Developer offers land to increase size of Forest Hills Park
By Tarpley Ashworth
Monday, November 02, 2009
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Southern Development is donating an acre and a half of land to increase the size of Forest Hills Park in Charlottesville. The land, which is appraised at $90,000, is located between Forest Ridge Road and Antoinette Avenue. The donation, if approved at tonight’s City Council meeting, will increase the park’s size by 20%.
The 1.5 acres is adjacent to a new condominium complex currently under construction off of Rock Creek Road. The land is not visible from Forest Ridge Road, but it is adjacent to a trail which connects the park to the Johnson Village neighborhood.
The City’s Environmental Administrator, Kristel Riddervold, has recommended accepting the donation. Since the land will remain forested, the City will increase the amount of protected forested areas and riparian buffers within its borders.
According to Brian Daly, Charlottesville’s Acting Parks and Recreation Director, discussions about the donation began between the two parties when Southern indicated it would develop its land off Forest Ridge Road. The developer initially proposed constructing a playground on the land, but the City had a better idea.
“From there, it evolved into a discussion of land donation,” said Daly. “We approached them with this idea and they agreed to it.”
The only condition Southern has placed on the donation is that the City pay 50% of the cost for a recordable plat showing the boundaries of the land. The City has already paid their share of $550 for the survey. The City Assessor has estimated that $1,707 will be lost annually in tax revenue from the land transferring from private to public hands.
Forest Hills Park is currently undergoing a $1.2 million renovation which will replace the existing wading pool with a new “sprayground,” update picnic facilities, repave sidewalks, and add a new pavilion to the green space.
“The project is right on schedule,” said Daly. “They’ve laid the foundation for the sprayground, poured the sidewalks, and picnic shelters are now standing. And we’re actually slightly under budget.”
The resolution which authorizes this land donation is part of the consent agenda at tonight’s meeting.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Southern Development is donating an acre and a half of land to increase the size of Forest Hills Park in Charlottesville. The land, which is appraised at $90,000, is located between Forest Ridge Road and Antoinette Avenue. The donation, if approved at tonight’s City Council meeting, will increase the park’s size by 20%.
The 1.5 acres is adjacent to a new condominium complex currently under construction off of Rock Creek Road. The land is not visible from Forest Ridge Road, but it is adjacent to a trail which connects the park to the Johnson Village neighborhood.
The City’s Environmental Administrator, Kristel Riddervold, has recommended accepting the donation. Since the land will remain forested, the City will increase the amount of protected forested areas and riparian buffers within its borders.
According to Brian Daly, Charlottesville’s Acting Parks and Recreation Director, discussions about the donation began between the two parties when Southern indicated it would develop its land off Forest Ridge Road. The developer initially proposed constructing a playground on the land, but the City had a better idea.
“From there, it evolved into a discussion of land donation,” said Daly. “We approached them with this idea and they agreed to it.”
The only condition Southern has placed on the donation is that the City pay 50% of the cost for a recordable plat showing the boundaries of the land. The City has already paid their share of $550 for the survey. The City Assessor has estimated that $1,707 will be lost annually in tax revenue from the land transferring from private to public hands.
“The project is right on schedule,” said Daly. “They’ve laid the foundation for the sprayground, poured the sidewalks, and picnic shelters are now standing. And we’re actually slightly under budget.”
The resolution which authorizes this land donation is part of the consent agenda at tonight’s meeting.
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834519bec69e20120a6a0f5dd970c
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Developer offers land to increase size of Forest Hills Park:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I hope Charlottesville Tomorrow will post the wording of the deed of transfer of this property to the city. In light of other gifts of land to the city for use as parks such as the Paul Goodloe McIntire gifts in McIntire Park that are being proposed as highway right-of-way, I hope that Southern Development and the City of Charlottesville spell out the future of this land in a clearly stated deed so that all interested stakeholders will know how this parkland will be protected into the future.
I inquired of the City Attorney if the land in McIntire Park provided as an easement was transferred to Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority was a sale or a gift, and was informed that this was subject to interpretation. Mr. Craig Brown said he could only provide his legal opinion on that question if directed by city council to do so (based on attorney-client priveledge). I hope the deed associated with this gift clearly indicates that it is a gift, and that terms of the gift are also clearly stated in the final deed.
Posted by: Peter Kleeman | November 04, 2009 at 01:56 PM