Construction projects in Chilmark will now face higher permitting costs, after the select board approved a new building department fee schedule proposed by building inspector Adam Petkus at a public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

The increase, which upped new construction fees from $0.75 per square foot to $6.50 per $1,000 in project costs, will go to fund the building department in the face of increased development, Mr. Petkus said.

“The scale of these projects are going to get larger, there are getting to be more and more of them,” he said. “In order to keep up with that, and to provide the required services, this fee increase will cover those expenses.”

Individuals who cannot afford the fees can petition the select board to waive them.

Doug Best, owner of D. Best construction, spoke in favor of the fee increase, saying that Island building departments have often gone underfunded.

“It’s troublesome for builders, it’s troublesome for homeowners,” Mr. Best said at the meeting. “I encourage and support this effort tremendously, much to the chagrin of many of my customers.”

The select board unanimously approved the new fee schedule.

In other business, the board voted to move forward with a plan to ban tour vans in Menemsha in a bid to improve summertime traffic in the town. Board member Jim Malkin said he had consulted with town counsel Michael Goldsmith of Reynolds, Rappaport, Kaplan & Hackney, who spearheaded a similar effort in Edgartown.

According to Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. Malkin said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation would be likely to approve a ban on tour vans.

To board voted to consult with the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and town counsel on next steps for such a ban.