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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1994 1102 CC REG ITEM 11H^� und) Meo .n- ,, CT;ON: /� Y__ TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: cf 7.(- '-� ( I I) ITE.. "_ City of Moorpark AGENDA REPORT The Honorable City Council Christine Adams, Director of Community Serviee� October 18, 1994 (Meeting of November 2, 1994) In December, 1993, the City Council and Moorpark Redevelopment Agency purchased approximately 29 acres of land, which is the property that is west of the Mission Bell Plaza (K -Mart) extending west to Moorpark Estates, and from Los Angeles Avenue (118) to Poindexter Avenue. The home and property owned by the Gisler family (adjacent to the northwest corner of Chaparral Middle School) is not part of the land owned by the City. Approximately 15 acres next to the Mission Bell Plaza is being planned as an additional commercial center, with a grocery store, movie theatre complex and restaurant as possible tenants. Approximately seven acres is being sub - divided into an affordable housing development with an estimated 50 units being planned. This project will be located in the north west area, next to the existing Moorpark Estates. The remaining approximate seven acres of land which lies adjacent to Chaparral Middle School, immediately south of the Gisler property is where the downtown neighborhood park will be located The City has contracted with Harris & Associates, to serve as the landscape architect for the preparation of the conceptual master plan for the park. The Moorpark Redevelopment Agency (MRA) has contracted with Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) to serve as project management for the housing project. City staff, Mr. David Volz, of Harris & Associates, and CEDC have had several meetings to determine preliminary boundary lines between the housing and the park, and tc insure that both projects are complementary with one another City staff participated in a meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 1994, and invited residents from the downtown area to attend and provide feedback on the proposed layout of the park and the housing. While the meeting's primary purpose was to gather information regarding the overall project concept, staff did receive some specific feedback on the park. The residents present at the September 13 meeting expressed appreciation that the park was finally going to become a reality. 11 �; They desired passive areas for families to picnic and socialize as well as sports fields for active play. With the exception of security lighting, the residents were opposed to any sports field lighting at the park. Representatives from Moorpark Little League were also present. Moorpark Little League is the largest youth baseball organization in Ventura County, with over 800 youth involved. With the addition of Carlsberg and some of the other planned development projects now being reviewed by the City Council, the City's population will increase, which will affect the charter that Moorpark Little League has with National Little League. It will be necessary for Little League to divide into two divisions within the next five to ten years, depending on the rate of population growth in the city. It is critical, therefore, that Moorpark Little League identify the field requirements for their current participation numbers, as well as those projected for the future. The inclusion of two baseball fields at the downtown park site, which will complement the existing fields at Chaparral Middle School, will solve an immediate need for fields for Moorpark Little League. If this feature is incorporated in the approved design, the City and Little League will need to formalize the League's participation /contribution for construction and maintenance. The designs prepared by the landscape architect provided for two baseball fields, that could also be utilized by neighborhood residents during the times when Moorpark Little League is not in season. Moorpark Little League's regular season operates annually from March through early July. The City does not need to accommodate adult softball leagues at this park. One field could be converted to softball fields in the future if there becomes a need for more adult softball fields. The City has worked with some of the other youth sports organizations in the City to assist with their facility needs in the past (such as AYSO, Moorpark Basketball Association, and Girls Softball). To date, the City has not been able to assist Moorpark Little League. Locating two baseball fields at the downtown park site would benefit Moorpark Little League and help their program. The Park and Recreation Commission first reviewed the conceptual design of the downtown park at their meeting of October 3, 1994. The Commission reviewed the conceptual design, that had been already modified based on the public testimony on the park design given at the meeting of September 13. The design prepared by Harris & Associates reflects a "farm" theme, to invoke the original heritage of the downtown area. The picnic pavilion that is designed will resemble a barn and a windmill will be a focal point at the entrance to the park. The proposed amphitheater will resemble a raised train platform, with 00249 railroad ties used throughout the passive area of the park to recreate the relationship of the farming community and the railroad throughout the City's history. The play areas will include a standard play equipment structure for more active play, as well as a sand and water play area for more passive and manipulative play. Proposed off street parking in this original design was for approximately 30 spaces. The City has received to date over 50 letters of support from Moorpark Little League parents for the inclusion of two baseball fields on the park site. These letters were shared with the Parks and Recreation Commission as part of the discussion. Following the presentation on the conceptual design by Mr. Volz, the Commission took public comment from the audience in attendance. Residents from the Moorpark Estates, the existing housing development that will be to the west of the new residential development and park site were present to address the Commission. The comments from those present were positively in favor of the park and the proposed design, but overall had a concern regarding adequate parking at the site. There was additional concern regarding the space required for baseball fields and the available acreage that would still be retained for passive play and picnicking. Representatives from Little League were also present. Little League reiterated the need for additional fields, and expressed that two smaller fields than those proposed would satisfy their needs, thus creating more square feet area for passive recreational uses. Little League also indicated financial and in- kind support for the development of this park site. The Commission voted to table this item to a special meeting on October 17. Prior to that meeting, the Commissioners were to meet at the downtown park site on Sunday, October 9, in conjunction with their scheduled park tour, to make modifications to the park site based on public input. On October 9, the Parks and Recreation Commission met at the downtown park site with some of the local neighbors and made the following changes to the park conceptual design: • Reduce the size of the south baseball field infield (90 ft. bases) to that of the size of the north field (60 ft. bases). Move the north field so that the backstop would also be near the Chaparral Middle School property fence, enabling this field to have a 300' radius from home plate to the outfield to accommodate adult softball. 