Lake City is advancing a proposal to replace its existing concurrency system with mobility fees that would require new developments to pay for transportation improvements through 2050, according to a September 11, 2026 report from WUFT. The City Council moved the ordinance to a second hearing during Thursday's meeting, a shift that would tie development costs to the type and size of what's being built. Revenue collected would fund roads, intersections, sidewalks, trails, and other projects outlined in the city's long-range transportation plan.
The proposed fees vary significantly based on development type and scale. A 1,500-square-foot affordable home would face a 2027 fee of $660, while a 10,000-square-foot convenience retail development would pay $66,300, the report states. NUE Urban Concepts, the consultant hired by Lake City, calculated each fee using square footage as the primary unit of measure. The 2050 mobility plan that would receive this revenue includes more than $500 million in planning-level transportation projects, with the majority of funds earmarked for streets and sidewalks, though trails and neighborhood greenways also appear on the project list.
Mayor Noah Walker described the mobility fee as "a new fee that is set to address the burden of new development on the current infrastructure system." Lauren Rushing, NUE project manager and principal planner, explained that "the goal is for the rate to reflect the transportation demand and essentially how many trips are being attracted to that business or home." The consultant also noted that Lake City's overarching goals include "a complete and connected multimodal transportation system" with an emphasis on alternative transportation modes and improved walkability.
The new system would fundamentally change how development revenue is allocated in Lake City. Rather than functioning as unrestricted city revenue, mobility-fee money would be restricted to transportation improvements specifically identified in the 2050 Mobility Plan. The mobility-fee system isn't expected to fund all $500 million in planned projects on its own—actual funding will depend on how much new development occurs and the fees that development generates. City Council departments will propose specific projects to the council for budget consideration on a case-by-case basis, with Mayor Walker noting the process "will be project-to-project specific." The plan isn't just about roads; it encompasses bicycle improvements, transit options, and creating what the consultant described as more walkable infrastructure, reflecting a broader vision for how Lake City accommodates growth over the next quarter-century.