Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning Parks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Wild Horse Ridge preliminary plat after residents press for larger park space
Summary
Council approved the preliminary plat for multiple Wild Horse Ridge additions and advanced the subdivision master-plan amendment while residents and councilors debated whether the proposed park (roughly 2.25–2.5 acres) meets neighborhood needs; the resolution was pulled for discussion before votes.
The City Council approved the preliminary plat for Wild Horse Ridge (seventh through tenth additions) after separate discussion of the subdivision master-plan amendment and development procedures.
Councilors pulled Resolution No. 39 for separate consideration to address resident concerns about park size and connectivity. Councilors and public commenters said the west-side neighborhoods have been underserved by parkland. Jeremy Swanson, a Cedar Falls resident, urged the council to require developers to create larger green space for current and future families, citing other parks in the city (Orchard Hill Park, Pfeiffer Park, Place To Play) as larger comparators. Developer representative Larry Kuzmin said the developer decided voluntarily to provide parkland and is offering roughly twice the amount it would otherwise be required to provide under current rules.
During discussion councilors acknowledged tradeoffs tied to updated subdivision standards: new connectivity and right-of-way requirements (from 60 to 66 feet) reduced developable lots, which in turn affects developers’ cost allocations and the potential size of parks within the subdivision. One councilor said the proposed park was “about 2.5 acres” in planning documents; a later staff comment referenced 2.25 acres for the proposed park area.
After public comments and council discussion, the council approved the master plan amendment and then approved the preliminary plat. Developer representatives told the council the full buildout of the development could occur around 2033–2034. Councilors suggested options such as discussions with the developer about donations of lots or partnership approaches to secure additional green space, but no such transfer was decided at the meeting.
Next steps: preliminary plat approved; final plat and any negotiated parkland or lot transfers would be considered in future actions. The council and staff flagged the area as underserved and said they will explore additional parkland opportunities in the West side district.