00250 Neither field will accommodate adult or high school baseball level teams. • Increase open space on the west side of park. • Retain the amphitheater design. • Create an additional parking lot to the southwest of the park site with approximately 30 additional spaces. This will bring a grand total of available parking spaces at the park to approximately 63 spaces, utilizing both the proposed north and south parking lots. • One soccer field which will overlap the two baseball fields. • Include a pedestrian path around the perimeter of the park. This information was forwarded to Mr. Volz who incorporated these changes into a design for the Commission to view and to recommend to the City Council. The Commission reviewed the park conceptual design as presented and took additional input from the public regarding their desires for the park on October 17. The only changes to the attached plan involves the amphitheater design. The Commission was concerned about the realistic amount of use that the proposed stage would have. After some discussion, the Commission recommended to modify the amphitheater design, whereby the stage platform would be covered with a structure similar to the planned picnic shelter awning. This would allow it to serve as an additional covered area for picnicking, although there would be no tables in this area, and could also function as a covered open air stage for small performances. The Commission also recommended moving the amphitheater about 15 feet east to open up the play area some more. There was also a recommendation to reduce the number of picnic tables within the park by five, for a total of 15 picnic tables throughout the park, in addition to the primary picnic shelter which will have available seating for 50. With these changes, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted on October 17, 1994 to recommend this park design to the City Council for approval. Staff has been in discussion with Ventura Pacific Capital Group, (VPCG), the developer for the commercial site, regarding shared parking at the commercial site for the park, and access from the south parking lot into the commercial center. The developer for Ventura Pacific Capital Group has expressed concern regarding park users parking in the parking lot near the movie theaters. VPCG is agreeable to overflow parking for the park utilizing the parking spaces behind the proposed market. A greenbelt and pedestrian access will be designed from the east end 00251 of Lassen to the park. VPCG will be building a wall along the property line between the commercial development and the park, with the only access from the commercial development being from the end of Lassen, at the southwest corner of Chaparral School. There will also be pedestrian access from the Moorpark Estates, into the park along the new housing development. Vehicular access to the second parking lot will only be possible from the proposed road between the new housing development and the park. Staff is recommending that the City Council accept the recommended park design for the downtown park, as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission, with the exception of the amphitheater concept, which may be more appropriately located at Arroyo Vista Community Park. Based on the construction cost estimates for the downtown park site, staff estimates that by excluding the amphitheater design in the park, there would be an estimated $50,000 savings. The established City policy states that forty percent (40 %) of the in lieu park fees (developer contributions) and land lease income for each zone shall go to the Community Zone of the Park Improvement Fund for the construction and improvements at other community type facilities. The other sixty percent (60 %) of the funds from those sources is to remain in the zone in which it is generated, for the construction and improvements of neighborhood park facilities. It should be noted that at the City Council meeting of May 26, 1993, the City Council took action to transfer 40% of park improvement funds from the Central Zone (downtown area) to Arroyo Vista Community Park improvements. The original transfer to Arroyo Vista Community Park from the Central Zone was $946,337, which represents approximately 38% of the fund balance in May, 1993, of $2,454,966 in the Central Zone. This was fully spent on the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center construction. Another $500,000 was used for the land purchase in December, 1993, leaving an estimated balance of $1,228,885, as of June 30, 1994. Mr. Volz has prepared a preliminary construction cost estimate, utilizing City force account where possible, financial and in -kind assistance from Moorpark Little League, and utilizing the Boething Treeland Nursery lease agreement for the trees and shrubs needed for the landscaping. The Boething lease agreement could represent a decrease of some portion of the cost for trees and shrubs in the preliminary construction cost estimate. Cost estimates listed in the attached summary do not include costs for the preparation of plans, specifications, and related documents for construction. The City Council appropriated $1,100,000 for the downtown park design and construction in the 1994/95 budget. $5,400 of this has already been paid to the landscape architect for the preliminary design phase. Staff is in the process of soliciting proposals from selected landscape architects, including Harris & Associates, to prepare the plans and specifications and related documents for 00252 construction. Staff expects to present a contract to the City Council for consideration on December 7, 1994. That the City Council take the following action: Approve the conceptual design for the downtown park site as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission, with deletion of the amphitheatre. 00253 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. MOORPARK DOWNTOWN PARK SIT$ Preliminary Construction Cost Budget Grading and Utilities Parking Areas Sidewalks, Paths, and other Concrete Work Restroom Building Picnic Barn Landscape* a. Irrigation and Turf b. Ground Cover 8000 SF C. Big Trees (100) (48 "box) d. Small Trees (120)(15 gal) e. Shrubs (1,500) Play Areas Picnic Areas Sportfield Improvements ** Theme Fencing, Drinking Fountains, Misc. Security Lighting North fencing Amphitheater SUB TOTAL Less Amphitheater Trees, Shrubs TOTAL Plus Conceptual Design Fee Analysis * ** GRAND TOTAL 80,000 45,000 90,000 80,000 28,000 419,000 2,000 45,000 30,000 9,000 105,000 14,000 16,000 15,000 22,000 8,000 50,000 1,058,000 and Noise and Lighting 50,000 42,000 966,000 11,400 Grand Total does not include environmental, design, preparation of plans and specifications, and contract administration. * Most of the trees and shrubs can be provided through Boething Lease. ** Infield turf, and possibly dug outs or one backstop may be provided by Little League. * ** Noise and Lighting Analysis required only as determined by Community Development Department initial study. Cost for analysis represents $6,000 of the $11,400. 00254 " �!- �' ��' �= t��1�ll itltlUlliI: IG121ttt :IIGLL7x:�.1_.C�L].:_� —�.= �__..•_.r= .7.S= S`..]] mrmmrmrmrmrrrmrt,- rrr- r-r-r• r-rr rrrrrh7 POINDOM AVENUE ARM 0 Fkft ban hr rew .w X04 . rr.r ' 8" Ama HOME i .1rw -0. 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