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HomeMy WebLinkAbout94-70 - Adopting GP -94-02B, Amending Open Space Sub-element152 RESOLUTION NO. 94-70 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT GP -94-02B, AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, the General Plan was adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa by Resolution No. 92-27 on March 16, 1992; and WHEREAS, the General Plan is a long-range, comprehensive document which serves as a guide for the orderly development of Costa Mesa; and WHEREAS, by its very nature, the General Plan needs to be updated and refined to account for current and future community needs; and WHEREAS, General Plan Amendment GP -94-02B proposes to amend the Open Space Sub -element and the Land Use Element of the General Plan by incorporating recommendations of the Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Study into the General Plan; and WHEREAS, public hearings were duly held by the Planning Commission on June 13, 1994, and by the City Council on July 5 and July 18, 1994, in accordance with Section 65355 of the Government Code of the State of California, all persons having been given the opportunity to be heard both for and against said Amendment GP -94-02B to the General Plan; and WHEREAS, this Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City that said Amendment to the General Plan be adopted; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Costa Mesa City Council that the General Plan is hereby amended by the adoption of General Plan Amendment GP -94-02B as set forth in the attached Exhibit A. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that based on the findings of the Initial Study prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, a Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact has been adopted for said Amendment and is hereby adopted. The evidence presented in the record as a whole indicates that the project will not individually or cumulatively have an adverse effect on wildlife resources or habitat; therefore, a DeMinimis Finding is adopted along with the Negative Declaration. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of July, 1994. Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa ATTEST: Depu�CitlerktheCity of Costa Mesa 11 1 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss CITY OF COSTA MESA ) I, MARY T. ELLIOTT, Deputy City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 94-70 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 18th day of July, 1994. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the City of Costa Mesa this 19th day of July, 1994. Deputy CityPerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City CouWcil of the City of Costa Mesa 153 154 Open Space Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 1 of 29 EXHIBIT "A" 155 OPEN SPACE The importance of open space in today's increasingly urban environment led the State legislature to require the inclusion of an open space element in all local government general plans (Government Code Section 65302(e)). This requirement was based on the concept that open space is a limited and valuable resource which must be conserved wherever possible. It was noted by the legislature that the preservation of open space land is necessary not only for the maintenance of the State's economy, but also for assurance of the continued availability of land for the production of food and fiber, for enjoyment of scenic beauty, for recreation and for the use of natural resources. Open space land and uses also contribute to neighborhood identity, provide visual and psychological relief from intense urban environments and control or direct new growth and development. Open space lands and uses can be defined in relation to the functions which these lands serve and to the benefits derived from the use of these lands. Section 65560 of the Government Code identifies four specific definitions of open space uses as noted below: (1) Open space for the preservation of natural resour— ces including, but not limited to, areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life, including habitat for fish and wildlife species; areas required for ecologic and other scientific study purposes; rivers, streams, bays and estu— aries; and coastal beaches, lakeshores, banks of rivers and streams, and watershed lands. (2) Open space used for the managed production_ of resources, including but not limited to, forest lands, rangeland, agricultural lands and areas of economic importance for the production of food or fiber; areas required for recharge of groundwater basins; bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers and streams which are important for the management of commercial fisheries; and areas containing major, mineral deposits, including those in short supply. (3) Open space for outdoor recreation, including but not limited to, areas of outstanding scenic, his— toric and cultural value; areas particularly suited for park and recreation purposes, including access to lakeshores, beaches, and rivers and streams; and areas which serve as links between major recreation and open space reservations, including utility easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails, and scenic highway corridors. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 2 of 29 (4) Open space for public health and safety, including but not limited to, areas which require special management or regulation because of hazardous or special conditions such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas, flood plains, watersheds, areas presenting high fire risks, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs and areas. required for the protection and enhancement of air quality. Examples of each of these open space uses can be found in Costa Mesa. In -some instances, an individual open space facility may perform a variety of functions. As an example, the development of the City's Fairview Park will preserve and upgrade an existing wildlife habitat, provide outdoor recreational uses, protect a significant archaeological site and offer an ideal development alternative compatible with the flood and geologic hazards associated with the lowlands adjacent to the Santa Ana River. The commitment of the City of Costa Mesa to meet the intent and goals established by the State Legislature is evident in many governmental actions. In 1973, the City Council adopted the Environmental Management System which included the Open Space, Conservation and Scenic Highways Elements of the General Plan. Later in the same year, the citizens of Costa Mesa approved two bond issues totalling $3.9 million to acquire and develop ad— ditional parkland. All of the bond money was spent to purchase portions of Fairview Park and to acquire and develop Pinkley, Shiffer, Brentwood, Wakeham, and Wilson Parks. The City has also preserved open space by receiving land dedication or park ac— quisition fees from developers or by securing easements from private