§ 741-310 — Common areas, open space and public sites

Sec. 741-310. - Common areas, open space and public sites.

A. Common area. 1. Access easements shall be provided to connect all common areas to a public street right-of-way. The minimum width of such access must be at least 15 feet. 2. In the Metro Context Area, whenever a common area for a major subdivision perimeter abuts a secondary or primary arterial, the width of that common area must be a minimum of 15 feet along and paralleling the arterial that the common area abuts. B. Open space common area. 1. Any residential major subdivision with at least 20 dwelling units must minimally provide open space in the form of a multipurpose path, natural landscaping area, and entrance landscaping in accordance with Table 741-310-1: Basic Open Space Components and Minimum Standards for Residential Subdivisions. Table 741-310-1: Basic Open Space Components and Minimum Standards for Residential Subdivisions Open Space Component | Minimum Size | Required Minimum Improvements Multipurpose Path | ¼ mile in continuous length that is at least 10 ft. wide easement with 5 ft. wide path | • ADA compliant path • 1 overstory shade tree per 60 ft. of path length • Connection to sidewalk or greenway Natural Landscaping Area | 1 contiguous acre of preserved or planted natural landscaping (no turfgrass); bioretention ponds using native forb and grass edge may be counted however, no more than 50% of the area may be covered with water | • Informational signage • Bench • 1 overstory shade tree per 10,000 sq. ft. of area of native prairie Entrance Landscaping | 150 sq. ft. per side of entrance | • 2 overstory shade trees • Landscape beds 2. Any residential major subdivision with more than 20 dwelling units, an additional open space component shall be provided for every 30 dwelling units (or portion thereof) over the initial 20 dwelling units in accordance with Table 741-310-2: Additional Open Space Components and Minimum Standards for Residential Subdivisions. However within the same subdivision only one sport field component and one swimming pool or water play component may be counted to fulfill this open space common area requirement. Further, the sport field component may only be counted to fulfill this open space common area requirement in the Metro Context Area, and the Plaza component may only be counted to fulfill this open space common area requirement in the Compact Context Area. Table 741-310-2: Additional Open Space Components and Minimum Standards for Residential Subdivisions Open Space Component | Minimum Size | Required Minimum Improvements Community Garden | In the Metro Context Area, at least 2 acres; in the Compact Context Area, contiguous area equivalent to at least the minimum lot size of two lots | • Water source • Clean soil • Compost or waste bins • Lockable shed • Informational Signage Dog Park | Contiguous area equivalent to at least the minimum lot size of two lots in the Compact Context Area, and no less than one acre in size in the Metro Context Area; dry retention area may be used | • Fencing and double-gate entry to enclose at least 2 play areas • 1 overstory shade or evergreen tree per 5,000 sq. ft. of area • Seating or table with seating in each area • Waste provisions in each area • Informational Signage Game Courts | 4 regulation-sized courts for any of the following: basketball, hand or racquetball, tennis, bocce, horseshoe, volleyball | • Sport-appropriate court surface • Sport-appropriate striping, goals, fencing and fixtures for regulation play • Benches for each team Multipurpose Path | ½ mile in continuous length that is at least 10 ft. wide easement with 5 ft. wide path | • ADA compliant path • 1 overstory shade tree per 60 ft. of path length • Connection to sidewalk or greenway Natural Landscaping Area | 2 contiguous acres of preserved or planted natural landscaping (no turfgrass); bioretention ponds using native forb and grass edge may be counted however, no more than 50% of the area may be covered with water | • Informational signage • Seating • 1 overstory shade tree per 10,000 sq. ft. of area of native prairie Picnic/BBQ area | 3 areas at least 2,000 sq. ft. each; areas may be contiguous | • Table with seating, shelter, grill for each area Playground | Play area at least 3,500 sq. ft. | • ADA compliant • Age-appropriate equipment on protective play surface • Compliant with U.S. CPSC standard 325, 2010, "Public Playground Safety Handbook," U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD Plaza (Compact Context Only) | 2 areas at least 10,000 sq. ft. each; areas may be contiguous | • Hardsurfaced areas and paths to accommodate gatherings • substantial landscaping and may include fountains, statuary, art Sport Field (Metro Context Only) | One regulation-sized field for any of the following sports: soccer, softball, baseball, football | • Only one per subdivision • Level field of turf or sport-appropriate surface • Sport-appropriate striping, goals, fencing & fixtures for regulation play • Benches for each team Swimming pool or water play | Water area at least 3,500 sq. ft. | • Only one per subdivision • Compliant with ANSI/APSP/ICC 1-2014, "American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools," American National Standards Institute, Washington, DC, 2014 • Compliant with ASTM Standard F2461, 2009, "Standard Practice for Manufacture, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Aquatic Play Equipment," ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA C. Common area for public site. A subdivision may allocate adequate areas for park, school, and other public and semipublic use, wherever necessary in conformity with the comprehensive plan and as required by the Commission. The location, shape, extent and orientation of such areas shall be consistent with existing and proposed topographical and other conditions, including, but not limited to, the park, school, and other public and semipublic needs of the proposed subdivision. Such areas shall be made available by one of the following methods: 1. Dedication to public use; 2. Reservation for the use of owners of land contained in the plat, by deed restriction or covenants that specify how and under what circumstances the area or areas shall be developed and maintained; or 3. The reservation of a public site may be released for private use to the owners of the plat upon filing of a revised secondary plat. a. In the event that no governmental unit or regulated utility proceeds with such acquisition within 18 months of the date of the recording of the plat; or b. If released by such governmental unit or regulated utility prior to the expiration of the 18-month period; and c. The primary plat indicated two options for development and the Committee approved both options.

(G.O. 64, 2015, § 2; G.O. 23, 2026, § 4)