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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREDchristieb4SANTA LUCIA CHAPTE R P .O . Box 15755 • San Luis Obispo, California 9340 6 Phone : (805) 543-8717 • Fax : (805) 543-872 7 http ://www .sierraclub.org/chapters/santalucia blimp Coe y ~vr A r~ 'COUNCIL C'CDD DIFi3'0 ~"?D FIN DI RC—Aeke ~'cn L -FIRE CHIE F['ATTORNEY E'PW DI RD CLERK/ORIC a-POLICE CH FrqDEPT HEADS CnEC DI R y Pl/3 CT-UTILDI P aHR DI R Sic Get NC.tw5 —Gcry /Lt~2 MEETING DATE : 8-17-10, ITEM #4, Stenner Springs Natural Reserve Open Spac e Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council , The Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club supports controlled bicycle use o n designated bicycle trails within the proposed Stenner Springs Natural Reserve Ope n Space because it is consistent with the 2006 Conservation and Open Space Element an d the City's Open Space Ordinance . (attached references ) We would also be open to supporting a "Bike Skills Park" in carefully chosen Par k Land. However, we continue to oppose the construction of a "Bike Skills Park" withi n the Stenner Springs Natural Reserve Open Space as such manmade structures, like skat e parks, are consistent with the uses of Park Land, not natural Open Space . Although we continue to question whether the construction of a Bike Skills Park i n Natural Open Space meets the spirit and letter of the 2006 COSE and the City's Ope n Space Ordinance,we adamantly oppose setting a precedent of allowing activitie s within this Open Space which are specifically not allowed under the City's Ope n Space Ordinance and 2006 COSE . Specifically , 1 .Those constructing, managing or operating the Bike Skills Park withi n designated Open Space must be aware of, and be required as part of any contrac t to, abide by City ordinances and policies, including the City's Open Spac e Ordinance and the 2006 Conservation and Open Space Element . The City's Open Space Ordinance states that ,"Lands acquired or otherwise controlled by the City fo r open space purposes are not considered to be parks ...and shall not be construed to b e appropriate for, or used for, structured recreation, such as team sports, large gathering s or other intensive uses of the properly or site . "(Open Space Ordinance of the City of Sa n Luis Obispo, 12.22.020C) It also states that there will be no amplified sound; there will be no sales of any merchandise or solicitation for any business ; no skating; the hours of use are limited; etc. SIERRA CLU B FOUNDED 1892 RECEIVE D AUG17201 0 SLO CITY CLER K DATE : August 16, 201 0 TO : San Luis Obispo City Counci l VIA : Hand Delivery RED FILE -- MEETING AGEND A DATEojti/iC ,ITEM #8 ...To explore, enjoy, and protect the nation's scenic resources ... (Note :The many residents of neighborhoods and single family homes adjacent to th e City's Open Space would obviously be in vehement opposition to setting a precedent fo r allowing the above activities in any of the City's natural Open Space . We invite you to envision the number of homeowners and neighborhood residents adjacent to the City's Open Space who would be present at your 8-17-10 meeting if they had been noticed tha t such a precedent was being considered). 2 . Most Bike Skills Park structures, such as those referenced in the public hearin g (Whistler, British Columbia and Fresno) are adjacent to urban areas and are therefore close to medical and police responses where "the rules of use" are therefore relativel y easy to enforce . We note that the city states that primary enforcement of the rules of us e for the City's Skate Park is from "drive by" observations by the police and public in th e adjacent urban area . A.The staff report refers to an "operating entity". How is the City proposing t o operate and manage the Bike Skills Park and ensure that the City's rules for use o f this Open Space are enforced ? B.Is the City proposing to pull the already thin Ranger coverage off of the thousand s of other "traditional" open space acres or is the Mountain Bike Group which i s requesting, constructing, and using the Bike Skills Park also going to enforce th e rules that are required to avoid setting a precedent and to limit the City's liability ? C.If the Rangers will be charged with enforcing the rules, will the Mountain Bikin g Group requesting, constructing and using the man made structures of the Bike Skills Park pay for the additional Ranger coverage for this or will it be paid for b y lowering the level of Ranger coverage and "enforcement of uses" on Bishop's Peak, South Hills, the Johnson Ranch, the Bowden ranch, and the City's othe r "more traditional" Open Space areas ? Thank you for your attention to these matters . /(ttecC f — OPEN SPACE &PASSIVE RECREATIO N "OPEN SPAC E Open Space is land or water area which remains in a predominantly natural o r undeveloped state, and is generally free of structures . Such lands protect and preserve th e community's natural and historical resources, define the urban boundary, and provid e visual and physical relief from urban development . Open spaces may consist of smal l portions of a parcel, such as small wilderness preservation areas, or large tracts of land . Such lands may include farming and grazing ; creeks,marshes,watershed and floodplains ; scenic resources ; plant and animal habitat ; historic and archaeological resources ; an d passive recreation areas ."