construction projects. Acquisition and improvement of Wimbledon, Fairview and Canyon Park sites are major projects acquired and improved by this program. INVENTORY AND STANDARDS In 1989, Costa Mesa's inventory of open space lands and uses totaled 2,240 acres — approximately 28 percent of the total area of the City and unincorporated sphere of influence. This inventory is presented on Table 11 and Figure 16. All of these features can be classified into three primary categories: (1) Permanent Open Space (1,673 acres), (2) Interim Open Space (304 acres), and (3) Institutional Open Space (263 acres). Each of these categories is defined and discussed in detail in the following sections. Permanent Open Space Permanent open space facilities are those uses which can be expected to remain committed to open space usage through the life of the plan. These uses are predominantly publicly—owned facili— ties and available, or proposed for public recreational enjoyment. Exceptions which are in private ownership are two golf courses, one private college, one private park and a memorial park/cemetery. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 3 of 29 1 L11 TABLE 11 OPEN SPACE INVENTORY (1990) OPER SPACE FUNCTIONS COUNTY PARRLM rairvlew Regional Park Site Talbert Regional Park Site NEWPORT -VESA UNIFIED SCMOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES Adams School Back say High School Califocnia/TeWlnklo Schools College Park School Costa Mesa Nigh School Da:ls Scheel 0latrlct Support Service, Center Estancia Nigh School Raiser School Rlllybrooke School Lindbergh Schaal Parson School Paularino School Pomona School Sonora School Victoria School Whittler School Wilson School Woodland School r r 210 �f.i2 0 127.3• o CURRENT r Preserve Manage r Visual and r 29.71 0 OWNERSNIPO AM (ACRES) Natural Resource Outdoor Public Dealth Psychological Control/Guido OPEN LPACE FEATU M Public Prlvete Developed Undeveloped Resources Production Recreation and Sarety Relief Development CITY PXDJM WD rPL 204.14 200 r 10.00 r 9.07 0 Balaarlc Center L �-9T' 10.15 0 e 6.1a o r Brentwood r 1.15 r 0 0 Canyons r 35.00 0 0 0 Civic Contor r 2.49 0 0 0 Del Mesa 2.I1 o 0 Estancia r 10.00 o e ralrview Park Site r 11.00 200 0 0 Claloc r 3.15 0 0 Harper School L 1.00 o e Roller r 2.41 0 0 Llndborgh School L 1.00 0 0 Lions r 8.26 o e Marina View r 2.29 0 0 0 Mesa Vards r 2.48 o e Paularino r 2.23 0 Pinkley r 2.58 0 0 Rea r 11.90 0 0 Smallwood r 1.38 o e Shiffer r 9.72 e o Suburbia r 1.80 0 0 Tanager r 7.12 0 0 TeWLnkle r 44.f7 0 0 Town Center E 2.90 0 0 0 Willard T. Jordan r 2.18 0 0 Vista r 6.02 0 0 Wakeham Park r 9.91 0 0 Wilson Park r 3.45 0 0 Wimbledon r 3.39 0 0 COUNTY PARRLM rairvlew Regional Park Site Talbert Regional Park Site NEWPORT -VESA UNIFIED SCMOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES Adams School Back say High School Califocnia/TeWlnklo Schools College Park School Costa Mesa Nigh School Da:ls Scheel 0latrlct Support Service, Center Estancia Nigh School Raiser School Rlllybrooke School Lindbergh Schaal Parson School Paularino School Pomona School Sonora School Victoria School Whittler School Wilson School Woodland School r r 210 �f.i2 0 127.3• o r - Owned in roe, L - Leased from/to another public agency, E - Easement 291.51 r -T8:T3 0 r 4.25 0 r 29.71 0 r 9.06 o r 66.62 0 r 19.11 0 r 1.11 0 r 19.99 r 17.64 o r 10.02 0 rPL 6.200 0 r 10.00 r 9.07 0 r 7,10 0 r 10.15 0 r 6.1a o r 9.12 0 r 8.92 0 r 8.91 0 r - Owned in roe, L - Leased from/to another public agency, E - Easement -Dome not include park site. W Vo 1508.85 721.75 2230.60 TABLE 11 contl ww OPEN SPACE FUNCTIONS CURRENT Preserve Manage Visual Nr.i OWNERSHIP• AREA (ACRES) Natural Resource Outdoor Public Rmalth Psychological Control/Guide OPEN SPACE FEATURES Public Prl vete Dsoe loved Undeveloped Resource. Production Recreation and Safety Relief Devalopeent COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE 178.13 DISTRICT FACILITIES Orange Cos at College r 157.32 0 District Adsdnletratlon r 13.98 0 Mesa Verde 6.83 0 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE r 33.85 7.75 0 HARBOR LAWN MEMORIAL PARK F 26.82 0 0 GOLF COURSES 502 Costa Masa Golf and Country Club L 238 0 e e Mesa Verde Country Club r 136 0 0 Santa Ana Country Club r 129 0 0 PARKWAYS AND MEDIANS r NA INTERIM OPEN SPACE 301 N ¢ Vacant Land r T" 0 0 e o '+• Agricultural Land F 175 0 0 0 rOy INSTITUTIONAL OPEN SPACE 262.86 Fairvlev Rospltal r TdT'7t if o o Orange County rairgrounds r 150.00 0 0 Civic Canter r 19 .18 ~ a Mesa Verde Library r 1.36 0 O v, OTHER OPEN SPACE FEATURES /.49 Halecrost Park r 7.-3 0 0 Santa Ana River Greenbelt r E N/A o e o -Dome not include park site. W Vo 1508.85 721.75 2230.60 r OPEN SPACE` ' ""^�' (1990) PARKLAND CITY PARKLAND COUNTY PARKLAND o,trNPRIVATE PARKLAND SCHOOLS PUBLIC (OPEN) Q PUBLIC (CLOSED) l. +PRIVATE GOLF COURSES PUBLIC PRIVATE OTHER OPEN SPA =}: CEMETERIES (IIII AGRICULTURAL LAND PUBLIC FACILITIES OOSANTA ANA RIVER TRAIL DOES NOT INCLUDE VACANT LAND 68 r � COSTA MESA GENERAL PLANMUM *1 1 XIMnn t 6o In adopting the Environmental Management System in 1973, the City Council established a policy to provide 4.0 acres of permanent open space for every 1,000 residents. This minimum standard was further defined as 2.5 acres per 1,000 population of public neighborhood and community parks and 1.5 acres per 1,000 population of recrea- tion related land which is typically provided in conjunction with the public schools system. As part of this General Plan, the City Q Council established two new policies to gradually increase the ratio of permanent public open space for every 1,000 residents. W Policy 1 raises the standard to 4.5 acres per 1,000 population (3.0 2 acres of neighborhood and colmunity parkland and 1.5 acres of school yards). Policy 2 will require adjustment of the standard to reflect the actual ratio of parkland to population once the results of the 1990 Federal Census are available. This latter action is expected to result in an increase to approximately 4 acres per 1,.000 population. The amount of land allocated to meet these standards and the extent to which the standards are met are noted in the following subsec- tions. Parkland: Costa Mesa's inventory of parkland includes a variety of public and private, and developed and undeveloped parcels. Totalling approximately 618 acres, this represents the largest portion of the City's permanent open space facilities. The following table provides further detail regarding ownership arrangements and development status. TABLE 12: PARKLAND INVENTORY Acres Acres Total Developed Undeveloped Acres City Parkland 204.16 200 404.16 (Owned) (192.19) (200) (392.19) (Leased) (11.97) (0) (11.97) (Open Space Easement) (2.90) (0) (2.90) 0o County Parkland 0 210 210 I.