INTRODUCTION
The City of Simpsonville (“City”) is soliciting proposals from qualified professional consultant firms (“Consultants”) with expertise in performing Development Impact Fee Studies and Capital Improvement Plans. The purpose of the study is to determine appropriate fees, and ensure compliance with applicable state laws, essential nexus requirements, and proportionality standards. The selected Consultant will provide recommendations for fee structures that support long-term capital improvement needs attributed to new development.
BACKGROUND
The City of Simpsonville is known as a bedroom community with an estimated population just over 28,078, (2024 U.S. Census estimate) located approximately 15 miles southeast of the City of Greenville, South Carolina. The City of Simpsonville has experienced extensive growth over the last decade, expanding to over 9 square miles. The City seeks to establish a fair and transparent impact fee structure to fund improvements including parks and recreation services, police and fire, and other public safety services, which are necessary to provide for and promote harmonious living conditions and to maintain quality standards of living for the City’s residents and to encourage tourism. Impact fees are a key mechanism for ensuring that growth pays for growth without outpacing undue financial burden on existing residents. The goal is to ensure that new development contributes its proportionate share to the cost of capital improvements necessary to maintain existing service levels, pursuant to S.C. Code § 6-1-910 (the South Carolina Development Impact Fee Act.)
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The selected consultant will:
1. Assess existing and future infrastructure needs related to new development.
2. Quantify proportionate capital cost for facilities and services affected by growth.
3. Develop an impact fee schedule that is transparent, equitable, and legally defensible.
4. Provide implementation tools (e.g., fee calculation worksheets, update formulas, draft ordinances).
5. Ensure compliance with South Carolina statutory requirements for impact fees and local planning goals.