Parkland Dedication Update
Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:12 am
Council Member Leslie Pool would like to give an update on the Parkland Dedication Ordinance and the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) staff’s recommended amendments coming up this week at the Open Space, Environment, and Sustainability Committee on January 27, and at the full Council on January 28.
Please see the attached documents for more information:
• Frequently Asked Questions: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100640.pdf
• Comparison of Proposed Amendments to Original Draft Ordinance: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100713.pdf
• PARD Staff Report will be available soon as late back-up.
Council Member Pool, along with many members of our community, recognizes the need for an updated parkland dedication formula and fee structure. If we do not act now, our growing city will only continue to see a downward trend in park availability and a lower level of service in our parks facilities. (See FAQs at the link above for more information.)
The draft ordinance, with the updated formula, passed on first reading last November. Following that hearing, members of the business community expressed concerns that the draft ordinance did not adequately codify PARD’s existing procedures at the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), and that modifications to provide certainty and clarity for the development community about the dedication and fee in-lieu process would be appropriate.
Meetings between PARD leaders, business stakeholders, parks conservancy advocates, and members of the Parks Board resulted in agreement on broad concepts, such as the existing PARD practice of allowing a combination of parkland dedication and fee in-lieu where appropriate.
PARD distilled those broad concepts into the current proposed amendments listed in their staff report (which will be released by PARD as late back-up soon).
Council Member Pool also called a series of meetings with PARD staff, and with the business stakeholders and parks advocates to discuss these broad concepts and the proposed staff amendments. The business stakeholders may still have lingering concerns, and may address those concerns at the full Council meeting where PARD staff will present their recommendations.
Council Member Pool supports the staff-recommended amendments as a reflection of the consensus reached by PARD and the stakeholders over the course of several meetings. She believes that these amendments balance the concerns of individual groups with the broader needs of the Austin community, and urges the full Council to lend their support for to these recommendations as well.
One of the recommendations is to define an “Urban Core” map. There has been a lot of discussion over this proposal. Council Member Pool recognizes that PARD uses these boundaries to measure Park Deficiency, but she anticipates there will be a robust discussion at Council about the significance of this map.
Council Member Pool supports a postponement on Amendment 3 regarding credit for private parkland and amenities. PARD does not yet have the full criteria language available to determine what amenities would be acceptable. Council Member Pool recommends Council wait to review PARD’s criteria after it is written and can be fully vetted by the community and Council.
Finally, Council Member Pool intends to ask for a report back from PARD on how the ordinance and amendments are performing; PARD has offered to return to Council with a report in six months, and again in one year.
For more information on all of the staff recommended amendments, please refer to our FAQ sheet and Comparison Table.
Please see the attached documents for more information:
• Frequently Asked Questions: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100640.pdf
• Comparison of Proposed Amendments to Original Draft Ordinance: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100713.pdf
• PARD Staff Report will be available soon as late back-up.
Council Member Pool, along with many members of our community, recognizes the need for an updated parkland dedication formula and fee structure. If we do not act now, our growing city will only continue to see a downward trend in park availability and a lower level of service in our parks facilities. (See FAQs at the link above for more information.)
The draft ordinance, with the updated formula, passed on first reading last November. Following that hearing, members of the business community expressed concerns that the draft ordinance did not adequately codify PARD’s existing procedures at the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), and that modifications to provide certainty and clarity for the development community about the dedication and fee in-lieu process would be appropriate.
Meetings between PARD leaders, business stakeholders, parks conservancy advocates, and members of the Parks Board resulted in agreement on broad concepts, such as the existing PARD practice of allowing a combination of parkland dedication and fee in-lieu where appropriate.
PARD distilled those broad concepts into the current proposed amendments listed in their staff report (which will be released by PARD as late back-up soon).
Council Member Pool also called a series of meetings with PARD staff, and with the business stakeholders and parks advocates to discuss these broad concepts and the proposed staff amendments. The business stakeholders may still have lingering concerns, and may address those concerns at the full Council meeting where PARD staff will present their recommendations.
Council Member Pool supports the staff-recommended amendments as a reflection of the consensus reached by PARD and the stakeholders over the course of several meetings. She believes that these amendments balance the concerns of individual groups with the broader needs of the Austin community, and urges the full Council to lend their support for to these recommendations as well.
One of the recommendations is to define an “Urban Core” map. There has been a lot of discussion over this proposal. Council Member Pool recognizes that PARD uses these boundaries to measure Park Deficiency, but she anticipates there will be a robust discussion at Council about the significance of this map.
Council Member Pool supports a postponement on Amendment 3 regarding credit for private parkland and amenities. PARD does not yet have the full criteria language available to determine what amenities would be acceptable. Council Member Pool recommends Council wait to review PARD’s criteria after it is written and can be fully vetted by the community and Council.
Finally, Council Member Pool intends to ask for a report back from PARD on how the ordinance and amendments are performing; PARD has offered to return to Council with a report in six months, and again in one year.
For more information on all of the staff recommended amendments, please refer to our FAQ sheet and Comparison Table.