- Private Parkland 4.49 0 4.49 2 TOTAL PARKLAND 208.65 410 618.65 It should be noted that this inventory includes approximately 210 acres owned by the County of Orange adjacent to the Santa Ana River, designated as the Fairview and Talbert Regional Park site. The private parkland identified in Table 12 is occupied by the Halecrest Tennis and Swim Club. This 4.49 acre facility, located immediately south of Killybrooke School, provides a variety of recreational facilities for its members. Approximately one-quarter of Costa Mesa's inventory or permanent open space is included in the City's community and neighborhood park system. It is this acreage which is applied to the interim standard of 3.0 acres of public parkland for 1,000 inhabitants. Presently, the City's community and neighborhood park system Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 7 of 29 V W 2 includes 404 acres, which is sufficient to meet the parkland requirement when the standard is applied to the 1988 and General Plan buildout population estimates. TABLE 13: CITY PARKLAND REQUIREMENTS Required Acreage Existing Based on 3.0 Acre Excess Park Acreage Population Standard Acreage 404 1988 — 91,891 276 128 Post 2010 — 107,350 322 82 Although the interim parkland standard is met for the City as a whole for 1988 and buildout conditions, that does not mean that all areas of the City are well served with local parkland. The east side of the City continues to be lacking in parkland. Also, introduction of residential uses into the evolving mixed—use area in northeast Costa Mesa will require new park and recreation facilities. Adjustment of the standard to reflect the actual ratio at the time of the 1990 Census will require the provision of new parkland to maintain this ratio through buildout of the community. Preliminary results indicate that the adjusted ratio may approximate 4.2 acres per 1,000 population. Table 14 applies this estimated standard to 1988 and post 2010 populations. TABLE 14: POTENTIAL PARKLAND REQUIREMENTS Required Acreage Excess Existing Based on Estimated (Deficient) Park Acreage Population Standard (4.2 acres) Acreage 404 1988 - 91,891 386 18 Post 2010 - 107,350 451 (47) The potential deficiency noted in Table 14 will demand careful planning to ensure that the current ratio is maintained through buildout of the community. Policy 3 recognizes this responsibility and directs the initiation of a comprehensive survey and study to implement the increased standard. Schools: Public and private educational facilities occupy approximately 545 acres in Costa Mesa. As noted in the following table, the majority of this land is owned by the. Newport—Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) and is developed as elementary, intermediate or high schools. The total area occupied by schools within Costa Mesa is noted below: TABLE 15: SCHOOL INVENTORY (JANUARY 1988) Newport—Mesa Unified School District 294.54 AC Coast Community College District 178.13 AC Southern California College 41.60 AC TOTAL 514.27 AC Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 8 of 29 162 Of the total area owned by the NMUSD, two acres are leased for public park purposes (Lindbergh and Harper School Parks) and 10 acres (Balearic School) are leased as a recreation center by the City. These areas are not included in the preceding inventory. As noted in a previous section, the standard of 1.5 acres of recreation land per 1,000 population is typically provided by the public school system. However, since many school facilities are not readily accessible for such use, the amount of land allocated to meet this standard is limited to the open play yards and fields of the total school area. On the average, one-third of the total area is occupied by buildings and parking lots, while the remaining two-thirds are devoted to recreational activities. Table 16 identifies the amount of recreational area required based on 1988 and General Plan buildout population estimates. TABLE 16: SCHOOL YARDS Existing Required Acreage School Yard* Based on 1.5 Acre Excess Acreage Population** Standard Acreage 201 1988 - 91,891 138 58 Post 2010 - 107,350 161 35 *Assume 66 percent of total school acreage is available for recreational use. As land within this inventory is not under direct control of the City, the City must carefully monitor this inventory to maintain adequate land to meet the adopted standard in the event of school closures or the sale of surplus school sites for private develop- ment. The remaining acreage within this category is used for higher educational facilities; Orange Coast College (a 2 -year community college) and Southern California College (a private, 4 -year college). Approximately 220 acres are occupied by these institu- tions. Cemeteries: Only one. cemetery (the Harbor Lawn Mount Olive Mortuary Cemetery) is located in Costa Mesa. • This 29—acre facility, located. south of Gisler Avenue and west of Harbor Boulevard, provides a source of visual open space. Golf Courses: Golf courses provide both visual open space and recreational benefits. Two courses are located within the existing City limits. The Costa Mesa Golf Course and Country Club (237 acres) is operated by the City and leased from the State of California while the Mesa Verde Country Club (136 acres). is a private club. Additionally, the Santa Ana Country Club (129 acres) is privately -owned and located within the City's sphere of influence. These three facilities total 502 acres. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 9 of 29 Parkways and Medians: Landscaped medians and parkways along major streets provide visual relief in the form of linear open space. Such facilities can be used to reduce the visual impact of large expanses of roadway, to direct and control traffic flow and to screen or orient views from public streets. In addition to City - maintained medians and parkways, landscaped setbacks adjacent to public rights-of-way in private developments contribute to this type of open space. Because of the location of such features within many of Costa Mesa's major transportation corridors, they are often the form of open space which provide the greatest impact on those persons travelling in and through the City. As such, the development of such facilities can significantly add to the City's overall image and appearance. Interim Open Space Interim open space contains privately -owned land which is vacant or used for agricultural production. Property in this category is designated as interim open space because of the anticipated conversion of these lands to urban development at some future date. As such, Costa Mesa's inventory.is in a constant state of flux as vacant parcels are developed and agricultural fields are converted to commercial, industrial or residential uses. Also, portions of this inventory may eventually be allocated for permanent open space use through acquisition or dedication. Agricultural Fields: A portion of Costa Mesa north of the San Diego Freeway is used for agricultural production. In 1989, approximately 222 acres of land were devoted to active agricultural use. This compares to 540 acres in October 1978 and 890 acres in 1970. Since 1970, the General Plan has anticipated ultimate conversion of the remaining