Council hears draft parks and recreation master plan; consultants present proposed parks impact fee

Vineyard City heard a draft parks and recreation master plan and an accompanying impact-fee analysis during the Feb. 26 meeting, with consultants presenting facility recommendations, timing and a draft fee calculation for new development.

Brian (parks and recreation director) told the council the master plan provides a 20-year vision that inventories existing parks, trails and amenities, identifies gaps and recommends prioritized improvements and horizons for implementation. Consultants CRSA and MGBNA described recommended immediate, 10-year and 20-year actions, and emphasized land acquisition early in the plan horizon.

"The purpose of the master plan is to provide a vision and guide for what our current inventory is within Vineyard and then identify recreation and park amenities that are necessary to be built over the next 20 years," Brian said.

Saxon Peterson and Laura Smith reviewed the inventory, trail network recommendations and how the plan compares to National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) levels of service. The consultants said they accounted for existing HOA-owned open space and recommended the plan be written so it allows some flexibility in amenities (for example, listing "sports courts" rather than a specific type of court) while preserving the definition of parks eligible for impact fees.

Lee Johnson of Zions Public Finance presented the draft impact-fee analysis (IFA) and the impact-fee facility plan (IFFP) basis. Johnson said the study uses regional population projections and Mountainland Association of Governments growth figures; the study period projects roughly 12,830 additional residents. "Impact fees are a way for new development to pay their fair share to offset the capital costs associated with new development," Johnson said.

Using the consultants' service-level approach and projected new development, Johnson presented a draft parks-and-trails impact fee calculation. He said the draft fee computed to $3,422.88 per new household when the per-capita cost is multiplied by an average household size of 2.88 (American Community Survey 5-year estimate). Johnson said the draft fee would place Vineyard near the county peer average when combined with other local development charges.

Johnson noted that impact fees may only be charged for system-level improvements identified in an adopted facilities plan and must follow Utah law (Utah State Code Title 11, Chapter 36a). He also said the draft includes consultant study costs and that, because Vineyard has not previously charged parks impact fees, there are no credits from outstanding bonds to apply to the calculation.

Council members asked about including HOA-owned facilities in inventory calculations and about how flexible the plan should be in describing eligible amenities. Consultants advised language that preserves flexibility without losing the required specificity for impact-fee eligibility. Staff and consultants urged council members to review the draft before near-term public hearings: the planning commission public hearing is scheduled the following Wednesday and a council public hearing is planned in two weeks.

The council did not take a formal vote on the plan or the fee at this meeting; staff said drafts would be revised with council input and returned for formal public hearings and action.