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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 08/26/1998Call meeting to Order: President Marilyn Barnes called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Agenda Review: One item was added to the Agenda after the Gateway Park discussion: Natural Resources Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Board Relations. Items of Note: Diane Thies and Del Price called to say they would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Paul Van Valkenburg, seconded by Mary Ness, the Board voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting of July 22, 1998. Mountain Vista Subarea Plan Doug Moore, Urban Design Specialist/Advanced Planning, gave the presentation to the Board. The proposed Mountain Vista Subarea neighborhood will be located at Timberline and Vine Drive and bordered by I-25. He presented a conceptual drawing of the neighborhood. Doug explained that this will be a mixed use neighborhood with low density on the perimeter, medium density neighborhood, along with a community commercial district, employment, industrial, public schools, and a community park. The Parks and Recreation Policy Plan shows a 100-acre community park in the north east area of this development. This will serve a neighborhood of 12,000 to 15,000 population. The location of the commercial district will be in the center off I-25 and Timberline. Anheuser Busch is the largest landowner in this neighborhood.. Janet Meisel said that Park Planning has worked with the consultant. She said that staff has been asked to move the park because the PSD wants to build a high school in a 110 acre site that would change the location of the park. She said that if the park was a neighbor to Anheuser Busch that would be good. She added if we locate the park off the bypass, that could be a concern as the topography is low land. Doug Moore added that we could make the park smaller and it Wright be advantageous to keen the nark adiacent to the school. Marilvn Barnes asked Parks and Recreation Board Minu. August 26, 1998 Page 2 why we couldn't build the high school and the park in the same central area? Lance Freeman asked about a partnership with the school district? Janet said an option would be to have the School District dedicate 30 acres to recreational use and the City's portion would be 50/60 acres. This neighborhood would be the maximum distribution for a community park. Marilyn suggested the town square be surrounded by the park. Janet said that there is a 3- to 5-acre park planned in the business area development. Lance agreed that now is a good time to negotiate with the School District. Paul Van Valkenburg said that the Union Pacific Railroad serves the brewery and the truck route will always exist. Marilyn Barnes said she prefers the community park in the middle of the development (the existing location on the conceptual map). The rest of the board agreed with Marilyn. The Board unanimously agreed that the site at Vine and Lemay is not a preferred site for the community park. Mike Powers said it is important for us to continue meeting with PSD for ajoint site for the school and park. Doug informed the Board that the preferred plan will be presented at the open house scheduled in October and the Parks and Recreation Board will be informed of the exact date. Community Separators Doug Moore, Urban Design Specialist/Advanced Planning, gave the presentation and survey to the Board. He explained that the Northern Colorado communities of Berthoud, Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Johnstown, and Milliken; and the Counties of Larimer and Weld have begun to develop a plan to keep open spaces (separators) between the communities. This will help each of the communities keep their identities. The regional planning group is conducting a survey to determine what the preferred character and size of the separators should be; how much development can occur within a separator; and what types of development are compatible with the goals of maintaining the community separators. The Board then participated in the survey. Case Park Update Janet Meisel, Park Planner, gave an update on Case Neighborhood Park (Timberline and Horsetooth area/north of Fort Collins High School). She explained that the park is in the design phase and construction will start in the spring. Staff has had some neighborhood concerns, and therefore, we are bringing this design to the Board tonight for the Board's input. Staff held two neighborhood meetings to receive their input on the park design. Janet showed the Board the three schematic designs for the 15-acre park. As a joint project with Poudre School District, Phase 1 of the park was constructed with the School District. They currently have a baseball diamond on this land. The City will assume the maintenance and programming of the field when the park is completed. The last 10 acres of the park will be completed next year. The programming elements in this park will be a restroom, shelter, and playground. We don't need an additional ballfield since the school has ballfields, but we will build a soccer field (junior Parks and Recreation Board Pinutes • August 26, 1998 Page 3 wants hard surface basketball courts. We have already spent $400,000 on this park so far with our cooperation with PSD. Janet said the School District said that we could build basketball courts in the school parking lot. When the next development is completed, we will