toward land already zoned for homes.
The vote was delayed for 30 days.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL