R-508-5-84RESOLUTION NO. 508-5-84(R)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN,
TEXAS, ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF
LAND FOR PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE.
WHEREAS, population and commercial/residential
development have increased and will continue to increase
over the next 20 to 30 years at a tremendously rapid rate;,.
and,
WHEREAS, open space land will continue to become less
available for park and recreational use due to increasing
development and the rising costs for the land in which to
develop these parks and recreational facilities; and,
WHEREAS, it is the determination of the Allen Parks
and Recreation Board that the City of Allen, through the
Parks and Recreation Department, shall provide optimum
park, recreation, and open space areas to insure adequate
space to satisfy the recreational needs of all citizens of
Allen, and further provide facilities in these areas which
are of the highest quality, are economically maintainable,
and can satisfy recreational demands for which they are
intended, whether passive, active, programmed, or
unprogrammed; and,
WHEREAS, it is the determination of the Allen Parks
and Recreation Board that the City of Allen develop a
policy for the acquisition of such areas which will allow
the City to meet open space, park, and recreational land
requirements of the City; and,
WHEREAS, the Allen City Council has passed Resolution
No. 454-9-83(R) for the development of a Comprehensive
Master Plan which will act as a guide for the implementation
of this Land Acquisition Policy
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ALLEN, TEXAS THAT:
RESOLUTION NO. 508-5-84(R) Page 2
SECTION I. POLICY FOR LAND ACQUISITION
It is hereby the policy of the City
of Allen to provide parks, recreation, and
open space, and extablish methods for
acquisition in accordance with the attached
document (Exhibit "A").
SECTION II. IMPLEMENTATION
Procedures for implementation
described in Exhibit "A" (attached) along
with the entire policy should take effect
upon approval by the Allen City Council.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 3rd DAY OF May ,
1984.
ATTEST:
Marty Hendrix, CITY SECRETARY
p'7 CITY SECRETARYo% rr y
�z r �i
POLICY ''i
RESOLUTION 508-5-84 (R)
FOR EXHIBIT "A"
LAND ACQUISITION
FOR
PARKS, RECREATION, and OPEN SPACE
City of Allen
MARCH, 1984
TABLE OF CONTENTS
POLICY FOR LAND ACQUISITION
OF
PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE
Page
RESOLUTION...................................................... la, lb
I. Goals of the City of Allen for Parks, Recreation and
Open Space.... 2
II. Definitions of Park, Recreation, and Open Space Areas..... 4
A. Type of Facility ...................................... 4
B. Size of Public Facilities ............................. 4
C. Service Area .......................................... 5
D. Facility Development .................................. 6
E. Location .............................................. 7
III. Implementation ............................................ 8
A. Neighborhood Park Districts ........................... 8
B. Community Park Districts .............................. 9
IV. Methods for Land Acquisition .............................. 9
V. Land Acquisition Policy Follow-Up.........................10
Map1 .....................................................12
Map 2 .....................................................13
Map 3 .....................................................14
RESOLUTION NO. 508-5-84(R)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN,
TEXAS, ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF
LAND FOR PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE.
WHEREAS, population and commercial/residential
development have increased and will continue to increase
over the next 20 to 30 years at a tremendously rapid rate;
and,
WHEREAS, open space land will continue to become less
available for park and recreational use due to increasing
development and the rising costs for the land in which to
develop these parks and recreational facilities; and,
WHEREAS, it is the determination of the Allen Parks
and Recreation Board that the City of Allen, through the
Parks and Recreation Department, shall provide optimum
park, recreation, and open space areas to insure adequate
space to satisfy the recreational needs of all citizens of
Allen, and further provide facilities in these areas which
are of the highest quality, are economically maintainable,
and can satisfy recreational demands for which they are
intended, whether passive, active, programmed, or
unprogrammed; and,
WHEREAS, it is the determination of the Allen Parks
and Recreation Board that the City of Allen develop a
policy for the acquisition of such areas which will allow
the City to meet open space, park, and recreational land
requirements of the City; and,
WHEREAS, the Allen City Council has passed Resolution
No. 454-9-83(R) for the development of a Comprehensive
Master Plan which will act as a guide for the implementation
of this Land Acquisition Policy
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ALLEN, TEXAS THAT: /
-la-
RESOLUTION NO. 508-5-84(R) Page 2
SECTION I. POLICY FOR LAND ACQUISITION
It is hereby the policy of the City
of Allen to provide parks, recreation, and
open space, and extablish methods for
acquisition in accordance with the attached
document (Exhibit "A").
SECTION II. IMPLEMENTATION
Procedures for implementation
described in Exhibit "A" (attached) along
with the entire policy should take effect
upon approval by the Allen City Council.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 3rd DAY OF May ,
1984.
ATTEST:
Marty Hendrix, CITY SECRETARY
-lb-
LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section I. Goals of the City of Allen for Parks, Recreation and Open Space
The City of Allen has developed the following goals which act as
the foundation for the development of the Land Acquisition Policy.