agricultural land to urban development. All of these fields have been designated as Prime Agricultural land by the California Land Conservation Act of 1965. Small portions of Orange Coast College and Costa Mesa High School are used for agricultural related education programs. The area used for such purposes is included in the educational facilities totals and is not reflected in the total acreage allocated to agricultural production noted in the preceding paragraph. Vacant Land: Although Costa Mesa's inventory of vacant land is rapidly being depleted through construction activity, the remaining inventory at any point in time provides a source of open space. In 1990 the inventory of vacant land, including the agricultural acreage, was approximately 265 acres (excluding undeveloped parkland). Of this total, 90 acres were designated for ultimate commercial development, 75 acres for industrial development and 100 acres for residential development. Institutional Open Space and Trails Costa Mesa is nearly bisected in an east/west direction by a broad belt of public and semi-public uses identified as the Institutional Open Space Corridor. This corridor contains approximately 1,500 Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 10 of 29 163 acres which extend from the Santa Ana River to Upper Newport Bay. Primary elements of the corridor include the Santa Ana River Greenbelt Trail, Fairview and Talbert and Fairview Regional Park site, Estancia High School, the -Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, Fairview Developmental Center, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa High School, Davis School, TeWinkle Park, the National Guard Armory, the Orange County Fairgrounds, Civic Center Park, the Civic Center complex, Southern California College and the Santa Ana Country Club. Major uses outside of the City represent potential linkages to extend this corridor through Newport Beach and into Irvine. Key pieces of this potential greenbelt and linkages between the pieces are identified in Figures 17 and 18. Santa Ana River/Santiago Creek Greenbelt: The Santa Ana River/ Santiago Creek Greenbelt, a major regional open space corridor and trail system, forms the western boundary of the Institutional Open Space Corridor. That portion of the greenbelt system within Costa Mesa contains many of the same facilities as the Institutional Open Space Corridor (the Fairview and Talbert Regional Park site, Fairview Park site, Estancia High School, the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club and Fairview Hospital). Other facilities in the greenbelt include Vista Park, the Mesa Verde Country Club, Suburbia Park and a number of bikeways leading to the Santa Ana River Trail. This trail provides for both bicycle and equestrian use. The entire greenbelt system extends along the Santa Ana River from the Pacific Coast, through Orange County and into Riverside and San Bernardino counties as well as along Santiago Creek through central Orange County. Fairview Developmental Center: In spite of the intensely developed nature of the interior portion of the 102 -acre Fairview Developmen- tal Center, a portion of the property is undeveloped or landscaped for open space usage. Much of the interior open space is available for the Center's use. The large setbacks from all property lines incorporate an off-street bicycle trail which was developed in conjunction with the Harbor Village apartment project in the northeast portion of the site. This trail also extends along the east, north and south edges of the Costa Mesa Golf Course. The trail will eventually connect to the Santa Ana River trail with additional extensions through Fairview Park. Orange County Fair and Exposition Center: Portions of the 150 -acre Orange County Fairgrounds site are not developed with buildings and are used as overflow parking for Costa Mesa High School and Orange Coast College as well as temporary parking for the weekend. Other portions of the Fairgrounds are occupied by the Santa Ana Army Air Base Memorial Gardens, an outdoor amphitheatre and picnic area. An off-street bicycle trail has been constructed on the east and south •sides.of the site. The 1991 Master Plan for the facility will result in an enhanced edge treatment around the site. Civic Center: The 9.5 -acre Civic Center Complex is occupied by the Police Facility, City Hall, a Fire Station, and Communications Center. Approximately 1.5 acres of the complex are landscaped and devoted to open space use. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 11 of 29 1 National Guard Armory: Although this site is publicly owned, the open space benefits of the site are severely limited because of the large portion allocated to vehicle and equipment storage. Libraries: While not a part of the Institutional Open Space Corridor, the Mesa Verde Branch Library provides a source of visual open space through generous setbacks from Mesa Verde Drive and Baker Street. The Donald Dungan Branch Library is located within the Lions Park area. OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS Land in public ownership and committed to long term open space use provides many positive assets to Costa Mesa. Public parks not only serve the recreational needs of the citizens but also contribute significantly to the visual image and quality of life of the City. These same facilities can contribute to mental and physical well- being by providing aesthetic and inspirational enjoyment. Passive recreation areas or visual open spaces act as a buffer or relief from intense urban settings. To provide the maximum benefits, these facilities should be developed to offer the highest degree of visibility and accessibility. These criteria should be stressed in the evaluation and design of future park sites. The only qualifi- cation which applies to these criteria should be to the sensitive habitat and resource conservation areas in the Fairview and Talbert Regional Park site. - Permanent open space areas can have significant positive environ- mental benefits. Such areas can be used to protect wildlife habitats, provide space for air recharge, preserve historical, cultural and archaeological resources and control development in areas subject to geologic or hydrologic hazards. Certain open space uses within Costa Mesa provide such benefits. As an example, Estancia Park provides the Diego Sepulveda Adobe with the ap- propriate setting for a landmark of its importance in Costa Mesa's history. Also, the Mesa Verde Country Club and the development of the Fairview Park are compatible land uses for designated flood plains. In order to reduce the fiscal impacts of providing additional parkland to maintain the established acre per population ratio, the City requires dedication of land for future parks or the payment of fees to acquire such land from residential subdivisions under authority of the Quimby Act. While reducing initial acquisition costs for the City, such requirements can be passed on to consumers in.the form of higher housing costs. The land dedication and fee amount requirements are revised periodically to accommodate shifts in per household population sizes (as determined by census counts) and land values (as determined by periodic appraisal reports). Extension of the program to nonsubdivided residential developments will also provide additional means to ensure that the City's parkland inventory keeps pace with increased demand. