Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Dedication Requirements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advisory board backs raising parkland dedication to 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit for new developments
Summary
The board recommended the city change parkland dedication from existing per‑unit square footage levels to a flat 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit, to be considered by the Plan Commission and Common Council.
The Advisory Parks Board recommended that the city revise its parkland dedication requirement to 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit regardless of whether the unit is single‑family or multifamily.
John Cameron of Ehlers Public Finance Advisors summarized a comparison of peer municipalities and the potential acreage impact of increasing dedication from the city’s current requirement (1,100 square feet for detached single family and 900 for attached multifamily) to a uniform 2,000 square feet. Cameron said the change would increase the total acreage a development must dedicate compared with the current code, and staff noted the change would be examined alongside comprehensive outdoor recreation plan (CORP) maps that identify areas deficient in park service.
Board members asked how the change would apply in infill or dense urban areas where acquiring new parkland on site is impractical. Ray (Parks Department staff) said the department would consult the CORP and the service‑area maps; developments located near existing parks may be asked to pay a fee in lieu, while developments in identified growth areas where the CORP calls for neighborhood parks would be negotiated for land dedication or a combination of land and fees.
The board voted to recommend forwarding the proposed 2,000 square‑foot dedication standard to the Plan Commission and Common Council for consideration.