A. To provide, at an optimum level, the ratios of areas of public
parks, -recreation, and open space per population as follows:
1. Active/Passive Public Park Facilities
a. 2.0 acres per 1000 persons of neighborhood facilities
b. 2.5 acres per 1000 persons of community park
facilities
c. 4.0 acres per 1000 persons of special use facilities
Total Active/Passive Park Facilities - 8.5 acres per
1000 persons
2. Greenbelt or Linear Parks
The amount of floodplain to be used for greenbelts may
increase or decrease depending upon population growth and
development around the creek areas. Areas utilizing
easements will depend on need and availability of right-
of-way.
It must be understood, these are idealistic and optimum ratios
in existing and future situations, ratios may be less than or
greater than those listed above, depending upon such factors as
geography of the area,•financial capabilities of the city,
availability of land, population densities, and the availability
of private and semi -private facilities.
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LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section I. Goals (cont'd)
B. To provide park, recreation, and open space facilities at the
neighborhood level by providing neighborhood parks, at the
regional level through community parks, and at the city wide
level for special use or activity areas, and to provide
linkages to each park with others through a series of trails
or greenbelts along floodways and easements which will satisfy
the needs to preserve valuable open space, reduce damage by
flooding and provide for passive recreation.
C. To establish a minimum acceptable size for each type of park along
with an optimum size for each, to establish a maximum service
area for each type, and to develop an inventory or facility list
which will describe the type of facilitites that should be
developed for each of these types of parks.
D. To establish acceptable and optimum locations for each type of
facility.
E. To develop procedures for acquisition which will allow the
city to meet open space, park, and recreational land requirements
of the city through purchase, dedication, lease, gifts, or private
donations.
F. To establish a policy for the use of privately owned areas for
temporary public parks, recreation and open space areas.
G. To establish and maintain an ongoing cooperation with other
jurisdictions within the City of Allen's extra territorial
jurisdiction. These other entities include the Allen Independent
School District, Lovejoy Independent School District, McKinney
Independent School District, Plano Independent School District,
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LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section I. Goals (cont'd)
and Collin County. The city will coordinate the planning of
future park, recreation, and open space areas, with each agency
involved and with their respective plans for development.
Section II. Definitions of Park, Recreational, and Open Space Areas
It is hereby the policy of the City of Allen to provide parks,
recreational, and open space areas defined as the following:
A. Type of Facility
1. Neighborhood Park
2. Community Park
3. Special Use Park
4. Greenbelt/Linear Parks
B. Size of Public Facilities
1. Neighborhood Parks
This type of facility will be approximately five (5) to
fifteen (15) acres with optimum size of approximately
ten (10) acres.
2. Community Parks
This type of facility will be approximately twenty (20) to
seventy-five (75) acres with the optimum size depending upon
use, geography, and extent of development.
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LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section II. Definitions (cont'd)
3. Special Use Areas
The size of this type of facility will be dictated by the use
or activity, geography, and design of each area. ,
4. Greenbelts/Linear Parks
As stated above, it will be the policy of the City of Allen
to acquire and utilize flood plain areas and also utilize
portions of transportation and utility easements for the
development of greenbelts and linear parks. Size will be
dictated by the amount of flood plain along creeks and
streams and the need for pedestrian trails along utility and
transportation easements.
C. Service Area
1. Neighborhood Parks
The service area of a neighborhood park is approximately
one (1) square mile equivalent to the service area of an
elementary school. These areas will be designed to serve
only the neighborhood in which it is located.
2. Community Parks
The service area of these types of areas will be approximately
a one (1) to three (3) mile service radius, serving a group
of neighborhoods located within this designated service area.
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LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section II. Definitions (cont'd)
3. Special Use Areas
Special Use Areas are designed to satisfy a particular
need or provide a particular service for the entire population
of the city.
4. Greenbelts/Linear Parks
These areas will be designed and developed to serve the entire
population of the City.
D. Facility Development
1. Neighborhood Parks
Development should be limited to reflect a more passive type
of facility which may contain the following: children's play
area, open play areas, picnic tables, benches, sidewalks,
trees, shrubs, turf, complete irrigation system, or other
items unique to the neighborhood of which it serves.
2. Community Parks
Development may include swimming pool, tennis courts,
racquetball courts, multi-purpose courts, hike/bike trails,
picnic facilities, children's play areas, community
recreation center, open play areas, softball/baseball/soccer
fields, restroom facilities, concession areas, trees, shrubs,
turf, complete irrigation system, parking facilities, and
other items unique to the particular needs of the community
or site location.
LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section II. Definitions (cont'd)
3. Special Use Areas
Development may include all necessary development pertaining
to the many different needs of special activities including
athletic complexes, golf courses, historical, archeological,
and natural preserves, zoological and botanical gardens,
swimming pools, vest-pocket parks for areas primarily in
non-residential areas, playgrounds not classified as neighbor-
hood parks, medians, municipal grounds, and joint City/School
use facilities.
