HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 07-15 Maplewood imposes parks charge on commerical land DISPATCH .PICI-71rctt ly- i5,/cot,
Maplewoodimposes parks
charge on commercial la
The Maplewood City Council week that the following corn- view, R o s e m o u n t, Mounds
last week approved an ordi- munities have a park charge or- View, Cottage.Grove and Men-
nance setting a park charge of dinance relating to commercial dota Heights,10 per cent
21/2 per cent of the taxable value a n d industrial development:
of undeveloped commercial and Maple Grove, 21/2 per cent;Eden
industrial land. Prairie, $1,200 per acre;,Eagan,
THE PURPOSE of the ordi- up to 10 per cent; Arden Hills,
Hance is to assure residents that B000mington, Plymouth, Shore-,
additional open space for parks,
playgrounds and recreational fa-
cilities will be the responsibility
of all new development in the
city, not just residential devel-
opment.
The staff had recommended a
5 per charge based on the
fair market value of the unde-
veloped land. This was changed
to 2y per cent based on the tax-
able value of the land.
City Manager Michael Miller
said that what was approved
will mean a smaller park charge.
The council approved the first
reading of the ordinance on a 3-
1 vote.Mayor Robert Bruton cast
the dissenting vote because he
said he agreed with the original
recommendation of the staff.
MILLER SAID a commercial
and industrial park charge is a
necessity for the city.
"It becomes more necessary
with the restrictions on the tax
levy. We have to find other
sources of income,"he said.
The parks and recreation com-
mission and the staff presented
an ordinance to the council in
1974 establishing a charge for
commercial .and industrial de-
velopment for open space and
park purposes.
The recommended charge at
that time was 15 per cent of the
fair market value of the unde-
veloped land.
IN A memorandum to the
council, Miller pointed out last