JMRPWG agenda 032499 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Draft 3 / 24/ 99 . :. . . . . ( from subcommittee ) Acquisition of Land . One method for accumulating funds to purchase land for parks and recreation is to require new developments to make payments into a dedicated fund . Under most versions of this system - which is called a " payment in lieu " - local governments try to determine the recreational impact a new development will generate , and on that basis require the development either to donate land or to make a payment in lieu of making the donation . Appendix G indicates the way in which Orange County and Carrboro calculate this payment . Chapel Hill negotiates based on individual development proposals ; Hillsborough seeks dedication of land , not payments in lieu . The attachment also shows the efforts of other selected jurisdictions in acquiring land . It has been difficult for the governments to quantify how well the current system works . Carrboro reports that its fee structure is sufficient that many developments choose to provide private recreation facilities rather than making the payment . Similarly, Chapel Hill does not have detailed central records of what the results of negotiated fees or land donations has been . Hillsborough does not have details . Orange County does have a record , since it has required II payments since 1988 , and has accumulated these payments in a fund . The fund has brought in $ 425 , 000 , It is clear in a broad overview, however, that the current system of land acquisition has . been insufficient to meet citizens ' needs . Part of the problem is that, while recreational facilities may be developed privately, these are not open to the public . Also , small parcels of land that are donated for public use often end up being of use neither to the public nor to the development itself, since their size and location makes them difficult to use . 18