(A) Generally.
(1) The types of park or open space that may be provided to satisfy this chapter are described in Table 153.1018(A) below.
(2) The minimum dimension, improvement, and maintenance requirements shall be consistent with Column (C) of Table 153.1018(A) below. The applicant may choose among the types of parks or open space to include within the proposed development that is consistent with the overall minimum set-aside requirements of Table 153.1018(A) below.
(A) Park or Open Space Category | (B) Description | (C) Design and Maintenance Requirements |
(A) Park or Open Space Category | (B) Description | (C) Design and Maintenance Requirements |
Attached squares | Attached squares are areas for passive recreational use that are internal to a block. | Minimum size: 2,000 square feet Maximum size: 1 acre Squares shall be bounded by streets on a minimum of three sides or 75% of their perimeter. Squares may be bounded by buildings on a maximum of 60% of their perimeter (maximum of two sides). Squares shall be planted parallel to all rights-of-way with at least 2 tree species a minimum of 10 feet and a maximum of 50 feet on center. All internal tree plantings (if provided) shall be in geometrical layouts. |
Community garden | Community gardens are areas where plants are raised and maintained by the homeowners’ association, condominium association or other established community association for scientific research, education, aesthetic enjoyment and recreational purposes. | An irrigation system shall be installed in accordance with the landscaping standards. The area shall be maintained in a neat and clean condition and cleared of debris. |
Courtyard | A courtyard is an open area adjacent to, or part of, a building or facility and is surrounded by building frontages. Courtyards function as gathering places and may incorporate a variety of non-permanent activities, such as vendors and display stands. Courtyards shall be credited toward parks and open space requirements only for non-residential use patterns as defined in §§ 153.0065 through 153.0073, 153.0085 through 153.0094 and 153.0105 through 153.0116 of this chapter and shall be maintained in private ownership. | Minimum size: 2,000 square feet Maximum size: 30,000 square feet Courtyards shall be paved in brick or other type of paver or crushed stone. Courtyards shall be level, stepped, or gently sloping (less than 5% grade). At no time shall a courtyard’s horizontal length or width be greater than three times the height of the surrounding building(s). Courtyards may be left unplanted or planted with trees along the edge of the courtyard space or the structure that the courtyard services. Tree spacing shall be a maximum of 25 feet on center. Parking is not permitted in a courtyard. |
Detached square | Detached squares are bordered on all sides by streets. Detached squares provide a means to emphasize important places, intersections or centers. | Minimum size: 200 square feet Maximum size: 1 acre Detached squares shall be bordered on four sides by a street or walkway. The geometric pattern of the square shall be a square or a rectangle with a length not exceeding twice the width. |
Forecourt | Forecourts are open space areas that act as buffers between residential and non-residential buildings or streets. Forecourts shall be credited toward parks and open space requirements only for non-residential use patterns as defined in §§ 153.0065 through 153.0073, 153.0085 through 153.0094 and 153.0105 through 153.0116 of this chapter, and shall be maintained in private ownership. | Forecourts shall be entirely bounded by streets and shall be planted parallel to all street rights-of-way with one tree species. |
Green | The green is an urban open space that is natural in its details. Like the square, it is small, civic and surrounded by buildings. Unlike the square, it is informally planted and may have irregular topography. | Greens shall be landscaped with trees at the edges and open lawns at the center. Greens shall contain no structures other than benches, pavilions and memorials. Trails or pedestrian pathways are optional. |
Greenbelts | Greenbelts run along the perimeter of a proposed development and buffer a proposed development from surrounding incompatible uses or features, such as a highway corridor, industrial district or agricultural areas. Greenbelts differ from other types of open spaces in that they are left natural and are not for recreational use. | The following uses are permitted within the greenbelt: • Critical areas; • Conservancy lots with a minimum lot size of 5 acres and a maximum impervious surface ratio of 5%; or • Linear parks improved with trails, benches and/or playground equipment. Trails, benches and playground equipment are not considered impervious surfaces for purposes of computing impervious surface. The greenbelt shall be an average of at least 100 feet in width and at least 50 feet at any point. A greenbelt shall be at least 300 feet in length. Land shall not be cleared, except for trails. |