generate more fees, and then will be able to complete the park in the third phase. Next summer our plan is to complete the irrigation and grass, develop the soccer field, restroom, shelter, and playground. Parking is a concern for the neighborhood, even though the school has 500 spaces. We could provide parking on Pine Cone Circle, but can't afford that at this time. Janet showed a drawing with a loop path and a 30-soace parking lot. The path has been disliked by several neighbors. Staff feels it is an important element as it would serve as a main connection for the StoneRidge neighborhood. The neighbors who are adjacent to the park feel it is too close to their property line. Staff feels it is a nice divider for maintenance and a good landscape transition. The neighbors are concerned about safety and people walking on the path late at night and their privacy. Marilyn suggested a split rail fence along the sidewalk through the path. Marilyn asked about traffic calming on the side of the park. Jessica asked when we put up signs, do we paint the curb? Janet said that the Transportation does. Jessica suggested painting the curb and not putting up signs. Janet explained the new Land Use Code and said if this neighborhood comes to the Board meeting next month, and they oppose the Board's recommendation, they have the right to appeal it. Marty added that the Board's opinion holds a lot of weight with City Council and City Manager John Fischbach. Gateway Park Mike Powers referred to the AIS for the Gateway Park. Last month the Board toured Gateway. At that time, Craig Foreman, Civil Engineer, explained to the Board at the site how construction would occur at the entry to the Park. Mike reiterated to the Board that the City Council has provided direction to make this property accessible to the public. In order to make this property accessible, the park site requires development of a new, safe entry way. The project will create a safe access to Gateway Park. This will widen State Highway 14 where the current road width varies from 22 to 33 feet. The new width will be 44 feet. Mike asked the Board for a formal approval on the project. Dean asked if there were any concerns from City Council, Mike said no. On a motion by Dean Hoag, seconded by Marilyn Barnes, the Board unanimously approved the Gateway Park Project (6-0). Natural Resources and Parks and Recreation Board Relations Mike Powers discussed the meeting with Bill Bertschy, Board Chairs, Mike Powers, and Susie Gordon attended. They discussed the root cause of the conflict. NRAB has a mission of minimizing the impact of people on natural land and Parks and Recreation Board is in the business of use. We agreed to make a list of projects that will be coming up in the next five years and share agendas, minutes, and work plan on a one-year trial plan. When specific items are identified, we could refer to a subcommittee Mike said we will try our best to keep each Board informed. Parks and Recreation Board Minu, August 26, 1998 Page 4 Paul VanValkenburg said he never realized the difference between open space lands and natural areas. He suggested having a mission statement on the signs going into a natural area and that the two Boards should have a joint meeting to develop that mission statement. They will review the regulations and then have a short mission statement and this is what it is there for and the regulations are here because ... Look to the Poudre River Plan as a joint mission. Marilyn said we need to be all encompassing. Marty Heffernan added that there is a Transportation Funding Committee. They are proposing a 4.5 percent tax increase proposal for street lighting and transportation and reappropriating of general fund moneys. Request to Change the September 23 meeting to September 30 Jackie Rael requested that the Board change their regular meeting of September 23 to September 30 as staff members will be attending the National Recreation and Parks Conference on September 23. On a motion by Mary Ness, seconded by Lance Freeman, the Board voted unanimously (6-0) to change the September meeting to September 30 at 6:30 p.m. Staff/Board Comments • Paul Van Valkenburg said he spoke to a developer who is trying to develop land for affordable housing and they were discussing the cost of development fees in Fort Collins. Paul questioned if we should be discussing option on development and dedication of land for less money. Marty said there is an option for land donation in lieu of paying the fees. There is also a reduction for affordable housing. This has been reviewed by City Council and the Housing Authority. • Lance thanked staff for sending the CLRS monthly report. Board members agreed that this an informative document. • Marilyn Barnes referred to a letter she received from the North College Business Association in support of the Horticulture Center at Martinez Park. Lance said the Horticulture Center subcommittee is meeting weekly. He further said that DDA will contribute $300,000 if it is built downtown. Staff and the committee will meet with Council at their Study Session of December 8. Adjournment: On a motion by Dean Hoag, seconded by Mary Ness, the Board adjourned at 8:55 p.m. ve Administrative Assistant Parks and Recreation Board Minutes August 26, 1998 Page 5 Meeting Attendance Board Members Marilyn Barnes Lance Freeman Dean Hoag Jessica MacMillan Mary Ness Paul Van Valkenburg Staff Marty Heffernan Janet Meisel Doug Moore Wally Piccone Mike Powers Jackie Rael