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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Iron Horse Nature Park Open MP AGENDA STATEMENT CITY of PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION DUBLIN MEETING DATE: August 19, 2013 SUBJECT: Iron Horse Nature Park and Open Space Master Plan Prepared by Rosemary Alex, Parks and Facilities Development Coordinator ATTACHMENTS: 1. Preferred Conceptual Design —Mosaic Ecology RECOMMENDATION: 1. Receive presentation from Staff and Landscape Architect 2. Receive public comment on preferred conceptual design 3. Recommend approval of the preferred conceptual design to the City Council. DESCRIPTION: Parkland Need and Acquisition The Parks and Recreation Master Plan outlines the standards to meet the parks and recreation facilities needs for residents at the build-out of Dublin. Based on the preliminary population projections, Staff believes that the City will have a communitywide parkland deficit at build-out of approximately 12 acres. Therefore the City needs to acquire additional parkland for future development in Dublin to continue to meet the standard of providing five acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents. The City has an option to purchase two parcels of abandoned railroad right of way (ROW) from Union Pacific. The City is considering developing the larger 12-acre parcel into a nature park and open space. This parcel is located north and south of Amador Valley Boulevard, adjacent to the Iron Horse Regional Trail and extends north to the City of Dublin/City of San Ramon city limits and south to the Alamo Canal Trail. The site is bounded to the east by County-owned land, which is identified as a future transportation corridor and has an easement for the Kinder Morgan pipeline. South San Ramon Creek runs in a northwest/southeast direction along the west side of the Iron Horse Regional Trail. Residential uses are located to the east and west. In order to evaluate the feasibility of acquiring the parcel for parkland development, Staff has retained a Landscape Architecture firm and conducted an extensive public input process to develop the draft Master Plan for the site. Public Input Process In consideration of the site's location along an existing regional trail and residential corridor, the public input process has been integral in the development of the preferred conceptual design, and has been coordinated with SWA Group Landscape Architects. COPIES TO: A Public Meeting notice was sent to residences within 300-feet of the proposed park parcel and to a list of interested parties from prior public meetings on the proposed park. ITEM NO: 8.1 G:\COMMISSIONS&COMMITTEES\PARKS COMMISSION\AGNDSTMT\2013\8-19 Iron Horse Nature Park and Open Space Master Plan.doc Public Input Phase I—Listening Public Meeting #1, Saturday, April 27th — Over 40 residents attended an on-site meeting where SWA Group led a walking and listening tour along a portion of the site. Imagery Boards were posted on the Kiosk at the trail crossing by Amador Valley Boulevard to provide trail users with the opportunity to provide written comments. Staff also posted an online survey on the City's website for those who could not attend the meeting, which received over 70 responses. Public Input Phase II—Interpreting At the completion of the Listening Phase, SWA gathered the public data and through an extensive review of the site conditions and regional context of the site, prepared three differing approaches to developing the site, each with differing levels of program and activity. The concepts were not for ranking or to select a favorite by vote, but instead to elicit comments and reactions to the varying levels of development and activity. The three concepts were presented at the second public meeting on Tuesday, June 11th. At the meeting, the 30 attendees were separated into smaller groups to provide more detailed input on each idea. This process allowed SWA Group to gather more extensive input on each design to culminate with a preferred hybrid design. After the meeting, the three plans were posted on the City website and at the conclusion of the public input period the City had received over 30 additional comments. It was clear from the results of this public input period that the preference was a design that has minimal programmatic functions and enhances the ecology of the site Public Input Phase III—Refinement Since the end of the second public input phase, SWA Group has worked on developing the preferred conceptual plan based on feedback from the public. As shown in the attachment the preferred conceptual plan includes the following features: 1) Re-location of the Iron Horse Trail to the east in the location of the historic railroad bed 2) Additional secondary pedestrian trails along the corridor 3) Better access at the northern boundary, along the northeast side and at Stagecoach Park 4) Restoration of the site with native vegetation representing oak woodlands, grasslands, riparian zones and wetlands 5) Trail head facilities 6) Community garden space 7) Picnic and play spaces for children 8) Collaboration with Zone 7 on their re-alignment of San Ramon Creek to improve flood management, water quality and naturalized system providing access to additional parkland for residents. Although the property surrounding the creek is under ownership of Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7 (Zone 7), the proposed creek restoration is integral with the overall master plan as it would expand the amount of parkland available, beyond the 12-acre Union Pacific parcel, through a partnership and easement. The City has worked collaboratively with Zone 7 throughout the master planning process. Zone 7 is simultaneously completing a master plan for restoration of the watershed, including the channel adjacent to the subject property. 2 of 3 If the City adopts the Iron Horse Nature Park and Open Space Master Plan and acquires the property, it is envisioned the City and Zone 7 would work in partnership to seek project funding and develop the site in phases over time. The City's primary funding source for development of the site would be Public Facility Fees collected in the area covered by the Downtown Specific Plan, and other in-fill development outside of the area covered by the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. The timing of the improvements is unknown at this time and will depend on available funding. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Parks and Community Services Commission receive the presentation from City Staff and SWA Group, receive public comment and recommend approval of the preferred conceptual park design to the City Council or provide alternate recommendation. 3 of 3 � 0 way, r =r k v � F In r G n A _ he W W AN' ICU Z daz Wy a� CO ME N Oa �. W r 4 =O d ME cl r a Y V 0z za CCQ it not glpy9i4 W yy daa� �v $ 3