Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report- 206-07TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES APRIL 16, 2007 CMR:206:07 l~ ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A PLAN OF IMPROVEMENTS TO HERITAGE PARK TO INSTALL PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED AMENITIES - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT PG-07000 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached Park Improvement Ordinance (Attachment A) for improvements located within dedicated parkland known as Heritage Park, including: remove a section of turf; install drainage structures; install children’s playground equipment, tables, benches and amenities; renovate a section of the irrigation system; and install safety fencing. BACKGROUND Palo Alto Municipal Code 22.08.005 requires that prior to approving or commencing "any substantial building, construction, reconstruction or development" in any dedicated parkland, the City Council adopt by ordinance a plan showing the improvements. The plan must show, "as applicable, the nature, function, size, extent and general appearance of the proposed project." The proposed project is to install playground equipment in the westerly portion of Heritage Park consistent with the initial plan for the park. DISCUSSION The area that now comprises Heritage Park (also know initially as the South of Forest Avenue Park) was sold to the City of Palo Alto as part of a development agreement with Summerhill Homes and was intended to be developed as a full-amenity park. On July 9, 2002, Council approved a draft scope of services for park architect design services (CMR:316:02) for the design and construction specifications of the park. Later, on May 12, 2003, when it was determined that $275,000 was needed to demolish structurally unsound wings of the adjacent Roth Building, Council voted to instead have Public Works Engineering staff develop the designs of the park so that limited available capital funds could instead be spent on the actual construction of the park. Park planning staff prepared plans for a simple pastoral park with pathways, sitting areas, landscaped borders and a large grass field. The design of the park was intended to allow the construction of the basic irrigation system and turf area while enabling future development of a playground area in the westerly portion of the park when funds could be secured. CMR:206:07 Page 1 of 3 In 2005, a group of concerned neighbors of the park, together with members of the Friends of the Palo Alto Parks, formed a committee to begin privately raising funds for the development of a children’s playground and sitting area. Since that time, the Friends of Heritage Park, L.L.C. ("Heritage Park, LLC") has raised funds for the projects and has worked with landscape architect Linn Winterbotham to prepare conceptual designs for the playground area. In January 2007, the.Heritage Park, LLC signed a letter of intent to enter into an agreement with the City to develop the playground area. On January 30, 2007, the Park and Recreation Commission reviewed conceptual design plans for the park and provided comments to Mrl Winterbotham. Comments and questions from the public were also received at the Commission meeting. On January 31, 2007, the Heritage Park, LLC sponsored a public meeting to gather comments and suggestions and to answer questions from neighbors and interested parties. Staff from the City’s Open Space and Park Division also attended this public meeting to listen to public comments. The comments from neighbors of the park and members of the Palo Alto History Museum included: [] Drainage design and how to keep water from seeping into the basement of the Roth Building (future Palo Alto History Museum). []Separation for the playground and building to allow for adequate access for emergency response and for the maintenance of the proposed public restrooms in the Roth Building. [] How the playground structures and amenities might interfere with projecting movies on the exterior of the Roth Building. [] The proximity of the playground to home and the Palo Alto History Museum. On March 12, 2007, board members of the Friends of the Palo Alto Parks, board members of the Palo Alto History Museum, representatives of the Heritage Park, LLC and staff met to ensure that the concerns of the Museum would be completely addressed with design specifications. The plans included with the attached ordinance address all of these points as well as a few ideas suggested by park neighbors and Park and Recreation Commissioners. RESOURCE IMPACT Funds for this project are included in Capital Improvement Program Project - PG-07000 (Park Facilities Improvements). Funds were derived from Park Development Impact Fees. The $75,000 in development impact fees that were approved by Council for this project have been met by $175,000 in private contributions from the Heritage Park, LLC. The annual cost for maintaining and inspecting the playground is estimated at $6,000. This cost is approximately the same as the maintenance of the existing turf area and irrigation system in the area of the park where the playground will be developed. PROJECT REVIEW TIMELINE 1. On August 7, 2006, Council approved the allocation of $75,000 from the Park Development Impact Fee fund to Capital Improvement Project PG-07000 for this project. 