Supervisors Approve Parkland Formula : Public Would Get Access to 75% in County Areas’ Developments

Developers of planned communities in unincorporated areas of Orange County will be required to open 75% of their parkland to the public under the terms of an agreement approved Wednesday.

“The major developers, though not expressing complete delight with this solution, have not had major objections,” Murray Storm, director of the county Environmental Management Agency, told the Board of Supervisors.

Supervisor Bruce Nestande said the agreement was “a good compromise. It’s one of those things where no one’s completely happy,” but one which will maintain a good park system in the county.

The county requires a developer to provide 2.5 acres of land for parks for each 1,000 residents in a new development, or pay a fee in lieu of the land donation.

Developers had sought to get full credit for parks closed to the public, but objections from environmental groups and some homeowners’ associations led to the 25% limit.

The county originally wanted to be given the option to acquire private parkland for public use if it felt it was necessary at some time in the future. However, the county in recent years has had insufficient funds to develop land already given or offered, and agreed to a guarantee that private parks would not eventually be used for other uses.

Storm said the guarantee will ensure that the park “will always remain as a park.” Environmental groups had expressed concern that a homeowners association that found itself in financial troubles in the future might pave a park and put up more houses to get additional income.