[Amended 12-13-2004 by Ord. No. 2520]
A. Open space, community, recreation and public area
dedication standards and fees. As a condition precedent to approval
of a final plan of a residential subdivision or land development which
includes proposed residential units, the developer shall either: (1)
provide public dedication of land suitable for (a) recreational uses
or (b) the construction of recreational facilities, or, in the alternative,
upon agreement with the Township, (2) provide payment of recreational
fees in lieu thereof as set forth herein or as set forth in any subsequent
Township fee schedule ordinance.
B. Park, open space and recreation plan. Whitehall Township
formally adopts the Comprehensive Plan of Whitehall Township, and
the Park, Open Space and Recreation Plan for Whitehall Township, as
amended from time to time.
C. Park planning standards and criteria. In planning
and locating a park within a subdivision or land development the following
general standards and criteria shall apply:
(1) In accordance with § 503(11) of the MPC
Code, and the Township's formally adopted Park, Open Space and Recreation
Plan, all land designated for park and recreational facilities within
a subdivision or land development shall be suited for its intended
purpose.
(2) All proposed block parks and neighborhood parks and
playgrounds shall be located in accordance with the Township's Park
and Recreation Plan, and, at a minimum, shall have the following:
(a)
Well-drained soils free of wetlands, floodplains
and hydric soils;
(c)
A minimum street frontage of 100 feet for block
parks and 250 feet for neighborhood parks and playgrounds;
(d)
Adequate visibility from public or private streets,
or from public areas as necessary to promote a safe environment within
the park;
(e)
Block parks shall be located on local streets
only;
(f)
To the greatest extent practicable, be located
adjacent to or connected with the Township's system of footpaths,
parks, public lands, bikeways or trails as indicated in the Township's
Park, Open Space and Recreation Plan; and
(g)
Have an established lawn prior to acceptance
by the Township.
D. Park and recreation contributions. In order to further
the principles and standards established in the Township's Park, Open
Space and Recreation Plan, as amended, as herein incorporated by reference
in accordance with § 503(11) of the MPC, Act 247 as amended,
the following requirements shall apply to all new residential subdivisions
and land developments within the Township unless otherwise specified
herein:
(1) Fair-share contribution: A fair-share contribution
towards the continuation of the current level of park and recreational
service within the Township shall be required of all residential subdivision
and land development projects in the amount of 1,107 square feet per
dwelling unit or a flat fee of $2,000 per dwelling unit, as the case
may be. In the event that a dedication of land is involved, such deed
of dedication shall be filed with the Township and held until the
improvements to be constructed thereon, if any, are completed and
then the Township will accept this dedication. In the event that a
monetary contribution is made in lieu of a dedication of land, said
contribution shall be paid in the following manner:
(a)
Developments consisting of up to and including
five building lots, the fee must be paid prior to recording the final
plan with the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office.
(b)
Developments of more than five building lots
will be required to pay 50% of the fee prior to recording the final
plan with the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office, and subsequently
pay the remaining 50% within 180 days of the recording of the final
plan with the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds Office, or prior to
the issuance of any certificates of occupancy for any structure within
the development, whichever first occurs. This remaining 50% shall
be secured in the form of a letter of credit or other acceptable security
to the Township in order for any building permits to be issued.
(2) Method of contribution: The preferred method of allocation
of the fair-share contribution should be in accordance with the findings,
standards and principles contained in the Park Planning Guide section
of the Township's Park, Open Space and Recreation Plan, as amended
from time to time.
(3) Use of collected park and recreation funds: In accordance
with § 503(11) of the MPC, all funds collected for use in
the Township's Park and Recreation System shall be deposited into
an interest bearing Park and Recreation Trust Fund. Interest earned
on said account shall become funds of that account and said funds
shall be expended by the Township within three years of their collection
for the capital improvements, including but not necessarily limited
to the development, improvement, or construction of park and/or recreational
facilities for which the funds were collected.
E. Exemptions. Subdivisions of land which involve parcels
upon which an existing, occupied residential structure is to remain
may be entitled to an exemption of the required recreation fee payment
for the existing, developed lot. No vacant lots which are divided
into more than one parcel shall be eligible for such an exemption.
F. Administrative procedures. In processing a fair-share
contribution, the following procedures shall apply:
(1) All park land dedication shall be in accordance with all Township requirements relating to public land dedications. See §
22-37C.
(2) For the payment of a fee in lieu of land dedication, the fee shall be payable as set forth in §
22-37D(1)(b) hereof.
(3) Where the Township has established target areas or
zones for park land, the lands to be dedicated should be configured
to fall within these zones. If no target park areas are designated
for a parcel, dedicated recreation land should adjoin neighboring
footpaths, bike ways, public trails or other public lands.
(4) Where lands are identified for dedication, recommendations
for the location and improvement thereof from the Whitehall Township
Recreation Commission shall be applied by the Planning Commission
in the review of said subdivision or land development plan.