Plano council raises park‑impact fees for new construction after five‑year review

The Plano City Council on Tuesday approved an update to the city’s park and recreation fee ordinance, raising the one‑time per‑unit fee charged at the time of building permit to reflect higher land and construction costs.

Under the amended fee schedule, the proposed single‑family fee would increase from $2,065 to $5,691 per dwelling unit; the multifamily fee would increase from $1,400 to $4,359 per unit. The council adopted the ordinance change by unanimous vote.

What the fee pays for

City staff explained the park fee is a supplemental funding source dedicated to the acquisition or development of neighborhood and linear parks in one of 14 park zones. The fee is assessed at building permit issuance for new construction and remains tied to the zone in which it was collected; funds must be used for park land purchase or development that benefits the zone’s residents.

Dr. Smith, a parks planning official, summarized the methodology used to set the fee: the ordinance ties the charge to recent appraised land values and current park construction costs. The city reviews the fee every five years and used the same methodology that produced the 2019 schedule. Dr. Smith said rising land prices and construction costs explained the proposed increases.

Council concerns and staff response

Council member Horn questioned whether a flat per‑unit fee is equitable, noting that smaller, more affordable homes carry the same one‑time charge as larger homes. Horn said a flat fee “seems somewhat unfair that if we're trying to bring in more affordable housing, new development for a smaller house ... [pays] a significant amount of money compared to someone who’s building an estate in West Plano.”

Staff replied the ordinance calculates fees on a per‑domicile basis because the…