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 12 of 29 165 16F) REGIONAL GREENBELT LINKAGES b C� t � V •S+ C 1f 1+q M �3 t i _ FIGURE 17 J i IL Fin Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 13 of 29 1 Ll 167 W W U1 J Q Z O C� (Allk J Q � z - W O^ iii u A dair= d ao u Y 9 gill Y FlGJRE 18 Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 14 of 29 One method to relieve the increased economic burdens of acquiring and maintaining a viable park network may be to place greater responsibility on the private market to supply needed recreational facilities in new developments. To implement this action, the City may waive the park fee or dedication requirement for new develop- ments if more than the required open space or certain recreational facilities are provided in the development to meet the needs of the prospective tenants. Private tennis, racquetball or athletic clubs may be encouraged to provide needed recreational facilities. Also, other forms of open space preservation may be employed to provide additional parkland. An open space easement, has been used to provide an approximate 3 -acre park in the Town Center and a similar sized water amenity in The Lakes mixed use project in north Costa Mesa. This has the advantage of eliminating public acquisition costs and reducing the tax burden of the underlying property owner. Other easements may be employed to preserve scenic vistas and limit development in flood areas or wildlife habitats. Alternatives such as these may be employed to provide the east side with sufficient park and recreation facilities because of the limited amount of parcels available for park land development. While the public park system provides long term, continuing benefits, the inventory of privately -owned open space provides important temporary benefits. Effective management and regulation of agricultural and vacant parcels can be used to control and guide development while also providing temporary visual relief. However, because of the surrounding urban development and relatively limited amount of agricultural land in active production, the conversion of Costa Mesa's agricultural land to urban development is expected to occur in the near future. These interim benefits must be balanced with the liabilities of open space uses. For example, agricultural production in proximity to residential developments results in conflicts associated with dust, pesticides, fertilizers, and rotting of unharvested crops. Also, agricultural fields are subject to vandalism and plant damage from nearby residents. Dust from agricultural and vacant fields is a major source of particulate air pollution. Undeveloped land can also be overgrown with weeds and grasses which, if left unattended, can present significant fire hazards. Fire hazards associated with overgrown, vacant or underdeveloped parcels can be controlled through periodic discing or plowing under of weeds and grasses. In large open areas such as the Fairview Park site, the cutting of firebreaks may be required to protect adjacent uses until the park is fully improved. The Institutional Open Space Corridor represents a valuable resource which has yet to be tapped. Although the corridor has the potential of becoming a part of a major multi-purpose greenbelt of regional significance, current development does not project a positive, unified image. This situation is the result of in- dividual development by the various agencies without the benefit of strong physical linkages, common design elements, or inter -agency cooperation. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 15 of 29 1 A primary factor which detracts from the present image of the corridor is the visual appearance of the streetscapes within the corridor. The absence of streetacape improvements along the Harbor Boulevard frontage of the' golf course and a portion of the Fairview Development Center detract from the corridor. Landscaping in the medians along Fairview Road and Harbor Boulevard, as well as on- site landscaping on the Orange Coast College campus are examples of public improvements which enhance and unify the corridor. Additional programs of this nature are needed to further unify the separate elements into a recognizable district. An important linking element to the corridor is an Identifiable "spine" or primary linkage between the individual elements. The sensitive habitat concerns regarding Upper Newport Say preclude a major roadway linkage through the corridor. However, the pos- sibility of bicycle trail or pedestrian linkages remains and excellent opportunity. Major educational facilities and recreational opportunities within the greenbelt create a high demand for bicycle -related facilities. These demands will be met by an extensive bicycle trail network. As can be seen on Figure 18, a number of these trails are already in existence. Implementation of the regional greenbelt system will require a coordinated effort on behalf of a number of governmental agencies. This coordination is needed to ensure conformity and to resolve existing potential conflicts. ACTION PROGRAM Preservation of existing open space resources require a comprehen- sive and coordinated approach. For this reason, Section 65564 of the Government Code requires the inclusion of an action program in all open space plans. Implementation of the open space plan is largely guided by the goals, objectives and policies contained in the General Plan. These broad policy statements provide direction for the development of more detailed action programs. Rey programs include: 1. General Plan Land Use =lament In addition to providing overall policy direction, the Land Use Element of the General Plan preserves existing open space resources by designating such uses for Public and Semi -Public Use. This broad land use category is further refined by site-specific designations reflecting the actual use of the property (i.e., park, institutional or resource conservation).. 2. Loniny Ordinance Further regulation of open space resources is provided by the zoning ordinance. All lands designated for Public and Semi -Public Use by the Land Use Element are zoned I i R (Institutional and Recreational) or I i R -S (Institutional and Recreational - Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 16 of 29 169. Schools). The use of the I & R zones also seek to implement Section 65910 of the Government Code which requires cities to establish open space zoning districts. The zoning ordinance also contributes to the overall open space inventory by requiring minimum open space standards in all residential zoning districts and minimum landscape standards in nonresidential districts. 