(Unified General Plan, City of San Luis Obispo, Glossary ) "PASSIVE RECREATION " Passive recreation means low-intensity recreational activities such as hiking, bir d watching, nature photography, trails, individual picnic areas, nature study, viewin g stations, interpretive areas, and similar uses ."(Unified General Plan, City of San Luis Obispo, Glossary) I.ONLY PASSIVE RECREATION IS ALLOWED IN OPEN SPACE OPEN SPACE ORDINANCEOF THECITYOF SANLUIS OBISP O "12 .22 .020 Purpose of Open Space Lands : The City of San Luis Obispo has developed a system of open space lands within an d surrounding the community which is an important part of the community's setting , providing a number of opportunities for enjoyment of the natural environment by our citizens. Consistent with the open space element of the City's general plan, ope n space lands have been acquired (both in fee and through easements) for specifi c purposes, such as protection of scenic character, wildlife habitat values,passiv e recreation and agriculture . The open space element principles state that uses on ope n space lands owned or managed by the the city : 1.Should preserve the natural amenities of the open space land ; 2.May not include uses which would degrade or significantly impact resource preservation on-site or on an adjacent parcel ; 3.May consist of the following uses provided allowed uses are compatible with th e purpose of the open space land : a.Conservation of soil, vegetation, water, fish, and/or wildlife . b.Passive recreation,including open areas, trails, viewing stations, hiking horseback riding, swimming fishing, photography, painting, sketching and othe r similar day recreation use . c.Interpretation and scientific study of the natural environment . d.Grazing,farming, growing of nursery stock, gardening, and harvesting crops . e.Landscape or wildlife restoration and enhancement programs where the natura l landscape has been altered or degraded. Such programs may include restrictions on public access ." 2006 CONSERVATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMEN T 8 .4 .2 "The main goal is to protect open space and wildlife habitat, with a secondar y goal of providing passive recreation where it will not harm the environment ." 8 .5 .5 Passive Recreation The City will consider allowing passive recreation where it will not degrade o r significantly impact open space resources and where there are no significan t neighborhood compatibility impacts, in accordance with an approved open space conservation plan .Passive recreation activities may include : hiking, nature study , bicycle use, rock climbing, horseback riding or other passive recreational activitie s as permitted and regulated in the Open Space Ordinance ." Appendix C : Management of Open Space land s Priority l * [natural resource protections ] Priority 2 *Public access and passive recreation " (Note : The policy of passive recreation only in open space was confirmed in the 2 4 public hearing and 3 public workshops in the 2006 Conservation and Open Spac e process . During this process (without the benefit of input from a general pla n Conservation and Open Space Committee), staff proposed "expanding recreatio n opportunities in open space" beyond passive recreation . There was a tremendous publi c outcry against this proposal from neighborhood associations (open space border s hundreds of single family homes and many residential neighborhoods), city residents , The Sierra Club, and ECOSLO . The Planning Commission subsequently strongl y recommended that the "passive recreation only in open space policy" be retained . The City Council then voted for it to be a critical part of the 2006 COSE . ) II.ACTIVE RECREATION IS FOR PARK LAND, NOT OPEN SPACE UNIFIED GENERAL PLA N "Active Recreation : Active Recreation means recreation facilities typical of urba n parks, including play fields (such as soccer or softball), school fields, community centers , tennis courts, picnic areas (group and individual), golf courses and golf-related facilities , recreation resorts, and similar facilities"(Unified General Plan, Glossary ) 2006 CONSERVATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMEN T 8 .5 .1 . Land for active recreation is typically designated "Park" in the General Plan Lan d Use Map . OPEN SPACE ORDINANCEOF THECITYOF SANLUIS OBISP O 12 .22 .020 C . "Lands acquired or otherwise controlled by the City for open spac e purposes are not considered to be parks (as "parks"are defined in Chapter 12 .20 of the Municipal Code) and shall not be construed to be appropriate for, or used for, structure d recreation, such as team sports, large gatherings or other intensive uses of the property o r site ." III.BICYCLE USE IS LIMITED TO SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED AREAS AN D TRAILS IN OPEN SPACE,WHERE IT IS THEN CONSIDERED TO BE A PASSIVE USE. 2006 CONSERVATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMEN T "8 .5 .5 Passive Recreation "Passive recreation activities may include :hiking nature study,bicycle use,rock climbing, horseback riding or other passive recreational activitie s as permitted and regulated in the Open Space Ordinance ." OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE OF THECITYOF SANLUIS OBISP O "D .2 .Use of bicycles on city open space lands is restricted to areas and trails designate d for bicycle use ."