Cocoa Beach city commissioners approved impact fees on new construction in a 4-1 vote during their March 19 meeting, a decision aimed at funding public services while easing the tax burden on current residents. The fees, which will apply to both single-family and multifamily developments, are the first of their kind in the city. Developers have raised concerns that the move could complicate ongoing projects, including a major apartment complex planned along the Banana River Lagoon. The new fees require developers to pay $3,060 per single-family residence and $2,144 per unit in multifamily buildings. These funds will cover additional police, fire, and infrastructure costs linked to new developments. Mayor Keith Capizzi, who opposed the policy, argued that the city’s current land use patterns might limit the fees’ effectiveness. The Drift, a 220-unit mixed-use apartment project on 7 acres of land along State Road 520 near Cape Canaveral Hospital, is among the developments facing uncertainty. Cole Oliver, an attorney for the project’s investors, said the fees could force the developer to abandon the plan. City officials say the fees are necessary to prevent existing residents from shouldering the costs of growth. The measure now moves to the city council for final approval. Developers have until April 1 to file objections, though no formal complaints have been submitted yet. The decision highlights the tension between expanding infrastructure and managing the financial pressures of rapid development in the area. Commissioners who supported the fees emphasized their long-term benefits for the community, but critics warn the policy could deter investment. The outcome will likely influence future real estate projects in Cocoa Beach and beyond.