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Commission approves fee-in-lieu for Cameron Valley subdivision
Summary
The Parks & Recreation Commission voted to accept staff's recommendation that the Cameron Valley developer pay fee-in-lieu and park development fees instead of dedicating required acreage; staff said the payments total about $490,272.40 and will go to park improvements in the zone.
The Pflugerville Parks & Recreation Commission voted to accept staff's recommendation that the Cameron Valley subdivision pay fees in lieu of dedicating parkland.
Larry Foos, the city's park development manager, told the commission the developer's calculation produced two fee-in-lieu amounts of $177,724.80 and $85,377.60 (totaling $263,102.40) and a park development fee of $227,170. "Those numbers are part of the ordinance's calculation," Foos said, summarizing the financial offer the developer is making in place of providing required acreage.
The staff recommendation, presented by meeting leadership and parks staff, was to accept the fees rather than require on-site land. Staff and the director said the city is moving away from taking small, owner-maintained pocket parks because of the operations-and-maintenance burden and property-tax revenue caps. The director said Texas's current property-tax revenue cap (described at the meeting as 3.5 percent) constrains annual budget growth and makes it harder for a fast-growing city to absorb the ongoing costs of many small parks.
Representatives for the developer described the site's floodplain and said they plan trails and a green-space spine that could be privately maintained initially; they noted approximately 9 acres of park-like area (counting floodplain rules) compared with the six acres the UDC requires for a development this size.
Commissioners asked for and received details about how the fee amounts are calculated. Staff explained the Unified Development Code formula uses development acres, the number of dwelling units and a cost-per-acre figure (discussed at the meeting as $43,560 per acre, to be updated in an upcoming UDC revision). Staff said fee-in-lieu funds are typically used for playground replacements, shade, trail connections and other improvements in the zone or in nearby community parks.
Commissioner (speaker 3) moved to accept the staff recommendation to approve the fee-in-lieu and park development payments; the motion carried on a voice vote and the chair announced the motion passed.
The commission did not require on-site park dedication for this vote; the matter will also proceed to the city's planning and zoning body as part of the development review process. Staff said final spending will follow the city's parkland-fund rules and the forthcoming UDC updates.
Next step: the developer's proposal will go to planning and zoning for further review and final approvals.
