The purpose of this article is to provide the legal basis for the planning, acquisition, development, operation and maintenance of the parks, trails, and open space system that is necessary to support the health and welfare of the existing and future population of the City of League City. This section is enacted in accordance with the home rule powers of League City under the Texas Constitution, and the statutes of the State of Texas, including without by way of limitation, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code Ch. 212.

(Ord. No. 2020-25, § 1(Exh. A), 9-29-2020)

No plat that creates or allows the development of any new residential lot within the city or its extra-territorial jurisdiction shall be approved unless the owner of the property being platted shall have made a park donation pursuant to this article.

(Ord. No. 2020-25, § 1(Exh. A), 9-29-2020)

125-6.3.1.

The proper method of park donation shall be based upon the number of dwelling units that the plat will authorize once approved, as follows:

(a)

Seven hundred fifty dwelling units or more. Prior to plat approval the applicant shall complete donation to the city of parkland at the rate of one acre per 75 dwelling units established by the plat, provided the parkland proposed to be donated is suitable for park and recreational uses, as determined pursuant to section 125-6.4.

(b)

Fewer than 750 dwelling units. The city council declares that development of a park less than ten acres in size is impractical and creates unreasonable and unnecessary maintenance and operating expenditures. Therefore, prior to approval of a plat establishing fewer than 750 dwelling units, the plat applicant shall elect and complete one of the two following methods of park donation:

(1)

A donation to the city of at least ten acres of parkland suitable for park and recreational uses, as determined pursuant to section 125-6.4; or

(2)

A cash payment into the park development fund in an amount per dwelling unit as set by the city council.

(Ord. No. 2020-25, § 1(Exh. A), 9-29-2020)

125-6.4.1.

Land that is proposed to be donated to the city to satisfy the parkland requirement must be suitable for development and use as public parks, based upon meeting the following criteria, in the sole judgment of the parks and cultural services director but subject to appeal to the city council:

(a)

The land's location is consistent with the city's future park needs as identified in the parks, trails, and open space master plan;

(b)

The land has frontage on an existing public roadway;

(c)

The land is of a width, depth, topography, elevation, and other natural features to allow its use for organized recreational activities or passive recreation;

(d)

Potable water, sanitary sewer, and electric power is readily available to the land from an adjacent street right-of-way or utility easement;

(e)

The land has adequate drainage as determined by the city engineer;

(f)

The land is free of easements, pipelines, overhead utilities, and other conditions that would inhibit its effective use for organized recreational activities or passive recreation;

(g)

The land has had a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment within the preceding 12 months, a copy of which is provided to the city for review and verification of no significant environmental hazard; and

(h)

The land has been cleared of all trash, refuse, waste materials, dilapidated structures, abandoned vehicles, and unwanted trees and brush.

125-6.4.2.

The parks and cultural services director may accept land that does not meet all of the criteria in subsection 125-6.4.1 if in his/her judgement the land has substantial utility for public park or related purposes. Land accepted for donation under this subsection may be credited for up to 50 percent of the acreage being donated.

(a)

The city council may consider and accept the donation of any land which the parks and cultural services director determines to not meet the standards of this section if the council determines that the acceptance of such donation would be in the best interest of the public.

(Ord. No. 2020-25, § 1(Exh. A), 9-29-2020)

Upon request by the plat applicant, the parks and cultural services director in his sole discretion may grant a credit of up to 50 percent of the park donation requirement for the dedication of a trail easement and construction of a trail along Clear Creek and/or Clear Lake. Such trail shall have a minimum width of eight feet, except at locations where the Parks and Cultural Services Director determines that six feet minimum width is preferable, and constructed of reinforced concrete unless other appropriate and durable materials used in areas of special character or needs are acceptable to the parks and cultural services director and city engineer.

(Ord. No. 2020-25, § 1(Exh. A), 9-29-2020)

125-6.6.1.

No residential development within the city or its extra-territorial jurisdiction shall receive final acceptance of public infrastructure serving any new residential lot unless the owner of the property being developed shall have made a private park dedication pursuant to this article.

