Denton Approves New Park Dedication and Development Fee Ordinance, Making Changes After Hearing from Dallas BA
The Denton City Council on May 3 voted to approve new park dedication rates, fees-in-lieu of dedications, and park development fees. Dallas BA weighed in during the process, and the May 3 council meeting, and had an impact on getting needed provision changes and preventing the fee increase from being higher. The ordinance had not been updated since inception.
Dallas BA has voiced its concerns about the impact the significant increase in fees will have on already challenging new home costs. After hearing from Dallas BA early in the process, the fees that came to vote were nearly $1,500 less than what were originally proposed, for homes in areas where Denton will see significant building.
The new dedication evaluation assesses 1 acre for every 129 single family units and every 186 multifamily units. The new fee-in-lieu charges $435 per single family unit and $301 for each multifamily unit. The park development fees are $2,515 and $1,741, respectively.
The Association requested the replacement homes be exempted from applicability of the ordinance, as those are homes built on lots where there was an existing home, meaning there is no added dwelling units. This provision was added to the ordinance. Dallas BA also questioned the rate for certain park development cost estimates that are charged to the city. This resulted in further review of those items and, after adjustment in the estimates, resulted in helping lower the final rate for park development fees.
The new fees become effective on August 1, 2022. Denton’s Mayor Hudspeth and Councilman Davis voted against the ordinance because it did not include a provision to phase the fees in over time, echoing Dallas BA’s concern about the impact the immediate full increase will have on home prices and families that buy those homes.