PD108R-CS 951218 IIJI!
COPPELL LEISURE SERVICES DEPARTMFJ~I [~FC I ~ I~ ~
~MO~~
DATE: D~ember 18, 1995
TO: Ga~ Sieb, D~eetor of Planning
~OM: Ga~ Simg, D~tor of ~re Se~ie~ ~
~: ~ Sp~g ~ Sub~v~ion
As stated in my previous memo dated December 14, 1995, the Leisure Services Department
staff supports the request of the Dallas Baptist Foundation of Texas for the proposed zoning
change for the Springs Subdivision. However, staff does not recommend waiver of the Park
Land Dedication Ordinance requirements. Staff's recommendations are based upon the
following points:
1. The Park Land Dedication ordinance was adopted to provide recreational areas in the
form of neighborhood parks as a function of subdivision development. The primary
cost of neighborhood parks and their related development is to be borne by the
ultimate residential property owners.
2. Satisfaction of the Park Land Dedication Ordinance is to be satisfied by either of two
methods, (a) clear fee simple dedication of an area of land to the City for park
purposes, or (b) payment of $1,285.00 per dwelling unit.
The Grapevine Springs Park was dedicated to Dallas County not the City of Coppell.
This ordinance specifically indicates that the land dedication is to be to the City. Staff has
been unable to determine that this dedication to Dallas County was predicated upon any
waiver of the park land dedication fees for the Springs Subdivision or any other future
subdivision.
Furthermore, any land dedicated the City under this regulation must be suitable for
park and recreation uses. An area would be considered unsuitable if:
a. the area is primarily located in the 100-year flood plain. [The 1.6 acres that
has been offered to the city is in the 100 year flood plain. Likewise, the
majority of Grapevine Springs Park is also within the 100-year flood plain.]
b. any areas of unusual topography or slope which render them unusable for
organized recreational activities. [ Due to the excessive slopes of Grapevine
Springs Park, there is little flat developable land for improvements.]
Memo to Gary Sieb
Page 2
December 18, 1995
According to the Subdivision Regulations-Appendix C-Design Criteria and Standards Section
VII-Parks, Item G, the above characteristics of a park land dedication area may be grounds
for refusal of any preliminary plat.
Other than the aged trails system within Grapevine Springs Park, the park is generally
unusable for organized recreational uses, without renovations and modifications. Staff has
met with the Baptist Foundation of Texas in two separate meetings to relate these issues to
them. We have attempted to induce them to dedicate several adjacent, contiguous acres of
property in leu of the $1285.00 per dwelling unit assessment as authorized by the Park Land
Dedication Ordinance.