Park Space Requirement Dismays Developers

"As details emerged Monday of new requirements for developers to provide land or pay fees for park acquisition and improvements, leaders of development groups said the city was on the verge of imposing an unfair burden on their industry."

"A draft ordinance reviewed by a City Council committee Monday would require a developer who built 100 houses to provide 2.6 acres for park space or pay an $80,000 fee."

"The ordinance, which city officials hope to have in place by Oct. 1, would be one of the most significant new regulatory requirements in years for Houston's politically powerful development industry. Leaders of single-family home and apartment development organizations said they supported the measure in principle but were concerned about some details."

"Edward E. Taravella, chairman of the Greater Houston Builders Association's development council, said the city should consider counting yards attached to single-family homes toward the parks and open space requirements. Otherwise, he said, the measure would discourage development of single-family houses with yards."