The original item was published from February 25, 2019 10:55 AM to September 15, 2022 4:08 PM
Is all vacant land in Parker designated open space?
Parker does have a robust open space program. In fact, more than 1,200 acres of open space have been preserved within Town of Parker boundaries and 95 percent of Parker residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park, trail or open space area. View the Open Space Map here.
However, not all vacant land is what it seems. There are currently many undeveloped properties in the Town of Parker that are often mistaken for open space.
All properties within the Town limits, including these undeveloped areas, are already zoned. Zoning means that a property has been designated for a particular use or uses. Types of zoning include business, commercial, residential and industrial. Land can only be utilized for the purposes allowed under its zoning classification. View the Town’s Zoning Map to see the zoning for vacant land in Parker and track ongoing projects with the Active Development Map.
Development projects are required to provide land for open space and parks. These stipulations are outlined in the Town’s Land Development Ordinance, or LDO. The LDO recommends a minimum 20 percent of a residential development property be dedicated as open space, based on criteria intended to preserve and protect natural features and sensitive environmental areas. Additionally, Parker’s LDO requires a minimum of 7.5 acres of improved parkland be provided per 1,000 residents added by a residential development project.
Town-wide, Parker has a target
of providing 18 acres of open space Level of Service (LOS), per 1,000
residents. The Town’s current LOS is 20.65 acres per 1,000 residents.
You can also learn about the Town's open space program on Parker Parks and Recreation’s Open Space webpage.
Additional Resources:
Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan
Town of Parker Land Development Ordinance