3. Park_ Dedication and In—Lieu Park and Recreation Fee Ordinance As authorized by the Quimby Act, the City has adopted and imple— ments an ordinance to require the dedication of land for park sites or the payment of fees in lieu of dedication to acquire or rehabilitate park sites in conjunction with new residential subdivisions. The initial ordinance and -fee program were adopted in the early 1970's and have been amended and updated periodically. During the 1990 update of the General Plan, the City Council directed staff to explore the expansion of this program to include nonsubdivided residential developments. d. Capital Improvement Program The most direct action program may be the City's Capital Improve— ment Program. Adopted as a part of the City budget, the Capital Improvement Program plans and allocates funds to acquire, develop and rehabilitate parks within the community. 5. Master Pian of Parks and Recreation In early 1991, the City Council directed staff to update the Master Plan of Parks and Recreation. The primary purpose of this update is to develop a detailed and comprehensive plan to address the long 2 term park and recreational needs of the community. L The plan will serve as the basis for more specific, long range action programs to implement the open space plan. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 17 of 29 6. Intergovernmental Cooperation The large amount of publicly owned land in Costa Mesa requires close coordination to ensure that existing land used for open space or recreational purposes are maintained. Cooperation is also required to -ensure that future improvements to public lands are compatible with adjacent private uses. Examples of the need for W I-. this cooperation are the current plans for the improvement of the o� Fairview and .Talbert Regional Park by the County of Orange; the (4 Master Plan for the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center by the 2 Fair Board; the possible school closures or sale of surplus land by the Newport—Mesa School District and Coast Community College District; and the continued use and development of the Fairview Development Center. Intergovernmental coordination is also necessary to realize the benefits of the regional Institutional Open Space Corridor. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 17 of 29 GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES The goals, objectives, and policies of the Costa Mesa General Plan that address open space are as follows: GOAL 1: EW.7IR0NMEONTAL 0UALITY AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION It is the goal of the City of Costa Mesa to provide its citizens with a high quality environment through the development and conservation of resources, including land, water, minerals, wildlife, and vegetation; the protection of areas of unique natural beauty and historical, social, cultural, and scientific interest; the integration of natural features into the man—made environment; and the preservation of open space. Objective I—A: Preserve the City's open space lands and provide additional community and neighborhood parkland in conjunction with future population increases to provide adequate recreational opportunities and relief from the pressures of urban development. 1. Until the results of the 1990 Federal census are avail— able, provide a minimum of 4.5 acres of permanent public open space (consisting of 3 acres of neighborhood and community parks and 1.5 acres in school yards) for every 1000 residents. 2. Conduct a comprehensive parkland study after the results of the 1990 Federal census are available in order to adjust the ratio of neighborhood and community park acreage to the total population to reflect the census. ~ Unless State law is modified, the amount of neighborhood and community parks shall not be reduced below three acres 2 f and shall not exceed five acres per 1000 residents. 3. Conduct a comprehensive parkland study to identify future park sites in the City and acquisition mechanisms to meet the needs of future population increases. The acquisition mechanisms can include lease or cooperative agreements with other public agencies regarding surplus land, dedication or easements in conjunction with planned commercial, industrial or mixed use development, ac— quisition of land by fee, development of City—owned surplus property as parkland, or other mechanisms. 4. Provide maximum visibility and accessibility for future public parks by locating such facilities adjacent to existing or planned public streets. 5. Encourage the acquisition of land for neighborhood or community parks for active recreational use. 6. To the extent legally possible, require other local, regional, State, or Federal agencies to maintain and adequate inventory of open space lands within Costa Mesa. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 18 of 29 1'- 2 7. Review alternative means to acquire open space lands to W reduce the fiscal impact of providing such facilities. 2 S. Encourage, through development rights transfers or other incentives, the development of private permanent open space, and recreation facilities to meet the needs of the City's residents. 9. Encourage, through open space easements, development rights transfers or acquisition, zoning regulations, or other incentives, the long-term maintenance of existing open space lands. 10. Require, through development standards and planned development review criteria, the integration of open space uses (plazas, courtyards, landscaped areas, etc.) into major commercial and industrial development or redevelop- ment projects. 11. Continue to require, through development standards, the integration of open space and recreational uses and facilities into all multiple -family residential projects. 12. Review the possibility of incorporating an Arts in Public Places program in City parks. 13. Strongly encourage improved maintenance of City and school district facilities used for recreation and organized sports activities. Strongly support recreation programs that benefit the youth of the community. 14. Retain all existing open space in Lions Park. 152. Strongly encourage protection and preservation of existing but underutilized school sites for future recreational, social or educational uses. