Ivins council advances parks impact-fee amendment to public hearing, updates Fitness Way Park acreage

City parks staff presented a proposed first amendment to the May 2023 Parks & Trails Master Plan impact-fee facilities plan, and council voted to schedule the amendment for public hearing.

Staff explained that updated property information increased the projected acreage for Fitness Way Park from 4.5 to 6.81 acres, prompting adjustments to project phasing and impact-fee allocations. The amendment would: update acreage and phasing for Fitness Way Park; remove the 400 West/200 North park from the tenure plan (it remains on the plan but is removed from active tenure allocations); and rename the South Ivins Regional Park to Arrowhead Trail Park (as part of the update).

Council discussed whether residential-type units in resort-commercial zones should remain exempt from park impact fees. Staff and the city engineer said that if a development creates residential-type units that function like a dwelling unit (even if used short-term), impact fees could apply; council asked staff to clarify the definitions and to analyze how amenities provided by private developments relate to public-impact fees.

Staff also described potential funding mechanisms the city could use, such as including eligible bond or loan costs in impact-fee studies. Project timing discussed put design and public engagement in the near term, with construction likely to begin around 2029. Council moved the amendment to a public hearing so those and other details can be discussed and refined in the formal hearing process.