(A) The Planning Commission shall require that land be reserved for parks and playgrounds or other recreation purposes in locations designated in the comprehensive plan or other places as deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission. Each reservation shall be of suitable size, dimension, topography and general character and shall have adequate road access for the particular purposes envisioned by the Planning Commission. The area shall be shown and marked on the plat “Reserved for Park and/or Recreation Purposes”. When the recreation areas are required, 5% of the total gross area of the subdivision shall be reserved. The Planning Commission may refer the proposed reservations to the Park Board for recommendation. The developer shall dedicate all the recreation areas to the local government as a condition of final subdivision plat approval.
(B) However, when in the judgment of the Planning Commission, a subdivision is of insufficient size to include an area for park and playground, or the subdivision is not designated as an area for playground or park in the comprehensive plan, the owner or applicant shall pay the city a cash sum in lieu of land reservations. The payment shall be placed in a neighborhood park and recreation improvement fund. The deposit shall be used by the local government for improvement of a neighborhood park, playground or recreation area, including the acquisition of property. The cash sum in lieu of land reservations shall be 5% of the estimated fair market value of the total gross area of the subdivision before improvement.
(Ord. 66, passed 10-12-1999)