(a) Required Dedication or Reservation. Where a proposed park or school site, as shown on a comprehensive plan as adopted by City Council, is located in whole or in part within a proposed subdivision, the Planning Commission may require the following:
(1) The dedication to the public of part or all of the proposed site and/or
(2) Reservation of the site for a period of up to three (3) years to enable acquisition by the appropriate agency or entity.
(b) Minimum Dedication Requirements. In all subdivisions or developments which result in additional dwelling units within the City, the Owner/Developer shall be required to dedicate land to public sites and open space without compensation, or to pay an amount equal to the value as defined in Section subsection (d) below, to the City of Galion for the purpose of developing public sites and open space of benefit to the residents of said subdivision. The amount of land to be dedicated by the Owner/Developer shall be determined according to the following formula:
Acres of Land for Dedication = Total Population X .005
The total population of a subdivision will be calculated by determining a population factor for each dwelling unit in the subdivision (see below) and adding all population factors for dwelling units in the subdivision
The population for each dwelling unit shall be as follows:
Single-Family Dwelling 3.0
One Bedroom Multiple Family 1.5
Two Bedroom Multiple Family 2.0
Three Bedroom Multiple Family 3.0
(c) Modifications to Requirements. The Planning Commission, in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Committee of City Council may modify the requirements as specified above when the Owner/Developer has shown that at least one of the following conditions exist:
(1) The development will house a population substantially lower than that established above.
(2) The development will have a uncommon low need for parks and recreation services.
(3) The unique or special characteristics of the project that justify modification of these requirements can be reasonably expected to continue for the life of the project.
(d) Fee in Lieu of Dedication. The Planning Commission shall determine if land proposed for public sites and/or open space is suitable and desirable for such purpose. If it is determined that the land is not suitable for such purposes, the Owner/Developer shall pay a fee-in-lieu of land dedication to the City, for the express purposes of developing other sites or open spaces of benefit to the future residents of the subdivision. The amount of such fee shall be $200 for each dwelling unit within the subdivision.
(e) Private Recreational Areas. In lieu of the requirements of subsection (b) and (d) above, the Owner/Developer may devote not less than the acreage required in subsection (b) above to a private recreation area for the use of the occupants of the subdivision. The recreation area must be of suitable size for recreational purposes, as determined by the Planning Commission. The Owner/Developer must present a plan for development and perpetual maintenance of the site proposed, and such plan must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. The Owner/Developer shall also provide security to ensure development and maintenance of the site in the form of a bond, deposit of funds or other form satisfactory to the Planning Commission.
(Ord. 2009-85. Passed 12-8-09.)