Council approves fee‑in‑lieu for Torrington Briarwood apartments to preserve affordable units and fund nearby parks
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Summary
Council approved a developer request to provide part of the required parkland on site and to pay a $420,000 fee in lieu for remaining parkland for a 313‑unit affordable apartment project. City staff and the developer said fee proceeds will target park improvements near the project area.
The Mesquite City Council approved an application allowing the Torrington Briarwood apartment developer to satisfy part of the parkland dedication requirement with on‑site amenities and to pay a fee in lieu for the remainder.
Adam Bailey, Director of Planning and Development Services, explained the proposal covers a roughly 15‑acre development where the developer will set aside about 2.85 acres of private park space for the project and request a credit toward the required 5.7 acres of parkland dedication. “So it's only for the portion in which they're developing,” Bailey said of the acreage under consideration.
Developer Karsten Lowe of JPI told the council the fee in lieu for the remaining 2.85 acres would be “roughly $420,000.” Bailey and councilmembers said fee receipts would be used to fund park projects in the area, with city staff noting McWhorter Park as a likely nearby target for improvements and amenities.
Why it matters: the project includes 313 affordable housing units, and the approach preserves units while ensuring the city receives funds earmarked for parks. Council discussed balancing on‑site amenities with community park investment and urged that fee proceeds be used geographically near the development.
Outcome: The council voted unanimously (6–0) to allow the partial on‑site dedication and accept the fee in lieu. The city will receive the fee and will allocate it in accordance with parkland‑funding policy.