Astoria, Oregon Development News

Astoria City Council Suspends Transportation SDCs Amidst Business Concerns

The Astoria City Council discussed and ultimately voted to suspend the city's transportation Systems Development Charge (SDC) program. This decision came after significant public comment from business owners and developers who argued that the existing SDC fees were too high, potentially stifling small business development and entrepreneurship. While acknowledging the need for transportation infrastructure funding, the council opted to suspend the program to re-evaluate and potentially develop a more appropriate fee structure. This action aims to remove a financial barrier for new and existing businesses, particularly small-scale ventures, while the city explores alternative funding or revised SDC calculations.