Pursuant to their meeting last month, Bellevue Planning and Zoning Commission members continued their public deliberation and amended the city's subdivision ordinance on Thursday, Aug. 2.
The amended ordinance would require the developer of a new subdivision to dedicate a parcel of land to the city for the purpose of providing a park or cultural space open to the public. According to the ordinance, the amount of contributed acres of park space would equal 3.3 percent of the number of single-family lots, townhouse sublots, or condominium units contained with the plat.
For non-residential or light industrial developers, an in-lieu fee would be required if on-site park space were deemed inappropriate. As well, the council could require an in-lieu contribution if a subdivision had fewer than five residential units or were smaller than four acres in size.
At the July meeting, Robin Sellers, chair of the Bellevue Parks and Recreation Committee, said the city has less than half of the amount of active parks recommended by National Recreation and Park Association. As a remedy, the parks master plan requires 12 acres of active park space for every 1,000 residents instead of the recommended 10 acres.
Also during Thursday's meeting, the commission somewhat reluctantly approved the design of a building the Idaho Tower Company will construct to house wireless communication equipment associated with a 100-foot "monopole" cell tower.
At last week's City Council meeting, council members voted to grant the Idaho Tower Company a height variance which would allow them to build the tower above the 40-foot building height limit. This decision was made despite the fact that the Planning and Zoning Commission denied the variance two months earlier.
The 20-foot by 40-foot single-story building will be located in the light industrial district east of Main Street and south of Chestnut Street, on a noon-improved city street system.
