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 payment, you will not have the assessment on your tax bill annually," Kelly Schwartz said to clarify residents’ options.

The Ranches package prompted far more public comment. Residents and neighborhood advocates argued the Ranches methodology relied on assigned acreage, not buildable lots, and that much of the work identified for the Ranches is stormwater-driven and therefore should be paid from the stormwater utility or general funds rather than through a roadway assessment.

"You are being asked to pay twice," said Shelly Farrugia, a Ranches resident, arguing drainage-dominant work was described in city RFPs as stormwater improvements but later categorized in the assessment methodology as roadway benefits. Several speakers asked the commission to reclassify flood-mitigation items and to include county- or government-owned parcels that abut project roads but were omitted from the roll.

City staff and outside counsel answered authorship and methodology questions on the record. Heather Encinosa, legal counsel for the city’s assessment team, explained the special-benefit legal test (property must receive a particular benefit and costs must be fairly apportioned) and said assigned acreage was chosen for the Ranches because of the area's larger lots and mixed/agricultural uses. City engineer Suwandi Johnson said milling and resurfacing were selected for the Ranches after evaluating base material; FDR was not deemed necessary everywhere.

Commissioners said they heard residents’ concerns and sought compromise. After discussion, Commissioner Israel moved — and the commission unanimously approved — the Ranches roadway assessment resolution with an amended city buy-down: an additional $1,000,000 contribution to reduce the total amount assessed to Ranches homeowners. Mayor Walker clarified the vote caps the assessment at the agreed number and that the city will cover any project overages.

The commission also directed staff to develop a needs-based hardship assistance program for affected homeowners and to return with program details for approval. Kelly Schwartz said staff and the grants manager will develop parameters and suggested using established state/federal income guidelines if the commission wishes to pursue that support.

The commission adopted the uniform method for collection of non-ad valorem special assessments on the tax bill, enabling assessments to appear on the November 2026 tax roll. All votes on the resolutions were unanimous.

What happens next: first-class notices for the prepayment option will be mailed to affected property owners; staff will complete the loan closing process on the assessed debt and return with details on a hardship program if the commission directs it to do so. The city manager said staff will bring detailed financial and programmatic proposals back to the commission for further review.

Votes at a glance: Pine Tree Estates (Resolution 2025-094) — approved unanimously; Ranches Roadway Improvement (Resolution 2025-093) — approved unanimously with an added $1,000,000 city contribution and direction to explore a hardship program; Uniform collection method (Resolution 2025-095) — approved unanimously.

The commission emphasized that the decisions were difficult but framed as an effort to balance citywide fiscal stewardship with targeted relief for neighborhoods that have deferred infrastructure needs.