Council waives park dedication fee for existing office lot at 8634 Central Avenue

The Blaine City Council on July 7 approved waiving the park dedication fee for the existing office lot at 8634 Central Avenue after discussion about precedent and alternatives.

Assistant Community Development Director Sheila explained the subdivision creates two lots: Lot 1 (existing office) at 0.95 acres and Lot 2 (vacant) at 2.14 acres. Park dedication is charged at a city rate of $13,188 per acre, staff said; the fee for Lot 1 was calculated at $12,528.60 and the Lot 2 fee would be $28,222.38 if paid in 2025. Council considered whether to waive the Lot 1 fee, defer it until development, or require payment now.

Councilmember Mesolia moved to waive the Lot 1 park dedication fee, and Councilmember Larson seconded. Councilmember Robertson proposed a compromise—deferring the fee until a building permit is filed rather than an outright permanent waiver—but several council members, including Mesolia and Larson, supported the waiver for the existing built parcel. Attorney Larson clarified that a council decision is not legally binding precedent for future waiver requests, though it could influence expectations.

After debate on precedent and consistency, the motion to waive the fee for the existing lot passed. The waiver applies to the fee for the existing office (Lot 1) at 8634 Central Avenue; Lot 2’s fee remains payable at the time of building permit. Staff noted waivers for park dedication are uncommon and are more typically tied to redevelopment incentives.

Council also approved the associated final plat for the two‑lot subdivision (item 9.3) during the same meeting.