A. Purpose.
1. The purpose of this section is to ensure that recreation areas are available for the use and enjoyment of subdivision residents.
2. To protect and enhance community health and quality of life.
3. To ensure that new recreation areas meet minimum standards for safety and efficacy.
4. To facilitate the implementation of the Eastern Pima County Trail System Master Plan and related features and enhancements.
5. To encourage residential multi-modal opportunities and ensure connectivity among parks, schools, neighborhoods and commercial areas.
B. Applicability. For every new subdivision created within the CB-1 or CB-2 zones or within any rural or residential zone, a new residential recreation area shall be created, or an existing recreation area shall be enhanced, or both. This ordinance shall not apply to resubdivisions of subdivisions existing as of the date of adoption hereof, unless the resubdivision is a subdivision of a block on a block plat not previously subdivided, or unless the resubdivision increases the density of the plat resubdivided.
C. General standards.
1. A subdivider shall submit a recreation area plan (RAP) and submittal fee with the tentative plat.
2. The RAP must include one of the following, and also shall provide safe route linkages within one-and-a-half miles of an existing or planned public elementary school or within two-and-a-half miles of an existing or planned middle school when reasonable linkage opportunities exist. A school shall be considered planned if it is programmed and has a dedicated funding source, or is required by a rezoning or specific plan:
a. Design of a public or private recreation area within the subdivision or adjacent to the subdivision, providing a minimum of eight hundred seventy-one square feet of developed recreation space per lot. The design shall depict all recreational improvements, including structures and facilities consistent with the recreation area design manual;
b. Proposal for dedication to the county of at least ten acres of land located within the region where the subdivision is located, along with a design for a public recreation area with the ten-acre site, depicting all recreational improvements, including structures and facilities consistent with the recreation area design manual;
c. Election to utilize the full in-lieu option if the subdivision has sixty-five lots or fewer or is located within 0.75 mile of an existing recreation area with sufficient capacity to accommodate the residents of the subdivision and calculation of in-lieu fee to be paid in the amount of one thousand five hundred dollars per lot for subdivisions of sixty-five lots or fewer. Fees will be adjusted annually to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on July 1 of each year with the one thousand five hundred dollars applying in base year 2004. Election to use the full in lieu fee does not relieve the subdivider of the obligation to provide for safe routes, under this subsection;
d. Proposal for dedication to the county of a parcel that is located within the region where the subdivision is located adjacent to a district or regional park, and is of a value equal or greater than the value of the standard requirements (park development and/or fee);
e. A combination of a design of a public or private recreation area within or adjacent to the subdivision along with a calculation of an in-lieu fee, based upon the residential recreation area matrix set forth in Table C.1. below.
Table C.1
Residential Recreation Area Matrix
Residential Recreation Area Matrix
Acres/Money Ratio | Recreation Acreage Per 1,000 people | Square Feet Per Lot | % Recreation Area in Acreage | In-lieu Fee Per Lot | % Recreation Area in Dollars |
Acres/Money Ratio | Recreation Acreage Per 1,000 people | Square Feet Per Lot | % Recreation Area in Acreage | In-lieu Fee Per Lot | % Recreation Area in Dollars |
100/0% | 8 | 871.0 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
7.2 | 784.0 | 90% | $120.00 | 10% | |
6.4 | 697.0 | 80% | $240.00 | 20% | |
5.6 | 610.0 | 70% | $360.00 | 30% | |
4.8 | 523.0 | 60% | $480.00 | 40% | |
50/50% | 4 | 436.0 | 50% | $600.00 | 50% |
3.2 | 348.0 | 40% | $720.00 | 60% | |
2.4 | 261.0 | 30% | $840.00 | 70% | |
1.6 | 174.0 | 20% | $960.00 | 80% | |
0.8 | 87.0 | 10% | $1,080.00 | 90% | |
1% | 0.08 | 8.7 | 1% | $1,188.00 | 99% |
The above matrix is based on the following formula:
Divide the amount of square footage to be provided per lot for recreation park area by eight hundred seventy-one. The derived percentage will be multiplied by one thousand two hundred dollars to determine the in-lieu fee per lot.
Divide the amount of square footage to be provided per lot for recreation park area by eight hundred seventy-one. The derived percentage will be multiplied by one thousand two hundred dollars to determine the in-lieu fee per lot.
3. Subdivisions of sixty-six lots or more, other than common wall townhouse or condominium projects, may elect to utilize the full in-lieu fee option only if such subdivisions are located within 0.75 mile of an existing recreation area with sufficient capacity to accommodate the residents of the subdivision. Otherwise, consistent with subsection (C)(2), such subdivisions shall provide a minimum of four hundred thirty-six square feet of developed recreation area per lot within the subdivision and the appropriate in-lieu fee, or shall dedicate and develop a ten-acre recreation area located within the region where the new subdivision is located and is of a value equal to or greater than the value of the standard requirements (park development and fee).
4. Subdivisions of sixty-five lots or fewer may utilize the full in-lieu fee option in accordance with the development services fee schedule.
5. The RAP must be approved by the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department (PCNRPRD) as a condition of approval of the tentative plat. (See recreation area design manual for guidelines.)
