A new ordinance adopted by Tomball City Council waiving impact fees for new businesses looking to open up in the Historic Downtown district has been set into motion. The ordinance pertains specifically to sewer and water impact fees and will last for the next 24 months.

Sewer and water impact fees are paid to the city to account for the impact a new development is expected to have on water and sewer systems. The amount a business is typically required to pay in impact fees depends on a number of factors, including its size and how much water it uses.

By waiving them, council members hope to attract more businesses to downtown Tomball.

"People who are trying to start businesses—the small mom and pop places—would benefit from having those extra thousand dollars to invest in making their business look better," said Tomball City Councilmen Derek Townsend Sr.

The ordinance applies to commercial developments only. Council specifically decided against making business owners apply for a waiver; instead, it will automatically be granted to all businesses that open up, provided they open in the downtown district as defined by the Downtown Specific Plan.

City Council approved the ordinance at its Feb. 18 meeting. It will last until March 15, 2015