The North Bend City Council, by a 3-2 vote, elected to adopt fire impact fees. For that, they should be applauded.

Time and time again the complaint I hear most is that new developers don’t pay their fair share of infrastructure upgrades, necessitated by the new development. Council member Karen Tavenner was correct to allude to the recent school bond failure as a result of many feeling new development has not contributed enough toward infrastructure.

The need will still be there and if some of that burden can be put back on developers and new home buyers in our community, then the right thing to do is raise impact fees.

Let’s face it, people are going to move here regardless of a small increase in their home prices due to impact fees. People are clamoring to move here now and raising the price of a home a few thousand dollars to offset infrastructure costs is a good idea.

I also believe that economic development will follow and the minimal costs to businesses opening will not hinder economic growth. We really need to see a level playing field with regard to economic growth. Once the water spigot is turned on, I believe more businesses will want to locate here.

Congratulations to the majority of the council who felt the need to fund infrastructure on the back of new development.