Parkland approves Pine Tree and Ranches roadway assessments; adds $1M city buy-down after heated Ranches debate

Mayor Walker opened the Dec. 3 City of Parkland commission meeting and, after a long public hearing, the commission approved final assessment resolutions for two neighborhood roadway projects and adopted the uniform collection method for placing assessments on the tax roll.

Kelly Schwartz, the city’s finance director, told the commission the Pine Tree Estates roadway project includes a drainage contract and a full-depth reclamation (FDR) road program: total roadway costs about $6.56 million and drainage about $1.57 million. Funding for Pine Tree combines ARPA ($1.57 million), $2.0 million from the general fund and $4.56 million to be raised via a special assessment on benefited properties. Homeowners may make a one-time prepayment of $5,743 per buildable lot by Feb. 25, 2026, or pay an annual assessment (no more than $603 per buildable lot) on tax bills for up to 20 years.

The commission approved the Pine Tree Estates assessment resolution unanimously after short public comment from Pine Tree residents questioning contingency use and specific construction line items. "If you make that upfront initial $5,700…