The purpose of this subchapter is to establish minimum recommended standards that developers must conform to when providing and constructing public sites and open space in a development.
(A) Reservation of land for public use. The Planning Commission may require a reservation of up to 10% of the gross area of a development for a period of two years from the date of approval by the Planning Commission for parks, playgrounds, schools or other public uses. The Planning Commission may recommend acquisition of the reserved area to the appropriate public agency. After the two-year period has elapsed, if the public agency affected has not begun negotiations for acquisition for the area, full rights shall revert to the owner.
(B) Capital improvement land reservation. If the city has adopted an official map and a short term capital improvement program (as provided for in KRS 100.293 to 100.311) which includes parks, recreational areas, school sites, or other public grounds, the Planning Commission may require a reservation up to five years, for the purchase of the public grounds by the appropriate public agency. If the public agency affected has not begun negotiations for acquisition for the area within the designated time, full rights shall revert to the owner.
(C) Open space program. Every developer of land for residential developments that do not contain public sites shall be required to provide land or payment in lieu thereof, for that portion of benefits from public sites accruing to the proposed development as determined by the Planning Commission.
(D) Buffer zones. Buffer zones of landscape plantings or other appropriate screening shall be required where incompatible land uses abut. The plant species, size, and quantity shall be provided on the development plan and the plantings shall be in accordance with the landscaping and buffer guidelines in the Zoning Code and may include green infrastructure practices.
(Prior Code, § 74.750) (Ord. passed 3- -1995; Ord. passed 10- -2005; Ord. 2018-03, passed 2-14-2018; Ord. passed 1- -2020)