Ordinances-2012-314

a) Usability: At least 90% of the land required to be dedicated must be. located outside of floodways, lakes or other water bodies, areas with slopes greater than 15%; wetlands subject to federal or state regulatory jurisdiction and other areas the City reasonably deems unsuitable for neighborhood open space due to topography, flooding or other appropriate considerations. The City encourages the dedication of natural land that includes lakes, ponds, creeks, other water bodies, wetlands falling under the jurisdiction of state or federalagencies and other sensitive areas including woodland areas, both as 10% of in addition to the dedicated land required by this article, if sufficient abutting land• is dedicated as a usable, public recreation area or park. b) Unity: The dedicated land must form a single_parcel of land, except where the City determines that two or more parcels or greenways-trails would best serve the public interest, given the type' and distribution of neighborhood open space needed to adequately serve the proposed- development:, If the City determines that two ( 2) or more parcels would best serve the public interest, the City may require that such parcels be connected by a dedicated strip of land at least twenty feet.( 20') wide in order to provide` access and continuity, between said parcels. c) Location: The dedicated land must be located so as to, reasonably serve the recreation and open space needs of the residents of the subdivision or planned development. d) Shape: If a sufficient amount of land is dedicated to accommodate recreational facilities and activities, such as fields, courts or playground equipment, the shape of the dedicated land must be suitable for such facilities and activities. Linear open space should be of sufficient width to accommodate trails and, adjacent greenways. e) Access: i. Greenways and Trails: Public access`to greenways and trails must be provided by a public access- easement at least, 20 feet in width. In addition, greenways and trails must be: connected to existing or proposed greenways and trails on adjacent property. ii. Parks: Public access to the dedicated land to be used for parks must be provided either by adjoining public street frontage or by a dedicated public access easement at least 50 feet in width, which connects the dedicated land to 4 a public street or right of way. The grades adjacent to existing-and proposed streets must permit reasonable access to the dedicated land. The parcel must be safely accessible to pedestrian traffic. f) Responsibility For Site Preparation: i. The City may require the subdivider or developer to grade and seed those portions of tile dedicated land' to be improved prior to dedication of the property and prior to the' City' s acceptance of the dedication. ii. Where the dedicated land is located adjacent to a street, the subdivider or developer will remain responsible for the installation of utilities, sidewalks and other improvements required along that street segment. 2 c