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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/06/2003 - Regular Agenda - Parks Boardeiogoin: Mat "mvip Development Services Staff Present: Kelly Templin, Director of Development Services; Jane Kee, City Planner; Brett McCully, Assistant City Engineer; Spencer Thompson Jr., Graduate Civil Engineer; Molly Hitchcock, Staff Planner; Susan Hazlett, Secretary. Parks and Recreation Department Staff Present: Steve Beachy, Director of Parks and Recreation; Eric Ploeger, Assistant Director; Kristin Lehde, Staff Assistant. Planning and Zoning Commission Members Present: Richard Floyd, Chairman; Carolyn Williams; Scott Shafer; Craig Hall; Ben White; Wallis McMath. Planning and Zoning Commission Members Absent: Phil Trapani. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Members Present: John Nichols, Chairman; Larry Farnsworth; Bill Davis; Glenn Schroeder. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Members Absent: Glen Davis; Jodi Warner; Don Allison. 1. Call to order: Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Richard Floyd and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chairman John Nichols called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Consideration, discussion, and possible action on the revised Recreation, Park, and Open Space Master Plan: Steve Beachy stated that the original Master Plan was approved in 1999. The plan was developed with extensive work by a subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, City staff, and a Texas A&M University staff member. The original plan was to be updated once every three (3) years to ensure that the information in it is up to date and accurate. The current revision process began in 2002. Steve thanked the Development Services staff who provided the current population estimates and projections, and land use issues, for College Station, the subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (John Nichols, Joint Meeting Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday, March 6, 2003 Page 1 of 4 Glen Davis, and Don Allison), and Parks Senior Secretary Pamela Springfield for reformatting the plan. Steve referred to the Master Plan revision schedule, which showed the steps that were used to revise the plan. He said that once the Planning and Zoning Commission is comfortable with the revised plan, staff will present it to the City Council for their approval. If approved, the plan will become an official planning document for the City; however, the plan will not be approved by ordinance. The plan will serve as a guide to direct the development of park facilities and recreation programs over the next three (3) years until its next revision. Eric Ploeger discussed the highlights from the revised Master Plan (refer to document entitled Revised Recreation, Park, and Open Space Master Plan): • Section I — Introduction The 2000 Census data was used. - The revised Park Land Dedication Ordinance that included fee increases on single and multi -family developments was used (revised January 2002). - The park zone lines have been redrawn to include additional property that was recently annexed by the City. The intention is to redraw those zone lines at the time of annexation. Also, Park Zone 17 was eliminated on the park zone map --it is University property and is not significant. • Section V - Inventory - The park infrastructure has been growing as fast as the City has, so the Department has incorporated those growth figures into the inventory. Also, some significant parks have been added, such as Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, Castlegate Park, and a community park site on Rock Prairie road near the existing landfill. The inventory includes projects that were completed from the 1998 bond program. The number of developed parks has increased from 30 to 33. The additions have been Madeley and Castlegate Parks, and Veterans Park and Athletic Complex. Tennis court availability to the public has increased from 12 to 27 courts over the last three (3) years, mainly due to successful agreements and cost sharing with the College Station Independent School District, as well as the construction of two (2) courts at Castlegate Park. - The number of softball and soccer fields has also increased with the addition of Veterans Park and Athletic Complex. Joint Meeting Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday, March 6, 2003 Page 2 of 4 • Section VI — Needs Assessment and Identification The ratio of park land acres for 1,000 residents has increased from 7.82 in 1999 to 8.92 in 2002. The primary difference has been the addition of a 62- acre community park in the southeast portion of the City. Additional acres needed by zone have also been updated to include new population projections and additional acquired property. Section VII — Prioritization of Needs and Plan Implementation - Listed in this section are the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's priorities for future additions to the park system. Commissioner White commended staff on an effort well done. He stated that he had served on a Parks Board in another City, and that Board had agonized with developers about receiving cash in lieu of land; the developers wanted to pay the cash and the City wanted the land. He asked if the City of College Station had similar issues with park land dedication. Steve responded that the City of College Station has the option to accept cash in lieu of land, and generally follows the criteria that if the proposed dedication is below five (5) acres, then the City will accept the cash option. However, if an area to be served is without park land, then the City may accept the land option. Parks and Recreation and Development Services staff have worked together to revise the park land dedication process to the point where now the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has the opportunity to review initial development concepts and access issues before the plat comes in, streets are laid out, and lots are drawn. The Board is also looking at more options in cases where the developer develops the park (i.e. Castlegate Park). Commissioner Shafer asked if the issue of accepting detention ponds had been addressed. Steve said that criteria had been established, in the revision of the Park Land Dedication Ordinance for the acceptance of detention/retention ponds as part of a dedication (see attached criteria). Commissioner Chairman Floyd asked how Development Services and Parks and Recreation communicate deficit concerns for community park land. Kelly Templin responded that the departments have internal communications concerning park land needs. Steve added that the acquisition of community park land is not addressed by the Park Land Dedication Ordinance --it is a process guided by the City's Comprehensive Plan in which the City allocates funds through the Capital Improvement Program to buy the land. For communication purposes, it was suggested that there be updates to the Commission and Advisory Board concerning park land issues, or that there be appointed direct Joint Meeting Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday, March 6, 2003 Page 3 of 4 representatives from each area who could attend meetings during park land discussions. Steve said that Parks and Recreation Department staff review small -area plans and that some specific capital improvement items related to Parks and Recreation have been presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and are now incorporated into requests for the next bond election. He added that it is helpful that members of the Development Services staff have come to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meetings during some park land discussions; however, there could be a more formal process developed to aid in communication. After some discussion, it was requested that both Kelly and Steve provide the Commission and Advisory Board monthly reports concerning park land issues. Commissioner Shafer added that it would also be helpful to report on greenways issues as well. Advisory Board Chairman John Nichols noted that the seven (7) priorities listed in Section VII of the revised Recreation, Park, and Open Space Master Plan have not been rated by priority. He said that a lot of the land in the parks inventory is undeveloped, and it will be a challenge to develop it. He added that staff has done a good job of developing priorities for investing park land dedication funds within the park zones. Commissioner Carter asked if the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had developed a "wish list" for the upcoming bond election. Advisory Board Chairman Nichols responded that they have. Commissioner Carter stated that Highway 30 is inadequate to handle the current volume of traffic, and he is concerned that it will cause additional problems when Veterans Park and Athletic Complex comes online. He said that it would be imperative to relay those concerns to the City Council. Advisory Board Chairman Nichols said the Advisory Board realizes that the Phase II development of the park will add additional traffic out one exit onto Highway 30. He said that the Capital Improvement Citizen's Advisory Committee and City Council would have to consider traffic implications with the Phase II development of the park. Commissioner Shafer commented on the maps in the Recreation, Park, and Open Space Master Plan, and asked if there could be a diagram or map incorporated into the plan that would reflect a unified system of greenways and parks to show connections between them. After some discussion, Advisory Board Chairman Nichols suggested that the issue of greenways be discussed at a future Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, and that the topic be on the agenda for discussion during the next joint meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner White made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Hall seconded the motion. Advisory Board member Farnsworth made a motion to adjourn. Advisory Board member Schroeder seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m. Joint Meeting Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday, March 6, 2003 Page 4 of 4