At the July 17 Hastings City Council meeting, Community Development Director John Hinzman reviewed the second readings of two ordinances related to parkland dedication.
“What we're doing is changing our method and our number for parkland dedication,” said Hinzman. “A little background on parkland dedication: anytime property is subdivided with any final plat or a minor subdivision. Land is dedicated for park purposes. This can either be physical dedication, if a new park is created or a methodology is established for the payment of a park dedication fee.”
Hinzman explained that the payment for park dedication fees has not been amended since 2004 and as expected, the rates and cost of things have increased. He recommended a mechanism to keep abreast of current costs and the regulatory environment. The fee schedule was based on current and proposed rates. The recommendation was not to sandbag developers with a huge fee increase but to gradually raise fees until reaching $3,600 per unit (see fee schedule). Hinzman assured the council that fees will be kept current as there is a three-year review built into the plan.
After a public hearing, the Subdivision Ordinance and the Fee Schedule was approved by all. Councilmember Tina Folch said, “I just wanted to say thank you, John and Chris Jenkins for all the work that you've put into coming up with these recommendations for us. We very much appreciate all the thought that went into this and that you made it a green ordinance that we'll be able to keep up with inflationary adjustments as they're needed in the years to come. And I think that it's really a great recommendation that you've brought forward.”
Other prevailing resolutions
The council approved a minor subdivision of Shepard of the Valley Lutheran Church property located at 1450 Fourth St. W. In 2020 the eastern half of this property was rezoned for multiple home development. Hinzman explained that this subdivision would allow the prospective developer to purchase the property and seek land use approvals for the owner.
A five-acre parcel was sold to Mr. Ries pending final plat approval at the June 26 meeting and the subsequent resolution of the Preliminary and Final Plat of Ries Addition was reviewed.
“This would be a 20-acre subdivision consisting of two lots property zoned agriculture,” said Heinzman. “It's outside our metropolitan urban service area which means we're not intending to bring city sewer or water to the property. And that has a minimum lot size requirement of 10 acres. So essentially, we're taking a lot and splitting it in half.”
He addressed concerns brought up at a public hearing regarding stormwater drainage and stated, “We did have a boilerplate condition we have on all subdivisions that during the grading and drainage review of the project that there's not more rainfall going off of the property as runoff and coming into it for our stormwater requirements.”
With those final words, the council approved the resolution.
