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New opportunity for sports court and pickleball in our community. The Mayor has been listening to the request from citizens for more active recreational opportunities in our City such as pickleball and sports courts. She also observed that stormwater vaults, an underground structure designed to manage excess stormwater runoff, are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional stormwater pond. The Mayor saw an opportunity – since the city owns and maintains these vaults after construction – they could serve a dual purpose as an active recreational space in addition to managing stormwater.
Beginning in the spring, the Planning and Economic Development team partnered with Public Works, Parks and Engineering to begin the process of drafting an ordinance to allow new vaults to serve as recreational amenities for the entire community. The Code currently allowed them to benefit the residents of the proposed development only. After multiple discussions with the planning commission, a code ordinance was drafted and taken through the legislative process. The code specifies that in addition to providing recreational space and the development of the amenity, parking, landscaping, signage and lighting may also be required.
Community parks have been identified in our comprehensive plan as a park type that we have a shortage of based on the size of our community. This marriage of opportunity and need coalesced with the city council holding a public hearing and adopting a code change on August 10 to allow developers to provide recreational amenities that serve our community.
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