6. The RAP must be implemented, as follows:
a. In-lieu fees, if any, shall be paid or assurances shall be provided prior to final plat approval;
b. Public recreation areas, if any, including not only recreation features, but also street paving, curbs, gutters, traffic control devices, landscaping, sidewalks, parking areas and utility connections must be constructed to Pima County standards, with inspections at thirty, sixty, ninety and one hundred percent completion stages to ensure compliance. In addition, as-built drawings shall be provided to Pima County upon completion of construction of public recreation areas;
c. The recreation area, if any, shall be constructed by the subdivider; and
d. Dedication of land outside the subdivision, if any, shall be recorded prior to the recording of the final plat.
7. The developer / property owner shall submit a safe routes to school plan, with documentation of a meeting with and review comments from the applicable school district with the tentative plat or development plan. The plan shall include a map(s) showing existing schools, existing roadways, current attendance boundaries, current bus routes, current pedestrian and bicycle routes to existing schools from residential neighborhoods, planned schools, planned roadways, and planned pedestrian and bicycle routes to existing and planned schools. The plan shall also address how the proposed project provides safe access to any affected schools. The proposed safe route may go along the perimeter of the proposed development provided that it provides safe and convenient access to the school and associated facilities.
D. Recreation area standards.
1. Recreation areas may include trails, trails within natural open space or shallow retention/detention basins, or other functional open space;
2. Recreation areas shall avoid known archeological and historical sites, and shall be designed and constructed in an environmentally-sensitive manner that minimizes the disturbance of the site's natural vegetation, and mitigates effects on adjacent upland areas, washes, wildlife corridors, and natural open space;
3. Recreation areas shall include appropriate structures and facilities to meet residents' recreational needs, such as areas for active sports and recreation, and passive recreation, and other active and passive design features constructed in accordance with the recreation area design manual.
4. Access to recreation areas must be provided for all subdivision residents; and
5. Bicycle racks and at least one paved, on-site parking space for automobiles at recreation areas must be provided for every twenty dwelling units, unless sufficient unobstructed on-street parking is available adjacent to the recreation area.
E. Integration of recreation areas with other county park and trail plans.
1. In the event the residential subdivision is adjacent to a trail identified on the Pima Regional Trail System Master Plan Map or successor or identified as a significant trail corridor by the PCNRPRD, the subdivider shall provide a connection to the trail from the subdivision's recreation area.
2. In the event a trail listed in the Pima Regional Trail System Master Plan Map or successor or identified as a significant trail corridor by the PCNRPRD passes through the residential subdivision, the subdivider shall construct the trail segment consistent with the standards manual of the Eastern Pima County Trail System Master Plan.
3. In the event the residential subdivision is adjacent to or includes a Pima County linear park, the subdivider shall provide a corridor at least one hundred feet wide to accommodate the park. The area of the park corridor, if dedicated to Pima County, shall be credited towards the required recreation area of the subdivision.
F. Private recreation areas.
1. Privately-owned recreation areas shall be constructed in accordance with the RAP and maintained by the private property owners of the subdivision. (See recreation area design manual for guidelines.)
G. Public recreation areas.
1. Pima County may accept dedication of a recreation area if it is at least ten acres in size and is adjacent to a public collector street.
2. Recreation areas constructed with the intent of transfer to Pima County shall be constructed to Pima County standards with plans being submitted to the PCNRPRD for review at thirty, sixty, ninety, and one hundred percent completion stages to ensure compliance. As-built drawings shall be provided at the completion of the recreation area.
3. The subdivider shall provide the recreation area with the following:
a. All street improvements and utility connections including, but not limited to, curbs, gutters, street paving, traffic control devices, landscaping, and sidewalks for land which is dedicated pursuant to this section;
b. Improved drainage through the recreation area; and
c. Other improvements essential to the acceptance of the land for recreation purposes, including the development of actual park recreation features and elements.
H. In-lieu fees.
1. In-lieu fees shall be paid to PCNRPRD prior to final plat approval or assurances shall be provided prior to final plat approval guaranteeing that fees will be paid to PCNRPRD at the time that subdivision assurances are released for the subdivision in question. Substitute assurances acceptable to the county may be provided in the case of a sale of an entire subdivision, or block on a block plat, or a bulk sale of a minimum of twenty lots within a subdivision to a subdivider or builder.
2. The in-lieu fees collected will be kept in a fund maintained by the PCNRPRD to be used for the acquisition of land, development of recreation facilities, planning for the future development of recreation areas and /or related expenses. The fees will be applied for use in the region in which the fees were generated for the acquisition of land, development of recreation facilities, or creation of plans for the future development of recreation areas.
3. The regions are identified as follows: Far West Region — west of Range 6E; Northeast Region — east of Range 13E and north of Township 14S; Southeast Region — east of Range 13E and south of Township 13S; Southwest Region — west of Range 14E to Range 5E, and south of Township 13S; Northwest Region — west of Range 14E to Range 5E and north of Township 14S. Each of the above described regions extends to the county boundaries.
(Ord. 2011-2 § 17, 2011; Ord. 2011-1 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 2009-98 § 2 (part), 2009; Ord. 2004-88 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2003-16 § 1 (part), 2003)