2. This project was reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission on January 30, 2007. CMR:206:07 Page 2 of 3 3. A publicly noticed meeting was held at City Hall on January 31, 2007 to receive comments and suggestions from the public on the project. 4. A follow-up meeting was held on March 12, 2007, with representatives of the Palo Alto History Museum and Friends of the Palo Alto Parks and Heritage Park, LLC to resolve four fine points of the conceptual design. NEXT STEPS Should this Park Improvement Ordinance be approved, the next step will be to develop an agreement and right of entry to provide the Heritage Park, LLC exclusive access to that portion of the park undergoing construction. The agreement will specify policy and procedural guidelines for the Heritage Park, LLC to follow regarding design, construction, safety, liability, and payment details. Once the document is signed and approved, and all requirements met, the Heritage Park LLC will commence construction activities. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The proposed projects are consistent with existing City policy, including C-17: Continue to support provisions, funding, and promotion of programs for children and youth; and C-26: Maintain and enhance existing park facilities. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW An Environmental Impact Report for the Summerhill development project, that included conceptual designs for a full-amenity public park, was adopted by the Council resolution (Resolution 7950) on March 27, 2000 (CMR 192:00). These plans are consistent with the original concepts evaluated in the EIR. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A:Ordinance Exhibit 1 :Improvement Plan PREPARED BY: ~_~GREG BETTS Open Space and Parks Division Manager "RI CI~NRD JAMES Di~ectfir of Community Services CITY MANAGER APPROVA . ~EMILY HARI~SON Assistant City Manager CMR:206:07 Page 3 of 3 NOT YET APPROVED ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING AND ADOPTING A PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT TO HERITAGE PARK The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION 1.Findings. The City Council finds and declares that: (a) Article VIII of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto and Section 22.08.005 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code require that, before any substantial building, construction, reconstruction or development is commenced or approved, upon or with respect to any land held by the City for park purposes, the Council shall first cause to be prepared and by oldinance approve and adopt a plan therefor. (b)Heritage Park is dedicated to park purposes. (c)The City intends to authorize the construction of a certain playground equipment improvement project within Heritage Park as shown on the Heritage Park Plan (the "Plan") attached as Exhibit "A": (1)Excavation of soil necessary to install drainage systems, remove irrigation pipes and prepare the site for the construction and installation of curbs, pathways and structure equipment, i (2)Clearing of vegetation and trimming of existing shrubs and trees in accordance with City policies and as necessary to provide .equipment access for construction. (3)Adjustment and restoration of existing planting/and irrigation to accommodate the proposed improvement. (4)Construction of curbs, pathways and retaining structures in accordance with the Plan. (5)Installation of site amenities, including the pathways, fencing, benches, shade arbors, and playground equipment and tables in accordance with the Plan. (d) The improvements at Heritage Park will be limited to playground equipment facilities located within the westerly quadrant or area of the park. (e) The project improvements will avoid protected trees and other sensitive resources. In addition, existing park uses will be restored following the completion of project construction. 070411 jib 0072846 NOT YET APPROVED (f) The project described above and as more specifically described in the Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is consistent with park and conservation purposes. (g) The Council desires to approve the project described above and as .more specifically described in the Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit "A." SECTION 2.The Council hereby approves the Plan for the construction of the playground equipment improvement in Heritage Park, and it hereby adopts the Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" as part of the official plan for the construction of the playground equipment improvement in Heritage Park. SECTION 3.The Council finds that the project to construct the new playground equipment facilities at Heritage Park is subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). An environmental impact report for the Summerhill development proj ect, which lies to the south of the proposed project site, and which included the conceptual design for a full-amenity public park, now Heritage Park, was adopted by the Council by resolution number 7950, dated March 27, 2000. H N // N II H N H N II N H H 070411jib 0072846 2 SECTION 4. date of its adoption. INTRODUCED: PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: AB STENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst. City Attorney NOT YET APPROVED This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the Mayor APPROVED: City Manager Director of Community Services Director of Administrative Services 070411jib 0072846 Homer Avenue Layout Notes: r- Scale r = ~’- ~" Dmw~ Sheet L1 Landscape Layout Plan