(a) Standards. The Planning Commission shall require that land be reserved for parks and playgrounds or other recreation purposes in locations designated on the Master Plan or otherwise where such reservations would be appropriate. Each such reservation shall be of suitable size, dimension, topography and general character and shall have adequate road access, for the particular purposes envisioned by the Commission. The area shall be shown and marked on the plat, "Reserved for Park and/or Recreation Purposes."
When recreation areas are required, the Commission shall determine the number of acres to be reserved from the following table, which has been prepared on the basis of providing three acres of recreation area for every 100 dwelling units or pursuant to the Zoning Code. The Planning Commission may refer such proposed reservations to the Park and Recreation Commission for recommendation. The developer shall dedicate all such recreation areas to the City as a condition of final subdivision plat approval.
RECREATION REQUIREMENTS
Size of Single-Family Lot in Subdivision (sq. ft.)
| Percentage of Total Land in Subdivision to be Reserved for Recreation Purposes
|
80,000 or more | 1.5 |
50,000
| 2.5
|
40,000
| 3.0
|
35,000
| 3.5
|
25,000
| 5.0
|
15,000
| 8.0
|
10,000
| 12.0
|
8,400
| 15.0
|
(b) Multifamily and High Density Residential. The Planning Commission shall determine the acreage for each reservation based on the number of dwelling units per acre to occupy the sites as permitted by the table set forth in subsection (a) hereof and/or the Zoning Code.
(c) Size. In general, land reserved for recreation purposes shall have an area of at least two acres. When the percentages from the table set forth in subsection (a) hereof would create less than two acres, the Commission may require that the recreation area be located at a suitable place on the edge of the subdivision so that additional land may be added at such time as the adjacent land is subdivided. In no case
shall an area of less than one acre be reserved for recreation purposes if it will be impractical or impossible to secure additional lands in order to increase its area. Where recreation land in a subdivision is not reserved, or the land reserved is less than the percentage set forth in subsection (a) hereof, subsection (e) here of shall apply.
(d) Sites. Land reserved for recreation purposes shall be of a character and location suitable for use as a playground or playfield (or for other recreation purposes), shall be relatively level and dry and shall be improved by the developer to the standards required by the Planning Commission. These improvements shall be included in the performance bond. A recreation site shall have a total frontage of one or more streets of at least 200 feet, and no other dimension of the site shall be less than 200 feet. All land to be reserved for dedication to the local government for park purposes shall have the prior approval of Council and shall be shown marked on the plat, "Dedicated for Park and/or Recreation Purposes."
(e) Deposit in Lieu of Land Reservation. Where, with respect to a particular subdivision, the reservation of land required pursuant to this section does not equal the percentage of total land required to be reserved in subsection (a) hereof, the Planning Commission shall require, prior to final approval of the subdivision plat, that the applicant deposit with Council a cash payment in lieu of land reservation. Such deposit shall be placed in a neighborhood parks and recreation improvement fund to be established by Council. Such deposit shall be used by the City for improvement of a neighborhood park, playground or recreation area, including the acquisition of property. Such deposit must be used for facilities that will actually be available to and benefit the persons in the subdivision and be located in the general neighborhood of the subdivision.
The Commission shall determine the amount to be deposited, based on the following formula: one hundred dollars ($100.00), multiplied by the number of times the total area of the subdivision is divisible by the maximum number of minimum sized lots of the zoning district in which the subdivision is located, less a credit for the amount of land actually dedicated for recreation purposes, if any, as the land dedicated bears in proportions to the land required for dedication in subsection (a) hereof, but not including any land reserved through density zoning.
(f) Land Utilizing Average Density. A subdivision plat in which the principle of average density of flexible zoning has been utilized shall not be exempt from this section, except as to such portion of land which is actually dedicated to the City for park and recreation purposes. If no further area, other than the area to be reserved through averaging, is required by the Planning Commission, the full fee shall be paid as required in subsection (e) hereof. If further land is required for reservation, apart from that reserved by averaging, credit shall be given as provided in subsection (e) hereof.
(g) Interpretation. The provisions of this section are minimum standards. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a developer from reserving other land for recreation purposes in addition to the requirements of this section.
(Ord. 421. Passed 6-1-82.)