4. Greenbelts/Linear Parks
Development limited to trails, paved and unpaved, picnic
facilities, sporadic parking facilities, exercise stations
for jogging trails, an occasional bridge over creek or stream,
with most of the area left natural for minimum maintenance.
E. Location
1. Neighborhood Parks
It is the policy of the City of Allen to locate neighborhood
facilities adjacent to elementary schools whenever possible
due to the population served and to allow for more efficient
use of the land both in economics and design. These facilities
should always be located for safe and easy access by children
and families without having to cross major streets, railroads,
or other physical barriers.
2. Community Parks
These facilities should be located along collector or major
streets and adjacent to creeks or floodway corridor to
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LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section II. Definitions (cont'd)
maximize the use of floodplain and floodfringe areas.
Occasionally a community park may be located adjacent to
a junior high school when geography, economics, and other
factors justify this type design.
3. Special Use Areas
Location of these facilities depend solely upon the use of
the facility. Special use areas can be located anywhere
in the city depending upon the activity and adjacent land
usage.
4. Greenbelts/Linear Parks
For greenbelts and linear parks primarily north and south
of the city, floodway corridors adjacent to the creeks,
streams and drainage areas will be utilized. For greenbelts
east and west through the city utility and transportation
easements may be used and additional right-of-way may be
required.
Section III. Implementation
In order to assure proper implementation of this policy for each type
of park facility, the following -planning methods have been developed.
A. Neighborhood Park Districts (Map 1)
Approximately one (1) square mile in size, bound by
collector or major streets and other physical barriers.
Residents within their respective neighborhoods should
have the safest and easiest access to park, recreation,
and open space areas within their neighborhood.
5:11
LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section III. Implementation (cont'd)
To prevent duplication of information and to better utilize
current information, the 28 neighborhood park districts have
been grouped together to coincide with the sixteen planning
districts currently being used by the city. (Map 2)
When each of the planning districts' population is determined,
the total acreage for neighborhood parks for that district
can be determined by applying the ratio goal of 2.0 acres/
1000 persons. Location can be determined, on a preliminary
basis, according to the best possible location for the entire
neighborhood and district. However, due to the characteristic
growth of neighborhoods, locations should be determined by an
ongoing review process.
B. Community Park Districts (Map 3)
The planning districts can be grouped together to form community
park districts which will contain the neighborhoods which form
a community. These areas represent the service area for
community parks. Total acreage and location of community
parks can be determined by using the ratio of 2.5 acres/1000
persons and, -applying the guidelines within this policy.
Section IV. Methods for Land Acquisition
A. Developments containing identified park, recreation, and open
space areas which must be purchased from the owner shall be,
upon annexation, zoned community facilities. The city will
express the desire to purchase said property in a timely
manner from the developer at a cost no greater than the owner's
actual cost plus interest or other carrying costs, to the
date of closing.
LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section IV. Methods for Land Acquisition (cont'd)
B. Where an area zoned Planned Development contains identified park,
recreation, and open space areas and the developer and city
express the desire for dedication of this area to the city to
satisfy open space requirements for the zoning, cooperative
planning of the exact location of this area should be undertaken
to insure the highest quality for both the developer and the city.
The area will then be accepted as a dedicated park at the time
the final plat is approved by the City Council or at the time
any proposed improvements are completed and deemed acceptable
by the city.
C. When gifts or private donations of land are considered, the Park
Board with staff recommendation shall examine the area in
accordance to city policies and formulate a recommendation on
the property for the City Council's final decision.
D. In areas which are privately owned, and have been identified for
a specific use by the city, negotiation of these areas will occur
and a lease/agreement developed. Monetary reimbursements and/or
services should be primarily used for negotiation in these
agreements.
Section V. Land Acquisition Policy Follow -Up
In conjunction with -the comprehensive Mater Plan, a capital improvements
program shall be developed, updated annually, and include the following
information:
A. Determine the optimum method for acquisition which is most
beneficial to the city.
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LAND ACQUISITION POLICY
Section V. Land Acquisition Policy Follow -Up (cont'd)
B. Describe the procedure for acquisition in an expressed time
frame and estimated cost to assure when the acquisition will
occur to the benefit of the city.
C. Describe a tentative schedule for development and also a
tentative plan for funding the development which may include
application of financial assistance from state and federal
agencies.
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CITY OF
Neighborho(
Park
Districts
Neighborhood
Neighborhood bound
MAP 1
CITY OF
Planning
Districts
Neighborhood
Neighborhood bounda
Planning dist.
Planning dist. bounda
MAP 2
CITY OF A
Community
Park
Districts
Neighborhood
Neighborhood bounda
Planning dist.
Planning dist. bounds
Community - A
Community boundary - _ MAP 3