§ 19.20.050. Standards for deeded parkland.

A.

General characteristics. Parkland deeded to the city as provided in this chapter shall meet the standards set forth below and in the DSC:

1.

The parkland shall be placed in a location near the center of the subdivision or subdivisions that it serves, with the expressed goal that the park is no further than one-quarter mile measured by walking distance from any residence within the subdivision that it serves;

2.

Where the subdivision is an initial phase of multiple phases, the park may be located so that it is accessible to the future phases, provided that the park meets the requirements of Subsection A.1. above;

3.

Parklands submitted for dedication shall be located so that users are not required to cross arterial roads to access the park site from within the subdivision, and shall not abut an arterial except in the following circumstances:

a.

Parks over twelve acres may abut an arterial on one side; or

b.

The arterial has no more than four lanes and has on-street parking; or

c.

Parks permitted in Section B.4.a (Alternate Park Type Table).

4.

If the park is one acre or larger, the entire boundary of the parkland shall abut either a public or private street, dedicated open space or arroyo. Parks of less than one acre shall abut a public or private street, dedicated open space or arroyo on at least two sides. Buildings on lots that have frontage on streets that abut the park shall face the park. Residential lots may abut parkland provided that the subdivider incorporates the following standards:

a.

Pedestrian connectivity between the parkland and adjacent lots is provided,

b.

That a front build-to line, in accordance with the zoning ordinance, is delineated on the plat so that residential structures face the park, and

c.

The park site shall share at least one boundary line with a public or private street;

5.

The parkland should, when possible, be located adjacent to school sites, ponding areas, or public open space to facilitate shared facilities;

6.

When parkland is deeded to the city as required by this title, the area of the park shall be calculated from the nearest property line or street right-of-way line, and not from the existing or proposed curb line of an adjacent street, unless park features are incorporated into the parkway, subject to an affirmative recommendation by the director of parks and recreation and approval by the city plan commission. Sidewalks and signs shall not count as park features that allow the inclusion of the parkway area as part of the park area calculation; and

7.

Where possible, and as approved by the director of the parks and recreation department, parkland shall be designed and located within a subdivision to allow for an extension or connection to a public park or other public recreational facility within an abutting subdivision.

B.

Minimum improvements for lands to be dedicated as parklands. Parkland deeded to the city shall meet the following minimum improvements described by this subsection.

1.

The subdivider shall indicate the proposed parkland improvement(s) within the subdivision improvement plans as required in Section 19.08.010.

2.

Construction of the required minimum parkland improvement(s) shall be in accordance with the approved subdivision improvement plans, and shall be completely installed and constructed by the subdivider within the time period specified for construction of subdivision improvements in this title.

3.

An improved park shall, at a minimum, include the following:

a.

Paving frontage, curbing, and gutter for all street frontages abutting the outside perimeter of the parkland;

b.

Utility (water, sanitary sewer and electricity) extensions to the perimeter of the park at a location indicated by the director of parks and recreation and that are consistent with published EPWU rules;

c.

An accessible route shall be installed per the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) on all street frontages abutting the outside perimeter of the parkland of a minimum width and construction to provide accessibility to individuals with disabilities as provided by the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS). The sidewalk alignment and width shall be approved by the director of parks and recreation;

d.

Grading, automatic irrigation and turf within the parkland boundaries shall be installed prior to the acceptance of the proposed parkland submittal. The design and installation shall be approved by the director of the parks and recreation department. The city plan commission may, upon an affirmative recommendation from the director of the parks and recreation department, allow parkland to remain undisturbed in its natural state;

e.

One age appropriate play structure unit entirely covered by a metal shade canopy, for either ages two—five years or ages five—twelve years, with a minimum 50-foot by 50-foot user zone, from an approved park department list of acceptable alternatives, including an appropriate safety surface that meets industry requirements. If a play structure already exists within a dedicated park within one-fourth mile, other comparable amenities entirely covered by a metal shade canopy of comparable size may be provided such as basketball courts, outdoor exercise stations, splash pads, or picnic tables.

f.

A minimum of two accessible shaded picnic tables, or four benches or a combination of benches and tables, per acre on concrete pads;

g.

A minimum of one trash can per acre on a concrete pad;

h.

Pedestrian-oriented perimeter lighting along adjacent public and private street rights-of-way and one light at the playground or focal point of the park;

i.

Where open space lands to be left in an undisturbed state are accepted as required parklands, grading, automatic irrigation and turf establishment requirements shall be waived;

j.

Standards.

i.

