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Parks board adopts $38,414.95 per‑acre annual land valuation for park dedication fees
Summary
The Lancaster Board of Park Commissioners approved an annual fair‑market valuation of $38,414.95 per acre to be used in fee‑in‑lieu calculations under the city’s Public Sites and Open Space code; the motion passed unanimously.
The Lancaster Board of Park Commissioners on June 4 adopted an annual land valuation of $38,414.95 per acre to be used in fee‑in‑lieu calculations for public site and open space dedications. Assistant Law Director Mitch Harden presented a draft and the motion to approve the valuation was made by Bob Lovell and seconded by Kari James; it passed unanimously.
Board members reviewed last year’s sales‑based calculation (presented as Exhibit B) and the method used to compute the average fair market value per acre. The board voted to confirm the $38,414.95 per‑acre figure, which staff will use in the formula described in the city’s building code: Fee = Amount of Land to be Dedicated (Acres) x Fair Market Value/Acre.
The building code text presented as Exhibit A (Part Thirteen — Public Sites and Open Space) explains dedication options (land dedication, fee in lieu, common open space, reservation), the minimum acreage standard used for calculating needs, procedures for determining fair market value (average of raw acreage sales over the prior 12 months within the city), and how collected fees are deposited in the City of Lancaster Public Sites and Open Spaces fund for acquisition and development of parks and open spaces.
Mitch Harden told the board the draft language is near final and the Parks Board will receive a final copy upon completion. The valuation adopted by the board will be applied when developers opt to pay a fee in lieu of dedicating land, or when recalculation of fees is required for additional units after platting.
