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Council asks staff to require public hearings before shrinking or relocating community recreation amenities
Summary
Council member Ward asked staff to change Title 17 to require any material reduction or relocation of outdoor recreation facilities (dog parks, playgrounds) to go through a public hearing rather than administrative review; council signaled support and asked staff to prepare a study session item.
Council member Ward asked the council to direct staff to amend Title 17 to prevent developers or project owners from using administrative approvals to materially reduce or relocate outdoor recreation amenities such as dog parks and playgrounds without a public hearing.
Ward described a local example in which an apartment complex used administrative review to move a sizable dog park and reduce its area; residents said they lacked an adequate public process other than a neighborhood meeting. Ward proposed draft language requiring that changes to outdoor recreation facilities that materially alter size or location require a public hearing rather than administrative approval.
Staff said the change would not prohibit development that reconfigures amenities but would route larger or materially different changes through the formal public process so neighbors and council can review the proposal. Council members expressed support and asked staff to schedule a study session to refine draft language.
