Parkland Dedications

Sec. 11-1-1. Parks and Open Space Dedication.


The requirements contained in this section are intended for the purpose of assuring open space and community park facilities are available and adequate to meet the needs created by such development while maintaining current and proposed park and recreation standards pursuant to the current Weatherford Park and Recreation Open Space Master Plan.
It is the policy of the City that a park fee is hereby imposed on residential development, and all fees collected shall be used solely and exclusively for the purpose of acquisition and development of new community parks and existing park facilities intended for access and use by the community.
It is also the policy of the City to allow any acceptable park land, parks, or recreational facilities that meet the criteria as outlined by these regulations to be applied as credit towards the total imposed park fee.

(a) Total park fee. 
(1) Purpose. A park fee shall be imposed on all residential development in the city and the ETJ.
(2) Fee amount. Single-family fee is $1164 per dwelling unit and multifamily fee is $947 per dwelling unit.

Calculation of total park fee


The total park fee is calculated by adding together the park land fee and park development fee and then multiplied by the total number of dwelling units. Any approved credits applied (up to fifty [50] percent) will then be subtracted from the total park fee amount.

(b) Park land fee. (Cash in lieu of dedicated land)
        (1) Purpose. The park land fee is established for the procurement of future land and areas to be developed for recreational use by the citizens of the city and ETJ.
(2) Fee amount. Single family fee is $400 per dwelling unit and multifamily fee is $325 per dwelling unit. 

Calculation of park land fee


Using assumed value of 1 acre at $14,000 (capped at current amount but may be revised every 3 years by the City as necessary) and 1 acre of park land per 98 people (based on 305 acres of neighborhood and community parks in Weatherford, and estimated population of 30,000 people). Assumed PPH (persons per household) is 2.8 for single-family and 2.28 for multifamily
Single family: 98 people divided by 2.80 PPH = 35 = 1 acre of park land per 35 dwelling units
$14,000 divided by 35 = $400 per dwelling unit
Multifamily: 98 people divided by 2.28 PPH = 43 = 1 acre of park land per 43 dwelling units
$14,000 divided by 43 = $325 per dwelling unit

 (c)    Park development fee.
        (1)  Purpose. The park development fee is established for the development and maintenance of parks, land, and recreational facilities designated for use by the citizens of the city and ETJ.
(2)  Fee amount. Single-family fee is $764 per dwelling unit and multifamily fee is $622 per dwelling unit. 

Calculation of park development fee


The average park in Weatherford serves approximately 2307 people based on an estimated population of 30,000 people.  A typical neighborhood park costs an average of $630,000, for an estimated cost of $273 per person.
Single family: $273 x 2.80 PPH = $764 per dwelling unit
Multifamily: $273 x 2.28 PPH = $622 per dwelling unit

(d) Subdivider/developer contributions by land dedication.
(1) In lieu of the park land fee, the subdivider/developer of any area zoned and to be used for single-family, duplex, or multi-family residential purposes within the city may elect to apply a contribution of dedication of community park land acceptable to the City at the rate of not less than one (1) acre of land per thirty-five (35) single family units or forty-three (43) multifamily units of such residential subdivision. 
(2) The subdivider/developer shall propose dedication of park land in conjunction with approval of the preliminary plat. Dedicated area shall be shown on the final plat as “Park land dedicated to the City of Weatherford.”
(3) The dedicated land required hereby shall be well drained, relatively level in areas that are proposed for active park uses, accessible to public streets, and suitable for appropriate recreational and leisure activities as defined in a community park. All park land offered for dedication under this section shall meet the requirements for location and for physical land characteristics outlined in the current Weatherford Park and Recreation Open Space Master Plan. Areas having environmentally sensitive ecosystems, attractive views, topographical interests, or unique natural features shall be preferred and encouraged for park land dedication. Areas which have been stripped or are relatively featureless, barren of natural trees and vegetative cover, and which are not physically attractive in some other way, are not typically acceptable. Additionally, dedicated park lands should typically not be within the 100 year floodplain, of unusual topography, or have a slope greater than three percent (3%) unless approved by the Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Weatherford.
(4) The location and size of public parks within the city shall be determined in all instances by the Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Weatherford. That determination shall be based upon existing circumstances at the time and shall be in accordance with the current Weatherford Park and Recreation Open Space Master Plan adopted by the City.
(5) Park land shall be easily accessible to the public, enhance the visual character of the city, and minimize conflict with adjacent land uses.

(e) Processing and collection of park fees.
(1) Park fee payment.
a. The subdivider/developer has the duty to submit with the preliminary plat the information concerning the number of dwelling units and on each subsequent final plat.
b. The City shall calculate the amount of the applicable park fee due with each final plat application.
c. The applicable park fee shall be collected prior to certification and filing of the final plat.
(2) Credit against park fee for subdivider/developer contributions to park land and recreation land or facilities.
a. Park land, privately owned park, or recreation facility dedication in lieu of park fee shall be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Director and is subject to approval by the City Council of the City of Weatherford.
  b. In lieu of dedicated land and/ or park fees up to fifty (50) percent of the total park dedication requirement may be fulfilled by privately owned and maintained park and recreation facilities. In determining the amount of credit, the following criteria shall be used:
i. Exceeding open space requirement of a development agreement or zoning district by more than twenty-five percent: ten (10) percent credit.
ii. Providing swimming pool(s): ten (10) percent credit.
iii. Providing playgrounds: ten (10) percent credit.
iv. Providing volleyball, basketball, and/or tennis courts: ten (10) percent credit.
v. Providing walking, bike, or jogging trails: ten (10) percent credit.

c. Where review of development applications has resulted in the acceptance of land dedication, such land dedication shall be shown on a final plat and shall contain clear fee simple dedication of that land to the City. Credit shall be granted upon approval of the final plat by the City Council.

(3) Use of park fees.
a. A special fund known as the park development fund will be established for the deposit of all fees under this ordinance.
b. Fees collected shall be used for the purpose of acquisition and development of new community parks and existing park facilities intended for use and access by the entire city. Fees collected may be used for site preparation, the extension of utilities to or within sites, the installation of landscaping, play equipment, or recreation improvements and attendant engineering and planning costs associated with such park development.
c. All expenditures of fees collected shall be made in accordance with the current Weatherford Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan and approved by the City Council to best benefit the citizens of Weatherford.
d. Any monies paid into this park development fund must be expended by the City of Weatherford within ten years following final plat approval. If such funds are not expended within ten years following final plat approval, the payor shall be entitled to a refund of such funds upon written request, less any amounts expended for such purposes.

References: 
Parkland Dedication Ordinances in Texas.  University of Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. AgriLifeExtension.tamu.edu
City of Weatherford Parks and Recreation Master Plan