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Smyrna agrees to accept 19.69-acre park donation and offset up to $1.55 million in impact fees
Summary
The council voted to accept a roughly 19.69-acre land donation for a public park from the Waldron family partnership and approved an impact-fee offset agreement that limits developer rebate to a maximum of $1,548,253.98 for future phases of the Ventures development.
The Smyrna Town Council voted to accept a roughly 19.69-acre tract of land proposed for donation by the Westerwald/Waldron family limited partnership and approved a related agreement authorizing the mayor to offset park impact fees up to a maximum of $1,548,253.98.
Planning and staff told the council the parcel came with a legal description, survey and a concept plan; the planning commission reviewed the donation under mandatory referral and recommended approval. Staff said the value of the land plus developer-funded improvements exceed the impact-fee credit being offered.
Kevin (planning staff) described the package to council members: "The Westerwald and Family Limited Partnership and TDK are the developers of the Ventures development and are proposing to donate a tract to the town for use as a public park," he said, noting the parcel is roughly 19.69 acres and that the donation would be accepted in lieu of payment of park impact fees up to the maximum dollar amount established in the offset agreement.
Council members asked whether the town would be responsible for paving a walking trail if it wanted asphalt instead of mulch. Staff said the developer will construct the park improvements and turn the park over to the town, but paving upgrades are optional and would require town funding. Staff provided estimates during discussion: a mulch trail estimate of about $50,000, an 8-foot asphalt trail estimate of approximately $122,100, and a 10-foot asphalt trail estimate of approximately $300,000. Officials said a decision about any additional town contribution would be handled through the town’s budget process.
On the offset agreement, staff said phase 1 of the Ventures development had already paid impact fees and would not be rebated; the offset applies to future phases up to the $1,548,253.98 maximum. Council voted to approve both the acceptance of the land donation and the authorization for the mayor to execute the offset agreement.
Councilmembers emphasized the partnership with the developer and noted the arrangement allows the town to receive a built park and manage future decisions about surface upgrades through normal budget processes.
