Agenda - Council - 07/08/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Given the above, it seems that any tot lot should be moved closer to the existing subdivisions. In discussions with the developer, any property that the City purchases for park purposes would have a cost of $18,500/acre. Our smallest existing park space is 0.8 acre. Ten of our parks are two acres or less. Another ten are two to five acres. It would seem, given the above, that purchase of a tot lot park greater than an acre or two would not provide the level of improvement to the neighborhood commensurate with the cost of the park. It should also be noted that development of a tot lot requires not only the dedication of Capital Outlay resources but the ongoing maintenance expense as well. Further, dedication of these resources toward a tot lot assumably uses funds that could have otherwise been allocated toward development of the community park. However, if Council is inclined to continue to attempt to purchase property for this purpose, given the developers stated offer price, it is suggested that Council consider property on the western border of the plat. At your last meeting you passed a motion directing the developer to covenant no more than four lots adjacent to the existing development to the west. Utilization of some of that property as a park may allow the developer to continue to develop four lots, but of a size reduced by the amount of land dedicated to park space. In order to facilitate the discussion, a copy of the Apple Ridge subdivision is attached. Also enclosed is the same plat with an adjustment in the lots within block one (the western most block) to allow for a half acre tot tot on 158th Lane. The remaining four lots would average 25,039 square feet in size (0.575 acre each). In the current preliminary plat, these lots have the following sizes: 1) 30,116; 2) 29,748; 3) 37,185; and 4) 24,887. The tot lot is shown at 21,780 square feet, which, as proposed by Good Value, would have a cost of $9,250. The playgrounds we have been putting in lately have averaged $30,000 to $35,000. It would be expected that anything in this park would be less, but, not knowing the level of expectations, we cannot guess at how much less at this point. It should also be stated that at this point the location of the park could probably be anywhere within that block. However, the noted location has good access to all three subdivisions. Council Action: Provide negotiating direction to staff relative to the size of a tot lot (if different from ' the previous direction) as well as the location parameters of any potential land purchase. Reviewed by: City Administrator CC: 07/08/97 /jmt Copies also distributed to: Zoning Administrator Finance Officer Parks/Utilities Supervisor APRDPK. DOC I I I I I I I I Ii' I I I I I I I I