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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBENNETT ROAD BUNGALOWS - PDP - 42-01 - CORRESPONDENCE - CITY STAFF (9)Maintenance of the park would cost about $23,160 per year. In May 2001, the landowner told City staff that they did not wish to donate the land for a park. SUMMARY: The following summarizes the primary issues that Council may wish to consider in making this decision. • Estimated cost to acquire and develop this property is between $585,000 and $770,000. • Current parkland funds available in this service area are $30,000. • Future development in this service area is expected to generate $100,000 in additional Parkland funds. • Poudre School District may be able to participate in future development of the site. • Should the Council wish this site to become a park, acquisition will need to occur immediately. The General Fund will need to fund the majority of the cost for acquisition. • Design and development of the park will need to be funded from the General Fund or from a capital project -funding source. • Annual maintenance costs are anticipated to be $23,160 (in 2002 dollars) and would most likely be a General Fund cost. • While additional parkland is always good, this neighborhood is adequately served based on the City's standards for number of acres of parkland. • The Parks and Recreation Board believes this to be a desirable location for a park. However, since this neighborhood is adequately served based on City standards, they recommend that funding sources other than Parkland funds be used. The West Central Neighborhood Plan explored the need for parks in the study area. Park Planning and Development staff worked with the citizen group involved in the formulation of the Plan. Staff explained the Parks and Recreation Policy Plan Standards for parkland level of service and that this area was adequately served based on these standards. The group working on the Plan chose to continue to pursue adding additional parkland within the West Central Neighborhood. The citizen's group identified three potential park sites: the Bennett site, a site known as Young's Pasture and an area in the Center for Advanced Technology. Map 6 shows the location of these proposed parks. The City's Park and Recreation Board reviewed these identified park sites in the West Central Neighborhood Plan at their October 28, 1998 meeting. The Board did not support the park identified as Young's Pasture. The Board recommended the acquisition and development of the park near the Horticulture site. The Board supported the park near Bennett School with the condition that Neighborhood Parkland Funds not be used for the acquisition or development of the site. The Board felt the area was adequately served with parkland and other areas of the City had greater needs for parkland. Please see attachment A highlighting the minutes from the Parks and Recreation Board meeting. The City has since purchased a park site in the Center for Advanced Technology along with the Horticulture Center site. This park is funded by fees on new homes in the area east of Shields Street and South of Prospect. The vacant land north of Bennett School is zoned RL (Low Density Residential). In addition to housing, this zoning permits uses such as schools and parks. The West Central Neighborhood Plan recommends the land be developed as residential or as a park. The Plan cites the City's Capital Improvement Program and Poudre School District funds as some potential funding sources for the conversion of this property to a park. The City has received a letter from Mr. Bill Franzen; Executive Director of Operations for Poudre School District stating that the District does not have funds dedicated to the purchase of this land. However, the District would consider reviewing funds allocated for playground and parking improvements in support of compatible joint development. The total funds allocated for these projects District wide are $261,000. Please see attachment B for the full text of this letter along with the City's inquiry about the District's interest in participating in the purchase and development of this property as a park. The vacant four acres across the street from Bennett School has recently been looked at for residential development. This land is estimated to be worth between $370,000 and $555,000. To develop the four acres into a park with irrigated turf, landscape, sidewalks, drinking fountain, and small shelter would cost about $215,000. ?7 . Map 1 is an overview of all parks and open areas owned by the City within the general area of the West Central Neighborhood. Map 2 shows the area served by Avery Park and City Park. Avery Park is a 17.9-acre neighborhood park located at the intersection of Castlerock Drive and Clearview Road. The land for the park was acquired by the City in 1960 and developed in 1962. Funding for acquisition and development was from the General Fund. The park contains a multi -use, irrigated turf area, landscaping, basketball court, playground, open space area (storm water detention area) and walking path. See Map 3 showing Avery Park. In 