CARLSBAD — City Council voted April 8 to increase Traffic Impact Fees on new developments in the city. The fees are designed to offset the increase in traffic the new developments would bring by funding improvements.

Council voted 4-1 to approve a 207 percent increase, despite protests from a building industry representative who opposed the increase.

Scott Molloy, from the San Diego Builders Industry Association, said that with the slow economy, builders may take their projects elsewhere because of the increase, noting that the housing recessions

is one of the worst in recent history.

Councilwoman Julie Nygaard responded that the fee is in place to make sure that Carlsbad does not become “gridlocked.”

City planners said they expect approximately 4,600 new units to be built over the next several years, and that the fees will be used to deal with the increase in traffic by making changes such as widening roads and improving intersections.