SOLEDAD — Soledad took one step closer to having a movie theater within city limits July 11 as the cinema owners came before the City Council to ask for lower utility rates.
Premiere Cinemas asked council members for a reduction in development impact fees for three categories. The estimated development impact fees are $300,000, and Premiere Cinemas wanted a reduced cost for water, wastewater and storm water fees.
According to Community and Economic Development Director Brent Slama, the City develops its impact fees through a study taken in 2013 that took the average consumption of water and tries to assign a value and last looks at projects that are growth driven within the city.
“How they figure it is by what is called an equivalent dwelling unit or EDU,” Slama said. “The idea is that one single family house equals one EDU. For commercial, it varies a lot because of the different uses that are out there and it’s based on square footage.”
Premiere Cinemas is estimated to be equivalent to 12.68 homes and 112,194 gallons of water per month. The cinema submitted its water usage from its theater in Hollister, which is similar acreage to its lot by Foods Co. The average was found to be 38,380 gallons per month.
“They’re required to comply with more and more green codes, which includes the use of less water,” Slama said.
The City Council approved a reduction in water and wastewater fees, but because there is going to be a deficit in the storm water fund, the council decided not to reduce that fee.
Premiere Cinemas has plans to open with eight screens in Soledad.