Facilities and improvements provided by a subdivider on lands dedicated as parkland shall be designed and installed to meet the minimum standards of this chapter, the DSC and the parks and recreation department as established in the parks facilities standards, a copy of which is maintained by the director of the parks and recreation department. The parks facilities standards shall be approved by the city plan commission and the city council. The parks facilities standards may be changed from time to time, but each change shall be approved by the city plan commission and the city council.

ii.

Facilities and improvements of a park developed for and owned by the city, regardless of whether the project is developed through City of El Paso Engineering and Capital Construction or the project is developer-generated, shall be designed and installed to meet the minimum standards of the following, or as otherwise approved by the director of the parks and recreation department, in accordance with related federal, national, state, or local codes, including but not limited to the following:

1.

International Play Equipment Manufacturer's Association (IPEMA);

2.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Handbook for Public Safety;

3.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM);

4.

Accessibility Standards for Play Areas through the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG);

5.

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA RP-6-01);

6.

Sports Turf Management Association (STMA); and

7.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM F08).

k.

Street trees shall be provided in the parkway abutting the park at twenty-foot intervals. If the park does not abut street ROW on all sides, in addition to the street trees, shade trees shall be provided at a minimum of ten trees per one-fourth acre.

4.

The subdivider may use one or more of the designs in the approved alternate park type table (a) and shall receive full credit towards parkland dedication requirements (unless otherwise stated in the table), provided all requirements listed in the table are met. In developments larger than thirty acres, at least two different park types are required.

Alternate Park Type Table:

Park Type	Tot. Lot	Pocket Park	Green	Plaza	Square
Size	< ¼ acre	¼—½ acre	½—8 acres	¼—2 acres	½—5 acres
Location	Residential/Commercial/Mixed Use	Residential/Commercial/ Mixed Use	Low-Medium Density Residential	Commercial/ Mixed Use/High Density Residential @ Intersection of roads on the City's MTP with street frontage on 4 sides; abutting buildings must face the plaza.	Mixed Use/High Density Residential @ Intersection roads on the City's MTP with street frontage on 4 sides; abutting buildings must face the square.
Requirements	B.3.a-k;	B.3.a-k; except that e. (play structure) is required in a residential area; but any of the following may be substituted in a commercial or mixed-use area: basketball court, outdoor exercise stations or gazebo with a combined structured shade area at least 900 sf & 4 picnic tables or benches or a combination.	B.3.a-k; except that the following may be substituted with approval of Parks Director for e. (play structure) when a play structure within a dedicated park already exists within ¼ mile of the green: basketball courts, outdoor exercise stations, splash pad, gazebo with a combined structured shade area at least 900 sf & 4 picnic tables or benches or a combination, trails, amphitheaters.	B.3.a-d, f-k; primarily hardscape surface; a focal point must be provided (such as a fountain or water feature or gazebo with a combined structured shade area at least 900 sf & 4 picnic tables or benches or a combination).	B.3.a-d, f-k; a focal point must be provided (such as a fountain, water feature, splash pad, outdoor exercise stations or gazebo with a combined structured shade area at least 900 sf & 4 picnic tables, benches or a combination).
Optional	N/A	Up to 10% of the dedicated acreage may be landscaped with shrubs, screenings or crushed rock.	Up to 10% of the dedicated acreage may be landscaped with shrubs, screenings or crushed rock.	Up to 10% of the dedicated acreage may be landscaped with shrubs, screenings or crushed rock.	Up to 10% of the dedicated acreage may be landscaped with shrubs, screenings or crushed rock.
Conditional	N/A	N/A	10-30% of the dedicated acreage may be open space left in an undisturbed state depending on topography, wildlife habitat, or aesthetic value; up to 50% credit for open space subject to approval of Parks Director.	N/A	N/A

 

5.

The subdivider shall be required to submit development construction plans that conform to this title, the DSC and the parks and recreation department design, construction and specification standards. The parks and recreation department will review the construction documents for compliance with city park construction requirements. The developer must agree to standard city construction inspections of the park improvements.

C.

Exceptions. For purposes of this chapter, off-site dedications accepted pursuant to Section 19.20.080 shall not be required to satisfy the requirements of subsection (B)(3) of this section at the time of acceptance of the deed by the city. The city shall require the approval of a development agreement as a condition of acceptance of an off-site dedication, requiring such improvements within two years of the recording of the first subdivision plat within the development by the property owner who deeded the parkland, or a subsequent purchaser.

(Ord. 16882 § 2 (part), 2008)

(Ord. No. 17236, § 27, 11-10-2009; Ord. No. 17251, § 11, 12-15-2009; Ord. No. 17528, § 1, 4-12-2011; Ord. No. 18153, § 2, 4-1-2014; Ord. No. 18806 , § 1, 6-26-2018)