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 19 of 29 1 [1 REFERENCES 1. General Plan (City of Costa Mesa), 1981 2. Draft Fairview and Talbert Regional Park Master Plan, County of Orange, 1991 3. Final Environmental Impact Report for the Draft Updated Master Plan for the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center, 32nd District Agricultural Association, 1991 4. Persons and Organizations Consulted: David Alkema, Park Superintendent, City of Costa Mesa Newport -Mesa Unified School District Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 20 of 29 173 117 4 INSERT A: In adopting the Environmental Management System in 1973, the City Council established a policy to provide 4.0 acres of permanent open space for every 1,000 residents. This minimum standard was further defined as 2.5 acres per 1,000 population of public neighborhood and community parks and 1.5 acres per 1,000 of recreation related land which is typically provided in conjunction with the public schools system. As a part of this the 1990 General Plan, the City Council established two new policies to gradually increase the ratio of permanent public open space for every 1,000 residents. Policy 1 raisesd the standard to 4.5 acres per 1,000 population (3.0 acres of neighborhood and community parkland and 1.5 acres of schools yards). Policy 2 will required adjustment of the standard to reflect the actual ratio of parkland to population once the results of the 1990 Federal Census are were available. This latter action is empeeted to results in an increase to 4.26 acres of neighborhood and community parks per 1,000 population. INSERT B: Parkland: Costa Mesa's inventory of parkland includes a variety of public and private, and developed and undeveloped parcels. Totalling approximately 618 631 acres, this represents the largest portion of the City's permanent open space facilities. The following table provides further detail regarding ownership arrangements and development status. TABLE 12: PARKLAND INVENTORY Acres Acres Total Developed Undeveloped Acres City Parkland 294.44 210.74 200 404-16 410.74 (Owned) -(192. 19).201.67 (200) (392.18) 401.67 (Leased) (11.97) (0) (11.97) County Parkland 0 210 210 Private Parkland 4.4910.68 0 4.49 10.68 TOTAL PARKLAND 2�5 221.42 410 618.65 631.42 It should be noted that this inventory includes approximately 210 acres owned by the County of Orange adjacent to the Santa Ana River, designated as the Fairview and Talbert Regional Park site. The private parkland identified in Table 12 is occupied by the Halecrest Tennis and Swim Club and two open space easements in northeast Costa Mesa. Thi -se Halecrest Club is a 4.49 acre facility, located immediately south of Killybrooke School, which Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 21 of 29 1 provides a variety of recreational facilities for its members. The public open space easements account for the remaining 6.19 acres and are located in the Town Center (2.9 acres north of the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel) and The Lakes mixed use project (3.29 acres at the corner of Avenue of the Arts and Anton Boulevard). The easement within The Lakes project was used to fulfill the park dedication requirements of the residential portion of the project. Approximately one-quarter of Costa Mesa's inventory or permanent open space is included in the City's community and neighborhood park system. It is this acreage which is applied to the interi standard of 3,-9 4.26 acres of public parkland for 1,000 inhabitants. Presently, eystc- _ ~ eludes 494 aeres , whieh is-suffe rem -to -Meet the r c_ ... ent when the—standard-mss applied te the , 98a and General_ Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 22 of 29 17 05 "TI 176 The parkland dedication standard is established to maintain the ratio of parkland to population through the life of the 1990 General Plan. As it is based upon the actual average which existed at the time of the 1990 Federal Census, annual increases in population will require comparable increases in open space facilities. As Costa Mesa is nearly built -out, this will be a major challenge as the remaining vacant or underutilized land is developed for residential purposes. Based upon an expected build- out population of 107,350, the required inventory of neighborhood and community parks would be 457.31 acres, an increase of 47.57 acres over the current inventory. Recognizing the challenges to meet future open space needs, the City Council retained a consultant to prepare a comprehensive parks and recreation needs assessment and implementation strategy in 1991. The resultant study (the Parks, Recreation and Opens Space Master Plan Study) recommended a change in the City's policy toward the acquisition of new public park lands. Rather than focus on the actual acquisition of land for new park sites, the master plan study recommended a focus on the joint use of existing public school facilities to meet new recreation needs, especially in the area of active recreation and sports facilities. The master plan study only recommended the addition of two new parks sites. One would be a small pocket park (approximately 1/2 acre) on current city -owned land at the southeast corner of Charle Street and Hamilton Street. The second would be an approximately 5 -acre park to be developed in conjunction with the build -out of the Sakioka Farms residential site in northeast Costa Mesa. In order to fulfill the park dedication standard, the master plan study relies on the use of excess school play areas as active recreation sites or tot lots to partially satisfy the 4.26 acre per 1,000 population goal. If all recommendations of the master plan are implemented, a total of 467.49 acres of public park and recreation land could be provided. Table 13 identifies the components which comprise this total. TABLE 13: FUTURE PARKLAND INVENTORY Facility Acreage Existing Public Parks 410.74 Charle St. Pocket Park 0.50 Sakioka Farms Park Site 5.00 School Joint Use Sites 47.05 Orange Coast Collette Joint Use 4.20 Total Acreage 467.49 The school joint use sites are recommended for two primary uses recommended for joint use and the acreage at each site are listed Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 23 of 29 r in Table 14. TABLE 14: SCHOOL JOINT USE FACILITIES School Site Acreage Active Recreation: Costa Mesa High School Estancia High/Parsons California/TeWinkle School Davis School Mesa Verde School Kaiser School Tot Lots/Informal Field Games: Killybrooke School Wilson School Pomona School Whittier School Total Acreage 19.60 7.00 5.60 1.40 1.05 5.60 1.00 1.00 2.40 2.40 47.05 The above recommendations could result in an approximate 10 -acre excess inventory of parkland when compared to the demand generated by the 4.26 acre per 1,000 population standard. However, the master plan study recommendations have the built-in cushion in case some of the recommended ioint use facilities grove to be infeasible or are not implemented. INSERT C: Schools: Public and private educational facilities occupy approximately 545 acres in Costa Mesa. As noted in the following table, the majority of this land is owned by the Newport -Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) and is developed as elementary, intermediate or high schools. The total area occupied by schools within Costa Mesa is noted below: TABLE 15: SCHOOL INVENTORY (MAY 1994) Newport -Mesa Unified School District 294.54 AC Coast Community College District 178.13 AC Southern California College 41.60 AC TOTAL 514.27 AC Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 24 of 29 1'7'7 1'78 Of the total area owned by the NMUSD, two acres