Greenways | Greenways are areas connecting residences and recreational areas. Greenways are designed to incorporate natural settings, such as creeks and significant stands of trees within neighborhoods. Parkways and greenways differ from parks, plazas, and squares in that their detailing is natural (i.e., informally planted), except along rights-of-way, and may contain irregular topography. | A greenway shall have an average width of at least 50 feet. If the greenway consists of agricultural areas, the agricultural areas shall have a continuous area of at least 50 acres. The agricultural areas may be combined with adjacent agricultural lands provided, however, that the minimum width prescribed above shall be met on all portions of the agricultural greenbelt on the site. Land shall not be cleared, except for trails. |
Natural areas and agricultural areas | Natural areas are areas established for the protection of natural attributes of local, regional, and statewide significance, which may be used in a sustainable manner for scientific research, education, aesthetic enjoyment and appropriate use not detrimental to the primary purpose. These areas are resource - rather than user- based, but may provide some passive recreational activities, such as hiking, nature study and picnicking. | Maintenance is limited to a minimum removal and avoidance of hazards, nuisances or unhealthy conditions. Natural water courses shall be maintained as free flowing and devoid of debris. Stream channels shall be maintained so as not to alter floodplain levels. Land shall not be cleared except for trails. |
Park | Parks are designed for active recreational use. Parks create a central open space that services an entire neighborhood or group of neighborhoods or incorporates physical features that are an asset to the community (e.g., lake or river frontage, high ground or significant stands of trees). Parks may be combined with parkways and greenbelts. | Minimum size: 1 acre Parks shall be bounded by streets on a minimum of 50% of their perimeter (subject to lot line configurations). Trees shall be planted parallel to all perimeter rights-of-way or at the edge of areas for active recreational use and any facilities that accompany such use. Tree spacing shall be a minimum of 15 feet to a maximum of 50 feet on center. Promenades and esplanades within a park may be formally planted with trees parallel to the walkway. Interior portions of parks may be kept free of tree plantings. Plantings in interior portions of parks may follow topographical lines. |
Parkway | Parkways are open spaces designed to incorporate natural settings, such as creeks and significant stands of trees within neighborhoods. Parkways and greenways differ from parks, plazas and squares in that their detailing is natural (i.e., informally planted), except along rights-of-way, and may contain irregular topography. | Parkways shall be entirely bounded by streets or pedestrian rights-of-way within developed areas. Parkways may be used for certain active recreational uses, such as walking, jogging or bicycling. Trees shall be planted along all rights-of-way a minimum of 10 feet and a maximum of 50 feet on center. Interior areas shall remain natural or shall be planted with turf grass. |
Playgrounds | Playgrounds provide play areas for children as well as open shelter with benches for parents. Playgrounds may be built within squares and parks or may stand alone within a residential block. | Minimum size: 5,000 square feet Maximum size: 20,000 square feet Playing surfaces may be covered in sand, wood chips or other equivalent material. Paths and walkways may be paved in concrete, crushed gravel, brick paver or similar material, or partially paved. |
Plazas | Plazas are areas for passive recreational use that are entirely bounded by streets and/or lanes. Plazas are intended for planned communities, such as planned developments, transit-oriented developments, traditional neighborhood developments or non-residential use patterns as defined in §§ 153.0065 through 153.0073, 153.0085 through 153.0094 and 153.0105 through 153.0116 of this chapter. | Minimum width: 200 feet Minimum length: 300 feet Maximum width: 530 feet Maximum length: 800 feet The plaza shall be square or rectangular with a length of not less that 1-1/2 of its width. The plaza shall be bounded on all sides by streets, with streets originating in the middle of each side and 2 streets originating from each corner. |
(B) Exclusions. The following areas are not considered parks or open space pursuant to this section:
(1) Areas covered by buildings, parking lots or other impervious surfaces accessible to automobiles;
(2) Utility easements, drainage easements or street rights-of-way, unless such areas are usable for public recreational purposes and will not be permanently converted to a street or trench;
(3) Land underneath overhead utility lines, except where used for jogging trails, bicycle trails or parking areas accessory to a park/open space;
(4) Streets; and
(5) Ponds or lakes exceeding 2,500 square feet, unless surrounded by an upland area with a minimum width of 25 feet.
(C) Excess capacity. Any excess capacity of a park or open space provided pursuant to this section may be credited toward the required dedication for another subdivision within a one mile radius or a benefit area for fees in lieu of park development, where:
(1) The subdivision for which the credit is applied is in the same ownership by the same applicant; and
(2) The park/open space areas are accessible to each subdivision.
(Ord. 3020, passed 9-10-2013, § 5.21.3)