Economic Development

Just five years after Lubbock’s city council voted to establish roadway impact fees for developers, an all new council has reduced them to nothing. Developers argue the costs passed down to new homes and businesses were inhibiting new growth, but former city leaders say they enacted impact fees to make sure Old Lubbock isn't left behind.

Lubbock's city council has been holding a series of public hearings on proposed impact fees amendments. Our Brad Burt explains impact fees in Lubbock and the main sentiments driving the conversation surrounding them. The council is scheduled to hear more from the public in Tuesday’s meeting at 2 p.m. at Citizens Tower.

S2N5: Down Parkway Drive, businesses dot the side of the road. But you also see empty buildings and shopping centers—some, in pretty rough shape. Cosby Morton said it wasn’t always like this. Money stayed within the community rather than being spent on another side of town...That changed after desegregation and urban renewal efforts led by the city that caused a shift in population, recalled Morton.