125-6.6.2.

The private park dedication requirement may be satisfied by one or more of the three following methods:

(a)

For a development that creates 75 or more dwelling units, suitable land shall be dedicated and developed as a private park to be maintained by the owner of the park, in the amount of one acre for every 75 proposed dwelling units. The lot configuration shall be such that no dwelling unit is further than one-half mile from a private park within the same development. The parks and cultural services director shall have sole discretion regarding what proposed amenities shall be adequate to develop the private park, provided the amenities meet the following conditions:

(1)

The improvements are constructed in accordance with a site plan that includes a proposed grading plan, landscaping and beautification utilities, drawn at a scale of one inch to 20 feet or other suitable scale; and

(2)

The improvements are designed in compliance with the EDCM standards applicable to such improvements, and the developer provides the city with details related to materials, equipment, itemized list of direct costs, methods of construction, and warranties.

(b)

For a development that creates fewer than 75 dwelling units, either a dedication and development of a private park of at least one acre as provided in [subsection] (a) above, or a cash payment into the park development fund in the same amount per dwelling unit as set by the city council for park donation.

(c)

Upon request by the plat applicant, the parks and cultural services director in his sole discretion may grant a credit of up to 25 percent of the private park dedication requirement for the construction of improvements to existing or new detention facilities, located near the development, that would in the parks and cultural services director's judgment allow the detention facilities to be utilized for recreation purposes.

(Ord. No. 2020-25, § 1(Exh. A), 9-29-2020)

125-6.7.1.

If the number of dwelling units calculated to be established by a plat increases by the time building permits are sought or as a result of the filing of any type of plat covering any portion of the property originally platted, the park donation and private park dedication requirements established by this article shall apply to the additional dwelling units, at the donation and dedication rates in effect at the time of building permit application or new plat application.

125-6.7.2.

Penalty. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, be punished by a fine in any sum not exceeding $500. 00.

(Ord. No. 2020-25, § 1(Exh. A), 9-29-2020)

125-6.8.1.

Purpose and intent. The Westside Park Overlay District ("Overlay District") is established to support high-quality residential development through tailored parkland dedication and private park standards within the area defined in section 125-6.8.7 Exhibit. The overlay encourages innovative parkland solutions that balance public investment with enhanced community amenities while maintaining consistency with the most recent League City Parks and Trails Master Plan.

125-6.8.2.

Applicability. The provisions of this section apply to all residential developments within the boundaries of the Overlay District as delineated in section 125-6.8.7 Exhibit.

125-6.8.3.

City public parkland dedication requirements.

(a)

Base dedication ratio. Residential developments within the Overlay District shall dedicate public parkland at a rate of 15 acres per 1,000 residents, consistent with the city's parks and trails master plan.

(1)

In certain cases, where at least 30 acres of public parkland dedication is required, the city may consider a dedication of less than the acreage required by this ratio as long as the development provides additional park amenities—valued at the fair market cost of the un-dedicated acreage—to fully compensate for the reduction in land dedication.

(b)

Combined land and fee option. For residential developments estimated to generate between 1,000 and 1,500 residents, the city in its sole discretion, may require:

(1)

Dedication of 15 acres (to cover the first 1,000 residents), plus

(2)

A pro-rata fee in lieu based on the remaining residential population (up to 500 residents). The payment shall be in an amount per dwelling unit as set by the city council.

(c)

Fee-in-lieu for small developments. For any residential developments estimated to generate fewer than 1,000 residents, the city, in its sole discretion, may accept a cash payment in lieu of land dedication to satisfy the parkland requirement. The payment shall be in an amount per dwelling unit as set by the city council.

125-6.8.4.

Private parkland development and credit system.

(a)

All private parkland dedications must meet or exceed the base requirement of one acre per 75 dwelling units, per section 125-6.6. If the residential development dedication of private parkland is less than one-half acre, a fee in lieu of dedication may be considered (see applicable fee schedule).

