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development,the other residents may find themselves traveling to other parts of the city to use a playground with their kids or to play organized sports with other young adults. In short,while a developer may have a target market for the sale of their units,we cannot predict the long-term composition of the residents in a particular development, nor can we predict their recreational needs and expect those needs to be satisfied entirely within that development. This is not to say that there is not a need for private facilities. There are certainly cases where private facilities may make more sense, as in the case of a golf course, where the capital investment is quite large compared to the local residential use of the facility. At the previous Planning Commission,there was discussion regarding the incorporation of open space that is set aside as part of a Rural Conservation Subdivision or shoreland planned unit development.Because this land is typically held in private ownership,it does not accomplish the end goal of providing public open space.These lands are required to be preserved as an element of this development style and also typically contain areas otherwise unsuitable for development. These lands do, however, provide permanent open space that does have other public benefits, such as retaining scenic vistas and protecting wetlands, notwithstanding the lack of public accessibility. Proposed Ordinance Changes: The Staff proposes that the City provide credit for the preservation/restoration of open space by providing the applicant with a credit equal to 2.5% of the total area of land that has been set aside as open space.For a development that has set aside five (5) acres of open space, the developer would receive a credit equal to 0.125 acre toward the park dedication fee. Ordinance changes would include the following options for park dedication: 1. Dedicate or reserve a reasonable portion of land for parks, playgrounds, trails, or green space of sufficient size to meet the needs of the residents of the subdivision,up to 0.015 acres per resident expected in the development.The maximum value of the land that the Planning Commission may require shall not exceed 1o%of the estimated market value of the land at the time of the subdivision. 2. Make a payment of up to $390 per expected resident in the subdivision,with an average household size of 2.2 persons. 3. Make a combination of land dedication and cash payment to the City for parks and open space purposes reflecting the values contained herein. 4. An applicant may receive a credit toward the park dedication requirement equal to 2.5% of the buildable area of the open space set aside as part of the development. Specific proposed ordinance amendments include the following language, as shown, in Section 9.10(deletions are stricken,additions are underlined): 1. In accordance with the provisions of Section 462.358 of the Minnesota Statutes, or amendments thereto, the subdivider shall dedicate, to the public, lands for highway rights-of-way, street rights-of-way, utility easements, wetland easements, and similar lands required for perpetual and public improvements. 2. The City of Pequot Lakes finds it in the public interest and necessary to provide future parks trails and other public open and recreational spaces for the citizens of Pe not Lakes. As such, for every new subdivision of land involving three or more lots which are to be developed for residential purposes, the Planning Commission, with the concurrence of the City Council, shall require a payment or dedication to the City of anyone of the following_ a. A reasonable portion , ' u-:,f a land dedication for conservation purposes or City of Pequot Lakes Staff Report 8-4 April 19,2007