1     
DENSITY BONUS FOR DONATIONS FOR SCHOOL

2     
PROPERTY

3     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Jefferson Moss

6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill enacts land use provisions that allow for a density bonus in cases of certain
11     donations for school property.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     defines terms;
15          ▸     enacts provisions allowing a density bonus on a property owner's subdivision plat
16     when the property owner donates land or money for a school building;
17          ▸     provides for the management of money that a property owner donates for the
18     purchase of land for construction of a school building;
19          ▸     provides for the temporary use of land that a property owner donates for the
20     construction of a school building until the construction; and
21          ▸     allows county and municipal legislative bodies to determine the location of a school
22     building on land that is the subject of a donation in certain circumstances.
23     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24          None
25     Other Special Clauses:
26          None
27     Utah Code Sections Affected:

28     ENACTS:
29          10-9a-604.6, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30          17-27a-604.6, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31     

32     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33          Section 1. Section 10-9a-604.6 is enacted to read:
34          10-9a-604.6. Plat with land being donated to a school district.
35          (1) As used in this section:
36          (a) "Density bonus" means an allowed number of residential units per acre established
37     in a subdivision plat that exceeds the number otherwise allowed under the zoning designation
38     applicable to the land the subdivision plat describes.
39          (b) "Donation" means a property owner's:
40          (i) transfer of title to land to a municipality for a future school building in the school
41     district; or
42          (ii) gift of money to a school district for the purchase of land within the relevant
43     municipality for a future school building in the school district.
44          (c) "Municipality" means the city, town, or metro township in which land is located
45     that is the subject of a subdivision plat for which a property owner seeks approval.
46          (d) "Property owner" means the owner or developer of a land that is the subject of a
47     subdivision plat for which the property owner seeks approval.
48          (e) "School building" means all educational facilities associated with a school.
49          (f) "School district" means the school district with boundaries in which the land that is
50     the subject of a subdivision plat is located.
51          (2) A municipal land use authority may approve a subdivision plat that establishes a
52     density bonus if:
53          (a) the subdivision plat otherwise complies with all applicable requirements of this
54     chapter and the municipality's ordinances; and
55          (b) the property owner makes a donation that is acceptable to the municipality and the
56     school district.
57          (3) The density bonus described in Subsection (2) may not exceed 10% of the number
58     of residential units per acre allowed under the zoning designation applicable to the land the

59     subdivision plat describes.
60          (4) If the donation described in Subsection (2) consists of money paid to the school
61     district, the relevant school district shall:
62          (a) place the money in a separate interest-bearing account;
63          (b) manage the money in the account; and
64          (c) use the money exclusively for the purchase of land within the municipality for
65     construction of a school building.
66          (5) (a) If the donation described in Subsection (2) consists of land to a municipality:
67          (i) the municipality shall:
68          (A) require the property owner to transfer the title to the land to the municipality; and
69          (B) except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), upon the request of and at no charge to the
70     school district, transfer title to the land to the school district for construction of a school
71     building;
72          (ii) the municipality may, until the land is transferred to the school district as provided
73     in Subsection (5)(a)(i), use the land for:
74          (A) open space;
75          (B) a public park or recreational facility;
76          (C) an agricultural purpose;
77          (D) a parking lot or parking facility; or
78          (E) a temporary commercial activity that is consistent with the municipality's land use
79     ordinances; and
80          (iii) the municipality may, at any time, transfer to the school district title to the land at
81     no charge to the school district for the construction of a school building.
82          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (5)(a)(i)(B), if land described in Subsection (5)(a) is
83     not used for the construction of a school building within 10 years after the day on which the
84     property owner donates the land, the municipality may retain and use the land for a purpose
85     described in Subsection (5)(a)(ii) if the municipality gives written notice to the school district
86     at least 180 days before the expiration of the 10-year period that the municipality intends to
87     retain the land.
88          (6) The municipality's legislative body may determine the location of the school site on
89     land that is the subject of a donation under this section if:

90          (a) the municipality indicates the location of the school site on the municipality's
91     general plan; and
92          (b) the municipality obtains the school district's written acknowledgment of the site.
93          Section 2. Section 17-27a-604.6 is enacted to read:
94          17-27a-604.6. Plat with land being donated to a school district.
95          (1) As used in this section:
96          (a) "Density bonus" means an allowed number of residential units per acre established
97     in a subdivision plat that exceeds the number otherwise allowed under the zoning designation
98     applicable to the land the subdivision plat describes.
99          (b) "Donation" means a property owner's:
100          (i) transfer of title to land to a municipality for a future school building in the school
101     district; or
102          (ii) gift of money to a school district for the purchase of land within the relevant
103     municipality for a future school building in the school district.
104          (c) "Property owner" means the owner or developer of land that is the subject of a
105     subdivision plat for which the property owner seeks approval.
106          (d) "School building" means all educational facilities associated with a school.
107          (e) "School district" means the school district with boundaries in which the land that is
108     the subject of a subdivision plat is located.
109          (2) A county land use authority may approve a subdivision plat that establishes a
110     density bonus if:
111          (a) the subdivision plat otherwise complies with all applicable requirements of this
112     chapter and the municipality's ordinances; and
113          (b) the property owner makes a donation that is acceptable to the municipality and the
114     school district.
115          (3) The density bonus described in Subsection (2) may not exceed 10% of the number
116     of residential units per acre allowed under the zoning designation applicable to the land the
117     subdivision plat describes.
118          (4) If the donation described in Subsection (2) consists of money paid to the school
119     district, the relevant school district shall:
120          (a) place the money in a separate interest-bearing account;

121          (b) manage the money in the account; and
122          (c) use the money exclusively for the purchase of land within the county for
123     construction of a school building.
124          (5) (a) If the donation described in Subsection (2) consists of land to a county:
125          (i) the county shall:
126          (A) require the property owner to transfer the title to the land to the county; and
127          (B) except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), upon the request of and at no charge to the
128     school district, transfer title to the land to the school district for construction of a school
129     building;
130          (ii) the county may, until the land is transferred to the school district as provided in
131     Subsection (5)(a)(i), use the land for:
132          (A) open space;
133          (B) a public park or recreational facility;
134          (C) an agricultural purpose;
135          (D) a parking lot or parking facility; or
136          (E) a temporary commercial activity that is consistent with the county's land use
137     ordinances; and
138          (iii) the county may, at any time, transfer to the school district title to the land at no
139     charge to the school district for the construction of a school building.
140          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (5)(a)(i)(B), if land described in Subsection (5)(a) is
141     not used for the construction of a school building within 10 years after the day on which the
142     property owner donates the land, the county may retain and use the land for a purpose
143     described in Subsection (5)(a)(ii) if the county gives written notice to the school district at least
144     180 days before the expiration of the 10-year period that the county intends to retain the land.
145          (6) The county's legislative body may determine the location of the school site on land
146     that is the subject of a donation under this section if:
147          (a) the county indicates the location of the school site on the county's general plan; and
148          (b) the municipality obtains the school district's written acknowledgment of the site.