OROVILLE — Housing developers looking to build in Oroville may soon be met with higher fees to pay Feather River Recreation and Park District for public parks and park services.
Updated park district fees are back for consideration for the Oroville City Council on its Tuesday agenda, after the dias tabled the item in December. Some councilors held concern with a significant cost increase, which could lead to the city being less competitive with neighboring jurisdictions.
On the table now are proposed fee increases of 358% for single-family housing units, 334% for multi-family and 489% for mobile homes — due when developers are greenlit to build, and directed to meet public park demand for new neighborhoods.
Since postponing the item in December, city staff held discussions with the district’s interim general manager; the district’s permanent general manager position has been vacant for about the same time.
Justification for significant increases are reasoned by the fact the fees have not been adjusted since 2003, according to the staff report. The fees are proposed to be phased out evenly in the course of eight years.
Preceding developer fees, public hearings are set to confirm second readings for city zoning code changes to oak tree preservation and loss mitigation; and updates to meet state law on accessory dwelling units.
For oak trees, property owners will need only replace oak trees on a one-to-one ratio, an update from a two-to-one ratio, according to a staff report. Changes may also “expand the scenarios where mitigation is exempt,” and allow in-lieu fees to pay the city to replace trees.
Updates to ADUs will keep the city up to standard with state law effective this year; one change includes permission for up to three buildings on a single family residence property — one ADU, one junior ADU and one primary residence.
Other items up for council consideration include:
• Proposed safety features to Montgomery Street including a 3-foot buffer zone for street parking and replacing traffic dots with striping.
• A contribution for a Fourth of July fireworks show, for which up to $16,000 is available in the city’s Community Enhancement budget.
• Sponsorship of a table at Chamber of Commerce dinner and awards ceremony to cost $575 for a table of eight.
The Oroville City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at the Oroville City Council Chambers at 1735 Montgomery St. Closed session starts at 4. Meetings are free, open to the public and are also streamed on Zoom and YouTube. The council agenda and links to live feeds can be found at cityoforoville.org.
