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EDITOR:
I am extremely frustrated and have no idea where to turn or what to do. I have owned a 35 acre parcel of land in Cameron Park for over 12 years — a parcel that I own outright and have paid over $30,000 in property taxes since purchasing in 1999. My frustration is due to the unbelievably high cost to obtain a building permit. During these most challenging economic times, I just cannot believe that El Dorado County requires some $60,000 to $90,000 simply for me to pull a permit to build a modest home for my wife and two children.
What in the world are these policy makers thinking, who exactly are they and what gives them the right to demand such unrealistic fees? Was there a public vote on the matter? Please tell me that I am asleep and am having a horrible nightmare, then pinch me so that I may awake. At the end of the day, I am absolutely shocked, disgusted and dismayed that my land is being held hostage by these politicians and that due to short-sighted policies like these that the local economy remains in tatters. Because of these crooks — honest, hard-working folks like myself cannot build, live, enrich, invest and spend our hard-earned dollars in the El Dorado community — a community that we chose and hoped to live in over a decade ago … a community that I fear I will never be able to be part of.
WILHELM DERKSEN
Placerville
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
DarrinAugust 22, 2012 - 1:38 pm
I hear you brother! We looked and looked and decided it was better to buy a home on land rather than build.
robertdnollAugust 23, 2012 - 5:40 pm
it was voted on by us,residents who don't want run away development without paying for the necessary infrastructure
Chuck HollandAugust 29, 2012 - 6:12 am
There is a difference between run away development and an individuals right to build their home upon their land. The exorbitant fee's (primarily Tim Fee) should be reserved for the "land developers" and not overly burdened on the single family builder. In 1993 my building permit costs for a 2400 sq ft house was around $8,000. Now that same permit cost would exceed $50,000. Our Board of Supervisors need to revisit permit costs for single family homes.
FernAugust 29, 2012 - 7:29 am
Most of the cost is the road fee. http://edcgov.us/Government/Building/Permit_Fee_Distribution.aspx
robertdnollAugust 29, 2012 - 9:24 am
get it on a ballot and we can vote again,you might want us to vote on the pot issue again at the same time
Ron BriggsAugust 29, 2012 - 9:31 am
Mr Derksen, I am not sure I can make it all go away but I am willing to help where I can. The good news is TIMS were reduced several months ago by 24%. The TIM program also puts aside money for hardships. Currently there is about $1 million in this first come first served program. Also, the county is willing to smooth fees over course of construction through final loan. For the past year we have been assessing our traffic modeling and road engineering designs. My guess the end result will give county justification to further reduce TIM fees, maybe by end of this year. Mr. Derksen, the county generally accounts for less than half of all the building fees. It is important for people such as yourself to tell the: fire; water; community service; and school districts to address their capital improvemnt programs and lower their fees too. Please give me a call and lets see if we can get your home built. Ron Briggs Supervisor District IV 621 6513
Underserved TaxpayerAugust 29, 2012 - 2:01 pm
How else do you think the county is going to pay Neves the quitters pension of $175K per year?
Jon SchroderAugust 29, 2012 - 5:18 pm
and that is exactly why i do not shop, live, or in any other way spend my time or money in El Dorado County.
robertdnollAugust 30, 2012 - 2:28 am
except for the time and money you spend on reading the democrat
Dink LaneAugust 30, 2012 - 11:57 am
Every time you hear "NO NEW TAXES" or "CUT TAXES" watch the "FEES" sky rocket.... Licenses, permits, and such are paying for the $400,000 CAO salary + all benefits PAID .... And NOW they want us to vote on POLICE, FIRE and ROADS....because they robbed the coffers with these high wages in UPPER-MANAGEMENT..... (NON-UNION workers)
Sean OSullivanAugust 30, 2012 - 2:53 pm
Sounds like the "fees" exceed the cost of the services provided. The county is zoned to control the density of development. Fees should not be used to control development. Another example of the people working for the government, not the government working for the people.
paulsavageAugust 30, 2012 - 4:19 pm
I wonder what building fees are in Texas? Must be higher as they are experiencing all sorts of growth while El Dorado County is not. It is depressing when in this market you can probably find a fixer for @$100,000.
Alan ChalmersAugust 30, 2012 - 6:32 pm
Lets see... the conservative elected officials of one of the most right wing conservative counties in the state, impose some of the highest building permit fees anywhere. We hate all those liberal politicians and their big taxing ways, but these are Our Guys! How will we ever get to blame this mess on the liberals? Ouch, the cognitive dissonance is killing me!
robertdnollAugust 30, 2012 - 10:03 pm
chalmers and holland,there is no mess,the permits and fees are what we voted for and what we want.briggs offer to make exceptions is against what we voted for
Drew sawyerAugust 30, 2012 - 10:52 pm
Noll- wrong. It is not what we voted for. Read the proposition. Adding the huge TIM fee is our supervisors' interpretation of the proposition. They are all Republicans. They love to tax and spend; the very thing they accuse dems of doing.
robertdnollAugust 31, 2012 - 1:22 am
i guess there's four people that don't like the way the vote went
Wilhelm DerksenSeptember 07, 2012 - 12:34 pm
Mountain Democrat, Thank you for publishing my letter. I really appreciate it. I would also like to extend my sincere admiration and appreciation to those of you whom took the time to comment. Finally, thank you Mr. Briggs for providing a pathway for me to explore in hopes of finally being able to build my family a home. I'll be reaching out to you soonest. Sincerely, Wilhelm
Nathan FoltzSeptember 07, 2012 - 2:20 pm
WILHELM I wouldnt build another house in this county even if I got the property for free. Ive spent 5 years and close to 70,000 before i even broke ground. Dont do it they just keep stringing you along and suck as much money as they can
Wilhelm DerksenSeptember 07, 2012 - 2:36 pm
What is perhaps most frustrating is that we bought the parcel at the time with the majority of our life savings, hoping someday to settle as a family and to establish a small family farm— a farm that one day might grow into a small commercial enterprise. At the time of our purchase, our parcel was designated as 'R10' in the general plan. A few years later we learned that the newly designed general plan had re-designated our parcel to 'high density residential'. Well, taking one look or walk on our parcel and it doesn't take long to summarize that our parcel and it's topography is totally unsuitable for a high density residential development project. Therefore, 10 years later and $30,000 dollars in property taxes later, my family is in essence 'stuck' with a property that we cannot sell, cannot build on and cannot develop. Furthermore, the county tax accessor continues to increase my property taxes year-over-year despite falling home prices in the area and listed parcels that will not sell nor have received any offers at all. I recently petitioned to have my property taxes reduced and was denied by the tax office. Anyhow, I have decided that I will not give up and plan to do everything that I can to help the right folks who are inspired to provide a remedy to this situation become elected to local and regional governmental offices. I've already begun to conduct research and am compiling a list of persons seeking election along with groups and associations whom are as concerned about this issue as we are. I've never been a political activist but am absolutely not willing to simply lay down to be treaded upon. These policies are senseless and in my humble opinion, are quite unjust. Good luck everyone. Wilhelm
nathan foltzSeptember 07, 2012 - 4:47 pm
Dont get me started on the general plan. It cost me prob 20,000 on top of the permit fees. Like I said dont build its not worth it in the long run.