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COUNCIL meeting <br />i. <br />< <br />PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AND TRAILS <br />NOV 2 4 1997 <br />CITYOFORONO <br />The city has developed a plan for parks, open space, and trails that includes the acquisition of land <br />for parks, open space, and trails, and the development of parks and trails facilities. The <br />accomplishment of this plan has required a substantial amount of public expenditure. The Parks, <br />Open Space and Trails Commission has updated the Parks, Open Space and Trails goals. The <br />accomplishment of these goals will require a substantial amount of additional public expenditure. <br />New development increases the use of existing facilities and requires the acquisition of land for <br />preservation and expansion of open space, and the development of additional parks and recreational <br />facilities and trails. <br />Based on a survey of Orono residents, the community resoundingly wants to maintain open space <br />and natural areas, and wants trails developed to enable access to those areas. When land is <br />developed, two types of impacts occur. First, the amount of open space is reduced. Second, new <br />residents come to the city who also have needs and desires regarding open space, parks, recreation <br />and trails. It is necessary that the developer of the subdivision contributes toward addressing these <br />two types of impacts through a dedication of land for parks, open space, trails, etc; or through a cash <br />payment in-lieu-of dedication that can be used to acquire land or develop facilities. The amount of <br />the dedication should be roughly proportional to the impact the subdivision will have on the city's <br />system of parks, open space and trails. <br />Park Dedication <br />The city does not have sufficient funds within the General Fund to make park improvements without <br />requiring land or cash dedication in lieu of land. The park land dedication or cash in lieu of land <br />dedication must be sufficient to acquire a significant amount of the open space and park land <br />necessary to meet the needs of the city's residents. Collecting cash for open space acquisition and <br />park improvements, and trails is necessary to serve new residents, thereby offsetting the demands <br />for parks and open space that result from new development. Park Dedication from development will <br />not be sufficient to complete open space and park land acquisi-on, and park and trail improvements. <br />The city will use the city General Fund, park grants, cooperative efforts with other agencies, bond <br />referendums, or a combination of these funding sources to complete parks, trails, and open space <br />improvements. <br />Land subdivisions or any new development that result increased land use density, and increased <br />demand for parks, open space and trails, will be c .«.*cted to include public dedication of lands <br />necessary for additional parks, playgrounds, open sp.' i * trails. If the individual development s <br />density increase or impact is relatively small, or if the pro^i. . ty to be developed does not include land <br />necessary to implement the city's parks, open space, and trails plan, the developer will be required <br />to contribute funds for the municipal purchase of such lands or improvement of existing recreation <br />facilities proportionate to the cumulative effect of such density increase.