1974 a Neighborhood Parkland Fee was implemented City wide to fund neighborhood park acquisition and development. The fee is collected on each new home when it is built. A review of residential homes in the Avery Park service area confirms that the large majority of the homes in the area were constructed before Parkland fees were implemented. Map 4 shows areas within this neighborhood developed prior to the inception of parkland fees in 1974. The development of the "Bull Farm area" on the north side of Elizabeth Street; an area near Shields Street and University Avenue; and an area near Taft Hill Road and Moore School were developed after 1974 and paid parkland fees. In 1996, a restroom was added to the park at a cost of about $95,000 paid from parkland fees collected from 1974 to 2000 within this neighborhood. Fees collected during this time amounted to approximately $125,000. Residential construction in 2001 and the future development of an area near the intersection of Mulberry Street and Taft Hill Road should result in about another $100,000. At that point, this square mile will be built out for the most part. If current and future parkland fees collected in this area are not used for Bennett property, Park Planning and Development staff plans improvements to Avery Park. These plans include Shelter and plaza area; ADA sidewalks; irrigated turf; formal walking path with resting areas and additional trees. Total cost of these improvements will be approximately $105,000. The 1996 Parks and Recreation Policy Plan analyzed each square mile of the City and identified areas that had a deficiency in parkland based on the standards. In addition, City Plan projected the number of residential housing units that might be developed in the future on undeveloped land in each square mile of the City. This information was used to identify current and future parkland needs throughout the City. The area served by Avery Park and City Park does not require additional parkland to meet the standards. Map 5 shows which areas of the City need additional parkland and which are adequately served based on our standards. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: JAN 8, 2002 STAFF: Michael Powers SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION: Discuss the potential purchase of a 4-acre property directly North of Bennett School for a future park site and, if Council direction is to proceed, identify funding for acquisition, development and maintenance. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Council member Tharp has requested information about the possibility of developing a park on the vacant land across the street and north of Bennett School. The West Central Neighborhood Plan identified this parcel as a possible location for a park. The City's Parks and Recreation Policy Plan indicates this area of town is adequately served by Avery Neighborhood Park and City Park. Very few Neighborhood Parkland Fees have been collected in this square mile. The majority of the funding for the acquisition of this site will need to come from the General Fund. The estimate on the property's value is between $370,000 and $555,000. Total cost for design and development are estimated to be in the range of $215,000. Ongoing maintenance for this site is estimated to be $23,160 per year. These funds would need to come from the General Fund or a future capital project -funding source. :: WK91:Z4111" City Council was involved in the adoption of two documents that effect discussions of the Bennett Park issue directly. The Parks and Recreation Policy Plan was adopted by Council in December 1996. This plan establishes the standards for parks throughout our community. The second document is the West Central Neighborhood Plan which was adopted by Council as amended on May 18,1999. Both the West Central Neighborhood Plan and the Parks and Recreation Policy Plan are elements of City Plan. The Parks and Recreation Policy Plan contains guidelines for the development of parks. The standard for neighborhood parks is 2.5 acres per 1,000 population in the service area. The service area for a neighborhood park is typically the area within one square mile. The Community park standard is 4.5 acres per 1000 population and serves about 20,000 people and a four square mile area. Community parks also fulfill neighborhood parkland requirements within a 1/2 mile radius. Both City Park and Avery Park serve the West Central Neighborhood. Steve Olt -,Bennett School Item _ -w_ _ , . Page 1 From: Mike Powers To: Vicki Mesa Date: Thu, Dec 27, 2001 3:58 PM Subject: Bennett School Item Vicki, attached is Bennett School Park item for the Formal portion of the Jan. 8 Council session. This was scheduled for formal session to give the Council the vehicle to go into Executive session if they so choose. However, the item will be treated more as a study session, discussion type of item. Thus, there is no ordinance or resolution. Staff is only receiving direction. Craig is having 35 copies of the attachments made and will deliver them to you shortly Thanks for your help on this. CC: Craig Foreman, Diane Jones, John Fischbach, Ken...