Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/13/2005

Home

An extensive sidewalk and trail system is proposed. Staff has requested that the trail system be amended to provide a route adjacent to the wetlands to provide an off trail experience. The developer has indicated this may be feasible and will revise the plans accordingly. This development is similar in overall total area to the Ramsey Town Center Project; however this project is proposing 600 homes as compared to 2400 homes in Town Center. plans The Park and Recreation Commission held several meetings with the developer and designers formalizing the parks and amenities in Ramsey Town Center. Pulte did not request meetings with staff or the commission to refine the park plans; consequently the suggested park changes may appear to be rather extensive. Pulte is requesting the preliminary plat be presented to the City Council at the October 25 meeting. The development will have a home owners association with open space and amenities to meet the resident's recreational needs; however, public needs must be addressed. The recreational district encompasses North Fork homes and Golf Course, Lake Itasca, several older large lot developments, this project and undeveloped land. The density of this development will create need for public recreational facilities as recommended above. Review of the facilities available in existing parks in the district indicates that trails are the only developed amenities. The developer presented a proposal on October 5, 2005 requesting that the park and trail dedication be considered satisfied and that the developer receive credit back for trails provided inside the plat, the open space provided in the CIP and the river crossing right-of-way. This is not appropriate since credit is not given for trails inside the development or open space provide under the PUD requirements. The overall density of the project is 4.6 units/acre. The corresponding land dedication is 15%. The cash dedication required will be calculated as (R-D)/R * C where R = Required land, D = Dedicated land and C= full cash dedication. The 'value of the land is not used in the calculation. Staff Recommendation: Staffrecommends the park dedication requirements be satisfied through a combination of land and cash contributions. The developer must demonstrate that the land dedication will provide space for the soccer field, softball field, play ground and building as noted above. The cash dedication will be calculated as the percentage of land dedication not met times the full cash dedication. Consideration should be given to crediting the developer for providing some or all of the required amenities in the park in addition to dedicating the land. The list of proposed amenities and costs would be provided to staff for review. The accepted list would be included in the Development Agreement with a time table for completion and penalties for not meeting the timetable. Trail fees will be satisfied in cash with credit given for trail constructed outside the plat. Construction of the trail along the wetland would be evaluated for credit eligibility.