A. Purpose. This section implements the policies of Goal 5 and Goal 8 of the city comprehensive plan and the city parks master plan by outlining standards for parks and recreational facilities in the city. It is the policy of the city that the availability of adequate and accessible parks, open spaces, and recreational land is an important component of residential neighborhoods. Parks and recreational lands meet the recreational needs of the citizens of Estacada. The goal of reserving suitable and adequate parks and recreational land is best realized through the creation of parks at the time that new residential neighborhoods, subdivisions and multi-family housing are created.
B. Dedication of Suitable Park Land Will Qualify for Park SDC Credit. New residential subdivisions, multifamily or manufactured home park developments may provide qualified park and recreational sites and receive a credit against park SDCs otherwise chargeable to the lots of the development pursuant to Chapter 3.16, provided the standards and conditions of this section are met.
C. Criteria for Dedication in Lieu of Payment of Park SDCs.
1. The following criteria shall be applied by the city to determine whether the city will allow dedication of park land in lieu of payment of park SDCs:
a. The topography, geology, access to, parcel size and location of land in the development available for dedication;
b. Potential adverse or beneficial effects of dedication upon environmentally sensitive areas;
c. Compatibility with the city parks master plan, city comprehensive plan, city capital improvements program, and maintenance capabilities of the Estacada public works department;
d. Availability of previously dedicated or acquired property;
e. The feasibility of dedication; and
f. Material conformity to the standards set forth in “Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines, National Recreation and Park Association (1987).”
No park land which does not meet these standards, as applied by the city council, will be accepted for dedication.
2. Prior to park land dedication a Level 1 environmental assessment of the lands proposed for dedication shall be performed by applicant as part of the site plan approval for the project.
3. Calculation of Land Required to be Dedicated. The amount of park and recreational land to be accepted for dedication by this section shall be based upon the adopted standard of twenty (20) acres of land per one thousand (1,000) of ultimate population as determined by the city parks master plan. This standard represents the city-wide land to population ratio for city parks and may be adjusted periodically through amendments to the parks master plan. The city parks master plan currently indicates a total required park acreage of twenty-five (25) acres. This number divided by current population of two thousand one hundred ninety (2,190) equates to 11.4 acres per one thousand (1,000) population or .011 acres of parkland per person.
a. Population Formula. The following table of persons per unit shall be used in calculating the required dedication of acres of land:

This formula for dedication of land will be subject to review and amendment based upon persons per unit, age, distribution, local conditions and the specific demand for park land created by the development. The projected resident population of the land to be subdivided or developed is determined by multiplying the maximum number of units allowed by the plat or the site plan by the appropriate number of standard of persons per unit set forth in the chart above. This figure is then to be multiplied by .011 to determine the total amount of qualified acreage which must be dedicated or deeded to the city for park, open space or recreation purposes. This formula is expressed as follows: (Maximum Units) x (Per/Unit) x (.011) = (acreage to be dedicated).
4. Dedication Procedure. Dedication of land or covenants approved as part of preliminary plat approval may be given or provided when the final plat is presented for approval. The developer must clear or fill and grade all park land to be dedicated to the satisfaction of the city and shall cause a Level 1 environmental assessment to be performed on all lands to be dedicated as part of the city’s construction plan approval for the plat. Dedicated park land acquired by this section shall not include setbacks, buffers, storm water detention facilities, easements or other similar requirements of this title unless specifically approved by the city. The developer shall dedicate the land as previously determined by the city at the time the final plat is approved. Dedication of land in conjunction with multifamily development shall be required prior to issuance of permits and commencement of construction. Park land dedication shall be formally dedicated on the plat to be recorded and, in addition, the developer shall convey the required lands to the city by general warranty deed. No land so dedicated and deeded shall be subject to any reservations of record, encumbrances of any kind, or easements which, in the opinion of the city, will interfere with the use of the land for park, open space or recreational purposes. The city may require developer to provide to the city a title insurance policy on the dedicated property insuring the marketable state of title. Where any reservations, encumbrances or easements exist the city may require payment in lieu of the dedication of lands unless it, in its sole discretion, chooses to accept the land subject to encumbrances. If the developer does not own the property held subject to the land dedication, the planning commission may, in its discretion, approve the grant of a long-term lease of land which will satisfy the intent of the park land dedication provisions set forth within this title. (Ord. 1999-7 § 5: prior code § 10.755)