(a) Parks, Playgrounds, and Recreation Areas.
(1) Recreation Standards. The Planning Commission shall require that land be reserved for parks and playgrounds or a fee in lieu of reservation of park, playgrounds and recreation areas be provided as a condition of subdivision approval. 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 recreation areas are required, the Planning Commission shall determine the number of acres to be reserved on the basis of three (3) acres of recreation area for every one hundred (100) dwelling units. The Planning Commission may refer such proposed reservations to the official or department in charge of parks and recreation for recommendation.
(2) Minimum Size of Park and Playground Reservations. In general, land reserved for recreation purposes shall have an area of at least four (4) acres. When less than four (4) acres are required, or when the proposed subdivision is in close proximity to an existing park or playground, the Commission may require that a fee be paid to a fund to be used for this purpose as described in Section 1369.17(a)(4).
(3) Recreation Sites. Land reserved for recreation purposes shall be of a character and location suitable for use as a playground, play field, or for other recreation purposes, and shall be relatively level and dry; and shall be improved by the developer to the standards required by the Planning Commission, which improvements shall be included in the subdivision improvement agreement and security. The Planning Commission may refer any subdivision proposed to contain a dedicated park to the Parks Department for a recommendation. All land to be reserved for dedication to the local government for park purposes shall have prior approval of Council and shall be shown marked on the plat, "Reserved for Park and/or Recreation Purposes.
(4) Alternative Procedure: Money in Lieu of Land. Where, with respect to a particular subdivision, the reservation of land required pursuant to this section does not equal the minimum area required to be reserved, or where the subdivision may be served by an existing park or recreation facility, the Planning Commission shall require that the applicant deposit with Council a cash payment in lieu of land reservation. Such deposit shall be placed in a Neighborhood Park and Recreation Improvement Fund to be established by the Council. The deposit shall be used by the City for improvement of a neighborhood park, playground, or recreation area including the acquisition of property. The deposit must be used for facilities that actually will be available to and benefit the persons in the subdivision for which payment was made and be located in the general neighborhood of subdivision. The Planning Commission shall determine the amount to be deposited based on two hundred dollars ($200.00) multiplied by the number of times that the total number of dwelling units in the subdivision, less a credit for the amount of any land actually reserved for recreation purposes.
(Ord. 2004-40. Passed 5-24-04.)