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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem3PRCMasterPlanElementUpdate Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Report Meeting Date: 03/04/2020 Item Number: DATE: March 4, 2020 FROM: Greg Avakian, Parks and Recreation Director Prepared By: Shawna Scott, Senior Planner, Community Development SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update RECOMMENDATION 1. Review, discuss, and provide comments regarding the Recreation Amenities and Level of Service Analysis for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update. 2. Endorse the list of facilities and amenities to be incorporated into the Master Plan Draft Capital Improvement Program. DISCUSSION During the September 4, 2019 public meeting1, the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) received a presentation from the project consultant, WRT on the Park-by-Park Assessment, which included: a review of the full list of City park and recreation facilities; identification of the general physical condition of each site; any relevant issues pertaining to site access and use; and park-specific recommendations communicated by members of the public and the PRC during the Plan Update process. Based on these factors, the presentation included preliminary park improvement recommendations and each park was classified according to what type of improvements are needed. The September PRC meeting was the first opportunity for public consideration of these preliminary Master Plan project recommendations, and WRT-recommended tier designations including: Tier 1, Critical Park Improvements (Maintenance); Tier 2, Strategic Park Improvements, Improvement of Existing Parks/Facilities; and Tier 3, “Visionary” Park Improvements, New Opportunities. Following WRT’s presentation and public comment, the PRC provided direction to staff to develop a list of potential Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan visionary and aspirational programs, parks, facilities and specific projects. At the November 6, 2019 public meeting, staff presented Draft Themes/Strategies, Goals, and Concepts for PRC and public review, which will further inform the revised project list.2 Based on public comments and questions and statements from the PRC, additional information including presentation of quantified needs and deficiencies based on national standards was identified as a key component to determine what projects should be included and prioritized in the Master Plan and General Plan Element Update. 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Report, September 2019, available here. 2 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Report, November 2019, available here. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 2 CITYWIDE PARK ACREAGE AND PARK STANDARDS As identified in the San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Master Plan Community Needs Assessment,3 the City currently has 205.6 acres of parkland, including 99.7 acres of Community Parks, 34.7 acres of Neighborhood Parks, 7.9 acres of Mini Parks, and 63.3 acres of recreational centers and special facilities. Park acreage standards require a minimum of 10 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, including five acres of Neighborhood Parks per 1,000 residents. For reference, the City’s 2018 Capital Facilities Fee Nexus Study calculated the current park level of service at 4.18 acres per 1,000 residents or 2.69 acres per daytime service population. Looking ahead, the City would need an additional 361 acres of parkland to meet this standard in 2035, inclusive of 249 acres of Neighborhood Parks, based on resident population estimates in the City’s General Plan (56,686) (refer to Community Needs Assessment Table 2-6, San Luis Obispo Park Acreage Standards and Level of Service). An additional 677 acres of parkland would be needed if the same standard is applied to the estimated 2035 daytime population of 88,286. Implementation of currently approved parks within adopted Specific and Development Plans (Avila Ranch, Orcutt Area Specific Plan, and San Luis Ranch) would provide 37.59 acres of parkland, which will contribute to the total acreage of parkland in the City. The parkland acreage deficiency noted above supports the concept of increasing acreage of parkland within the City. As discussed during the November 6, 2019 PRC meeting (Themes/Strategies, Goals, and Concepts), land acquisition was identified as a concept for proposed Goal 4, which states: “Leverage regionalism and creatively increase the number of City parks, recreational facilities and amenities, to meet user needs.” Increasing acreage of parkland consistent with the recommended standard would be in alignment with this proposed concept and goal. LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR PARK FACILITIES/AMENITIES In order to provide additional information regarding base needs for City park facilities and amenities, staff worked with WRT and PROS to assess the current level of service for park facilities and amenities based on the 2017 estimated resident and daytime populations, and the 2035 estimated resident and daytime populations (Attachment 1, San Luis Obispo Recreation Amenities Analysis and Level of Service). This assessment considers a list of key amenities based on the City’s current inventory, input from the public and the PRC, consideration of recreational trends, and recommendations identified in the Community Needs Assessment. Please note this assessment identifies the minimum base need for identified facilities and amenities based on recommended service levels. Staff recommends to the PRC that the Master Plan Update prioritize meeting the minimum base needs for the resident population by including these recommendations in the Draft Master Plan Capital Improvement Plan. On the following page, Table 1 summarizes the findings of the analysis for the City’s resident population, and Table 2 summarizes the findings of the analysis for the City’s daytime population. These tables consider provision of amenities through implementation of approved Specific Plans, and also consider potential needs if proposed amenities are not ultimately developed. In addition, the analysis assumes that recreation amenities on the Cal Poly campus serves 35 percent of the daytime population (beyond the base resident population), inclusive of students, staff, and alumni. 3 Community Needs Assessment available here. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 3 Table 1. Level of Service for Park Facilities/Amenities Based on Resident Population Recreation Component Additional Facilities/Amenities Needed to Serve Population Today Additional Facilities/Amenities Needed to Serve Population in 2035 Additional Facilities/Amenities Needed to Serve Population in 20351 Outdoor Amenities Diamond Athletic Fields: Youth No new fields 1 field No new fields Diamond Athletic Fields: Youth/Adult 2 fields 3 fields 3 fields Diamond Athletic Fields: Adult 1 field 1 field 1 field Rectangle Athletic Fields 1 field 2 fields No new fields Disc Golf Course (18 hole) No new course No new course No new course Playground/Tot Lot No new sites 2 sites No new sites Dog Park/Off-Leash Dog Area 1 site 1 site No new sites Tennis Court 1 court 3 courts No new courts Pickleball Court 5 courts 6 courts No new courts Outdoor Basketball Court 0 new courts 2 courts No new courts Group Picnic Areas No new areas 2 areas No new area Swim Centers No new pool No new pool No new pool Skate Park No new site No new site No new site Bike Pump Tracks 1 site 1 site 1 site Roller Hockey Courts No new court No new court No new court Sand Volleyball Courts 1 court 2 courts 2 courts Golf Courses No new course No new course No new course Indoor Facilities Indoor Recreation/Multi- Generational Community Centers 5,962 square feet 10,943 square feet 10,943 square feet Senior Centers No additional area No additional area No additional area 1 Assumes Planned Specific Plan Facilities are Developed City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 4 Table 2. Level of Service for Park Facilities/Amenities Based on Daytime Population Recreation Component Additional Facilities/Amenities Needed to Serve Population Today Additional Facilities/Amenities Needed to Serve Population in 2035 Additional Facilities/Amenities Needed to Serve Population in 20351 Outdoor Amenities Diamond Athletic Fields: Youth 2 fields 3 fields 2 fields Diamond Athletic Fields: Youth/Adult 4 fields 5 fields 5 fields Diamond Athletic Fields: Adult 2 fields 3 fields 3 fields Rectangle Athletic Fields 3 fields 5 fields 1 field Disc Golf Course (18 hole) No new course No new course No new course Playground/Tot Lot 10 sites 18 sites 6 sites Dog Park/Off-Leash Dog Area 2 sites 3 sites No new sites Tennis Court 7 courts 10 courts 5 courts Pickleball Court 9 courts 12 courts 4 courts Outdoor Basketball Court 4 courts 6 courts 1 court Group Picnic Areas 6 sites 9 sites 8 sites Swim Centers No additional pools 1 pool 1 pool Skate Park None 1 site No new site Bike Pump Tracks 1 site 2 sites 2 sites Roller Hockey Courts No new courts 1 court 1 court Sand Volleyball Courts 3 courts 5 courts 5 courts Golf Courses No new course 1 course 1 course Indoor Facilities Indoor Recreation/Multi- Generational Community Centers 19,830 square feet 43,104 square feet 43,104 square feet Senior Centers 1,477 square feet 3,029 square feet 3,029 square feet 1 Assumes Planned Specific Plan Facilities are Developed Table 3, on the following page, identifies preliminary potential existing park locations that could accommodate new facilities/amenities, or a notes that a new site would be required. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 5 Table 3. Potential Locations for New Facilities/Amenities Recreation Component Potential Location Options Diamond Athletic Fields: Youth New land; Laguna Lake Park; Avila Ranch Diamond Athletic Fields: Youth/Adult New land; Laguna Lake Park Diamond Athletic Fields: Adult New land; Laguna Lake Park Rectangle Athletic Fields New land; Laguna Lake Park; Avila Ranch; Righetti Ranch Disc Golf Course (18 hole) Maintain existing; Laguna Lake Golf Course Playground/Tot Lot Meadow Park; Emerson Park; Ellsford Park Dog Park/Off-Leash Dog Area Laguna Lake Park; Sinsheimer Park; Stoneridge Park; Emerson Park; Santa Rosa Park Tennis Court Sinsheimer Park; Madonna Inn (partnership); Avila Ranch; Righetti Ranch Pickleball Court Avila Ranch; Righetti Ranch; Madonna Inn (partnership) Outdoor Basketball Court Santa Rosa Park; Avila Ranch; Righetti Ranch; San Luis Ranch; Laguna Hills Group Picnic Areas Meadow Park; Avila Ranch Swim Centers Sinsheimer (SLO Swim); Laguna Lake Park Skate Park Avila Ranch Bike Pump Tracks Laguna Lake Park; Meadow Park; Sinsheimer Park Roller Hockey Courts Laguna Lake Park Sand Volleyball Courts Laguna Lake Park Golf Courses New land; partnerships Indoor Recreation/Multi-Generational Community Centers New land; Ludwick Center Senior Centers Mitchell Park (redevelopment); Ludwick Center Recommended PRC Discussion Items and Action: 1. Staff recommends to the PRC that the Master Plan Update prioritize meeting these minimum base needs by including Table 1 recommendations in the Draft Master Plan Capital Improvement Plan. Does the PRC have enough information regarding minimum level of service to endorse inclusion of the minimum facility and amenity needs identified in Table 1 in the Draft CIP? 2. Would the PRC want to see cost estimates for the provision of additional facilities and amenities to also serve the daytime population? City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 6 3. The PRC should provide feedback on how to incorporate potential facilities/amenities into each park, based on the preliminary recommendations identified in Table 3. KEY NEXT STEPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT As described in the Community Engagement Plan for this Project, there will continue to be many more opportunities for public input. As outlined below, all documents will be provided to the PRC and additional advisory bodies and the City Council, as applicable. Staff encourages the public to review these documents, as well, and provide comments throughout the Master Plan and Element update process. Key next steps include the following: Date Action Details March 2020 Draft Facility/Amenity Level of Service Analysis 1. Review, discuss, and provide feedback on received information, based on staff presentation, review of materials, and public comment 2. Review, discuss and provide feedback on priorities for Draft Capital Improvement Plan April 2020 Review Updated Goals, Policies, and Programs and Project Priorities Beyond CIP 1. Review, discuss, and provide feedback on received information, based on staff presentation, review of materials, and public comment 2. Review, discuss, and provide feedback on aspirational project priorities beyond the CIP May 2020 Review Draft Capital Improvement Plan with Cost Estimates 1. Review, discuss, and provide feedback on received information, based on staff presentation, review of materials, and public comment June-August 2020 Review Draft Master Plan Updates 1. Review, discuss, and provide feedback on received information, based on staff presentation, review of materials, and public comment August-September 2020 Public Workshop (tentative) 1. Public Workshop on Draft Master Plan Update