It’s going to cost developers of residential projects a bit more to build in Simi Valley.

With the city council’s approval last month, the fees that developers pay to the park district in lieu of land donation have increased.

Developers are charged a park fee for every unit in their project. Previously, if there were affordable-housing units—no matter how many—the entire project received a reduction in park fees. Now only the affordable units are eligible for the reduction in fee, and the developer pays the usual amount for the other units.

Elaine Freeman, chair of the board of directors for the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, said the fee increase is necessary because more and more developments include affordable units, and the district is in need of money to upgrade facilities at older parks and build recreation areas at others.

She said there isn’t much land left in the city for new parks since much of it already has been developed.

"We don’t want little neighborhood parks," Freeman said. "We need community parks, real activity centers."

Smaller neighborhood parks generally don’t offer some of the amenities, such as parking lots and restrooms, that community parks offer. They’re designed to serve a small population.

The new fee structure also eliminates the discount given to developers of senior housing because they weren’t required to pass on the savings to the residents by reducing the selling price or rent. They’ll now pay the same park fees as do developers of market-priced homes.

"It’s not going to make a huge difference immediately," said Larry Peterson, general manager of the park district. "But it’s going to make a difference over time."

Peterson said if the district receives as little as $100,000 from the new fees—although that amount won’t build a park—it will help the district make improvements on existing parks.

Mayor Pro Tem Barbra Williamson said the park district has become more reliant on such fees because the state has been siphoning money away from them for the last 12 years.

"I’m happy they could wait this long," she said. "I’m proud of the parks in this community."

Nevertheless, the district has experienced accelerated growth, Peterson said. Construction will begin soon, adding tennis courts, restrooms and walkways to the 5 acres adjacent to Rancho Madera Community Park. And a gazebo and basketball court are planned for the 3 ½ acres that will become Vista del Arroyo Park at Sequoia and Royal avenues. The neighborhood park in the Big Sky development will be the permanent home of the Simi Valley Girls Softball League. The planning commission recently approved the project, which will include four fields with lighting, restrooms and a snack bar.

Peterson said that adding new parks and improving existing parks is necessary and important. "More and more people are moving into the community and they want and expect to engage in recreation," he said. "They want to see open space. We’re better able to meet those needs."