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Council raises parkland dedication fees and adds fee‑in‑lieu structure for subdivisions
Summary
Navasota adopted an update to subdivision rules that increases parkland acquisition and development fees, introduces credits for HOA‑provided parks, caps dedication in floodplain/drainage areas and applies the new fees to applications received after adoption.
The Navasota City Council on May 11 approved changes to Chapter 10 (subdivision regulations) to update parkland dedication and fee methodology based on the city’s parks and recreation master plan and a consultant study.
Staff presented a framework that separates a land acquisition fee and a park development fee. As explained at the meeting, the land fee is approximately $729 per lot and the development fee about $1,417 per lot under the formula presented; together the combined fee is roughly $2,146 per lot after a 90% competitive reduction embedded in the draft to keep Navasota’s rates comparable with other cities. The consultant’s study estimated a higher theoretical per‑lot cost, but staff reduced the effective fee to encourage development while also preserving a revenue stream for park creation.
The ordinance allows credits where developers provide HOA parks or dedicated open space and caps land dedication for properties in floodplains or drainage ways. Staff confirmed the ordinance applies to applications filed after adoption. Council voted to adopt the ordinance as presented.
Staff said collected fees will go into a park fund to be used citywide for park acquisition and development and that the fee schedule will be updated annually for land‑cost changes. Council asked clarifying questions about skate‑park treatment (not part of this ordinance) and how acquisition and development fees are tracked separately. The ordinance was adopted without recorded opposition.
