PD108R-CS 951218 (2) COPPELL LEISURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 18, 1995
TO: Jim witt, city Manager
FROM: Gary D. Sims, Director of Leisure Serviceable.
O
RE: Springs Park
Recently, the Leisure Services Department has become involved in
the re-zoning request of the Baptist Foundation of Texas regarding
their property located on Bethel Road and east of Grapevine Springs
Park. The purpose of this memo is to inform you that there is
disagreement between the Baptist Foundation and this department
concerning the Park Land Dedication Ordinance and its application
in this situation.
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. The
Baptist Foundation has insisted that the previous donation of
Grapevine Springs Park to Dallas County has satisfied their
obligation. They have also offered 1.6 acres of property, which
is in the 100 year flood plain and is extremely difficult to
access. This site is also subject to regular flooding.
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 City of Coppell has
had some form of land dedication ordinance since 1985. The
current ordinance indicates the primary cost of neighborhood
parks and their related development is to be borne by the
ultimate residential property owners.
2. The Park Land Dedication Ordinance may 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 $1285.00
per dwelling unit.
3. The Grapevine Springs Park was dedicated to Dallas County not
the City of Coppell. The ordinance specifically indicates the
land dedication is be to the City. Further, 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.
Memo to Jim Witt
Page 2
December 18, 1995
Additionally, any land dedicated to the City under this regulation
must be suitable for park and recreation uses. According to the
ordinance, 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 within the 100-year flood
plain.)
b. any areas of unusual topography or slope which render
them unusable for organized recreational activities. As
previously indicated, access to the 1.6 acres is
extremely limited.
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
opportunities.
Recommendation:
Staff has met with representatives of the Baptist Foundation
of Texas in two separate meetings to attempt to explain this
situation to them. We have tried to induce them to dedicate
several acres of adjacent contiguous property that is accessible
and has the ability to be developed. They have flatly refused our
request. The current park property does not contain sufficient
developable land to meet the needs of park patrons without
exhausting its minimal flat areas. This site needs a picnic
shelter, restrooms, parking and renovations to meet federal A.D.A.
specifications. It is staff's opinion that this park will .never be
fully maximized without these improvements.
Barring the requested land donation, staff recommends the
assessment of the $1285.00 per dwelling unit fee be assessed to
this project to compensate the city for expenses necessary to
modify the park for the above mentioned improvements.