are leased for public park purposes (Lindbergh and Harper School Parks) and 10 acres (Balearic School) are leased as a recreation center by the City. Also, the school district has declared the Bear Street Elementary School site as surplus land and has indicated its intention to dispose of the site to make it available for private development. These areas are not included in the preceding inventory. As noted in a previous section, the standard of 1.5 acres of recreation land per 1,000 population is typically provided by the public school system. However, since many school facilities are not readily accessible for such use, the amount of land allocated to meet this standard is limited to the open play yards and fields of the total school area. On the average, one-third of the total area is occupied by buildings and parking lots, while the remaining two-thirds are devoted to recreational activities. Table 16 identifies the amount of recreational area required based on 1988 1994 and General Plan buildout population estimates. TABLE 16: SCHOOL YARDS Existing Required Acreage School Yard* Based on 1.5 Acre Excess Acreage Population Standard Acreage 201 1988 910891 i3s an 1994 - 102,360 154 47 Post 2010 - 107,350 161 *Assume 66 percent of total school acreage recreational use. 35 is available for As noted in the preceding discussion of public park and recreation facilities, the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Study has recommended that the City utilize portions of school district property for active recreation facilities to meet the projected demand for parkland through build -out of this plan. The ultimate amount of school yards available to meet the 1.5 -acre per 1,000 population standard will be adjusted based upon the number of Joint use agreements executed between the City and the School District. If all recommended joint use sites are successfully negotiated, the amount of school yards area would be decreased to 154 acres, seven fewer than required based upon the 1.5 acre per 1,000 population standard. Again, this number is subject to change based on the ability of the city and the district to successfully negotiate -Joint use agreements for all of the recommended locations. However, the combined inventory of available open space will meet the total required open space standard of 5.76 acres per 1,000 population (621.44 available vs. 618.54 required). As land within this inventory is not under direct control of the City, the City must carefully monitor this inventory to maintain Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 25 of 29 1 adequate land to meet the adopted standard in the event of school closures or the sale of surplus school sites for private develop- ment. The remaining acreage within this category is used for higher educational facilities; Orange Coast College (a 2 -year community college) and Southern California College (a private, 4 -year college). Approximately 220 acres are occupied by these institu- tions. INSERT DS 5. master Plan fParks d Reareation Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Study In early 1991, the City Council directed staff to update the Master Plan of Parks and Recreation. The primary purpose of this update is was to develop a detailed and comprehensive plan to address the long term park and recreational needs of the community. The draft Parks. Recreation and Open Space Master Pian Studv was -completed in late 1993 and accepted by the City Council in 1994. The plan will serve as the basis fer mere I implement the open spaec plan. As noted earlier, the master plan study provides a new strategy to meet the majority of the community's lona range open space and recreation needs through Joint use of existing public school facilities. This strategy from the master plan study and the policies contained within this subelement of the General Plan will this plan. INSERT E 6. Intergovernmental Cooperation The large amount of publicly owned land in Costa Mesa requires close coordination to ensure that existing land used for open space or recreational purposes are maintained. Cooperation is also required to ensure that future improvements to public lands are compatible with adjacent private uses. Examples of the need for this cooperation are the current plans for the improvement of the Fairview and Talbert Regional Park by the County of Orange; the Master Plan for the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center by the Fair Board; the possible school closures or sale of surplus land by the Newport -Mesa School District and Coast Community College District; and the continued use and development of the Fairview Development Center. Intergovernmental coordination is also necessary to realize the benefits of the regional Institutional Open Space Corridor and the joint use facility recommendations contained in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 26 of 29 1'79 4 184 Study. INSERT F Objective I -A: Preserve the City's open space lands and provide additional community and neighborhood parkland in conjunction with future population increases to provide adequate recreational opportunities and relief from the pressures of urban development. 1. Litt -1 the results of the 1990 Federal eensus are avail- able, -gProvide a minimum of 4-r-5 5.76 acres of permanent public open space (consisting of 3 4.26 acres of neighborhood and community parks and 1.5 acres in school yards) for every 1000 residents. 3. -----a-i-ex---er—easements in eenjuaetiear-panned eem er��,industrial errmed use develep ent, ae- Reserved. 7. Review alternative means to acquire open space lands to reduce the fiscal impact of providing such facilities. The acquisition mechanisms can include lease or cooperative agreements with other public agencies regarding surplus land, dedication or easements in conjunction with Manned commercial, industrial or mixed use development, acquisition of land by fee, development of Citv-owned surplus property as parkland,or other mechanisms. Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 27 of 29 1 1 I� INSERT G REFERENCES 1. General Plan (City of Costa Mesa), 1981 2, Draft Fairview and Talbert Regional Park Master Plan, County of Orange, 1991 3. Final Environmental Impact Report for the Draft Updated Master Plan for the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center, 32nd District Agricultural Association, 1991 4. Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Study (City of Costa Mesa), 1993 45. Persons and Organizations Consulted: David Alkema, Park Superintendent, City of Costa Mesa Charles Carr, Recreation Superintendent, City of Costa Mesa Newport -Mesa Unified School District Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 28 of 29 181 HIM LAND USE ELEMENT AMENDMENT AMEND FIGURE 69 AS SHOWN BELOW: .................... HAMLTON STREET co 44 R. m O 0 MEDIUM DENSITY RESVENTIAL 100 HIGH DENSITY RESVENTIAL 200 PUBLIC USE - PARK m 0 GENERAL COMMERCIAL z 0 400 Exhibit "A" Resolution No. 94-70 Page 29 of 29 I I I