(b)

Private parkland must include a minimum six-foot-wide, four-inch-thick concrete pathway and at least one point of amenitization for every one-half acre, as listed in the amenity point schedule in the Parkland Dedication and Credit Policy. The concrete pathway shall be routed along the outer perimeter of the private parkland area, or otherwise integrated into the internal circulation system, to maximize pedestrian connectivity both within the development and to adjacent public sidewalks or trails. The concrete pathway and amenities shall be located so as to ensure safe, ADA-compliant access from surrounding streets, sidewalks, and trails. Amenities should be distributed to serve all portions of the private parkland and encourage equitable use of the area.

(c)

Private parkland acreage may be reduced by credits applied against the total dedication requirements as follows, provided that the combined total credit from all options does not exceed 50 percent of the private parkland obligation:

(1)

Wet-bottom detention credit: Up to 25 percent of detention pond acreage for ponds at least 20 acres in size.

(2)

Dry-bottom detention credit: Up to 25 percent of detention pond acreage for ponds at least 6 acres in size.

(3)

Centralized park(s) credit: Up to ten percent of total private parkland dedication for centralized park(s) of at least three acres. Located within a one-half-mile walking radius of at least 80 percent of all dwelling units in the development.

(d)

Credit determinations based on the amenities and standards listed in Exhibits 1 and 2 of the Parkland Dedication and Credit Policy shall be reviewed and approved by the executive director of development services, or their designee.

125-6.8.5.

Administrative authority.

(a)

The executive director of development services, or their designee, shall oversee and interpret the amenity-based credit system set forth in the Parkland Dedication and Credit Policy, including:

(1)

Approving credit calculations based on Exhibits 1 and 2; and

(2)

Authorizing minor amenity items or point-value adjustments not expressly listed in the policy.

(b)

Any substantial variation or addition to the amenity types, point values, or minimum design standards identified in the Parkland Dedication and Credit Policy shall require the review and approval of the parks director, who shall evaluate such requests for consistency with the city's parks and trails master plan and community recreational objectives.

(c)

Final determinations made under this section may be appealed to the city council in accordance with the established procedures under the Unified Development Code.

125-6.8.6.

Conflicts. Where a conflict arises between this section and other provisions of article VI, the provisions of this section shall apply within the Overlay District.

125-6.8.7.

Exhibit. The geographic boundaries of the Westside Park Overlay District are shown in Exhibit A: League City Westside Park Overlay Boundary shown below.

125-6.8.8.

Voluntary retroactive application for existing subdivisions.

(a)

Any residential subdivision located within the City of League City, whether existing or currently under construction, may request to apply the provisions of the Westside Park Overlay District to its development, subject to the following conditions:

(1)

The subdivision has satisfied, or will satisfy, all applicable public parkland and private parkland dedication requirements under article VI;

(2)

The request is submitted by the property owner, developer, or authorized agent; and

(3)

The subdivision's parkland layout, design, and amenitization reasonably align with the intent and purpose of the Overlay District, including, but not limited to, connectivity, acreage ratios, and equitable access.

(b)

Review process.

(1)

Requests shall be submitted in writing to the executive director of development services, accompanied by documentation demonstrating compliance with section 125-6.8.8(a).

(2)

The executive director shall coordinate review with the parks director, who shall assess the functional equivalency of the subdivision's parkland improvements to the Overlay District standards.

(3)

The parks director shall have authority to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the request based on consistency with the city's parks and trails master plan and overall recreational network objectives.

(4)

Approved requests shall be formalized through a written determination or, if necessary, amendment to any applicable development agreement.

(c)

Effect of approval.

(1)

Once approved, the subdivision shall be treated as subject to the Westside Park Overlay District for the purpose of:

• Parkland crediting and amenity scoring;

• Evaluation of future platting phases or site modifications; and

• Application of any enhanced private parkland standards or credit policies.

(2)

No refund or reimbursement of prior fees, dedications, or constructed amenities shall be granted.

(3)

The city may require additional documentation or updates to the subdivision's park maintenance plan to ensure consistency with ongoing Overlay objectives.

(Ord. No. 2025-48, § 1(Exh. A), 12-16-2025)