City Council
March 12, 2024
PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE
(PROS) MASTER PLAN
1 PROS PLAN VISION
Re-imagine the Belmont PROS system to create the City’s Backyard that fosters inclusive, experiential, and nurturing public spaces by setting the framework for decision makers in planning, maintenance, development, and/or rehabilitation, implementable over a 15 year horizon.
AGENDA
2 MEETING PURPOSE
1. Possible resolution to approve PROS Plan and CEQA Addendum
MEETING TOPICS
○ Document organization + framework
○ Strategies + recommendations
○ Recap revisions to date
○ EIR Addendum
○ Next steps
ON THE WEB
Project website: home page button to documents + FAQ tab www.belmontprosplan.com
City website: home page banner and spotlight on P&R page www.belmont.gov
www.belmont.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation
SOCIAL MEDIA
P&R: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Citywide: Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
OUTREACH UPDATE
3 EMAIL
Citywide eNews: Jan 12, Jan 19, + Feb 2
P&R eNews: Feb 5
Direct email: Jan 19
ANNOUNCEMENTS
P&R Commission: Jan 10 (agenda item: introduction) +
Feb 7 (agenda item: recommendation to Council)
City Council: Jan 23 (verbal announcement from Mayor Mates)
INTRODUCTION
4 PROS PLAN PURPOSE
Study the existing parks, recreation, and open space system ○ Identify gaps
○ Develop strategies
○ Present recommendations
○ Assess opportunities
○ Establish a framework for prioritization
that can be periodically revisited as resources become available + circumstances evolve 5 DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION
6 PROS FRAMEWORK
Community Themes Big Ideas Goals
WHERE WE
WANT TO BE
Strategies Recommendations
System-Wide Park-Specific Opportunities Open Space
HOW WE GET
THERE Prioritization
Purpose + Vision Guiding Principles WHERE WE
ARE
Needs Assessment
7 OSMP FRAMEWORK
PROS Goal 7: Develop and implement an Open Space Management Plan (OSMP)
WHERE WE
WANT TO BE
Environmental Assessment Recreation Use Assessment
WHERE WE
ARE +
Objectives Policies
Environmental
Sustainability
HOW WE GET
THERE Prioritization
Balanced
Recreation Use
Natural Hazard
Mitigation
ENVISIONING CITY-WIDE PARK ACCESS
8 An Interconnected Park System
○ Identify areas with low access
○ Ensure amenities are well distributed
○ Investigate new opportunities
○ Align with ongoing ped + bike efforts
Park Typologies
STRATEGIES
9 STRATEGIES: BROAD INITIATIVES THAT WILL…
○ Accomplish the PROS goals
○ Benefit the PROS system as a whole
○ Provide guidance for future decisions
○ Align with existing planning efforts
SYSTEM-WIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
10 Inclusive +
All-Abilities Play
Activation Plan
Pop-up Park
Installations
Usage Study
Social Gathering
Space
Interconnect Toolkit
PARK-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS
11 EXAMPLE: IMPLEMENT MASTER PLAN
TWIN PINES PARK
EXAMPLE: MINOR IMPROVEMENTS
WAKEFIELD PARK
EXAMPLE: UPGRADED OR NEW AMENITY
O’DONNELL PARK
15 Environmental Sustainability Balanced Recreation Use Natural Hazard Mitigation OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN:
A SET OF OBJECTIVES, POLICIES, AND PRIORITIES BASED ON… ○ Environmental Assessment: trails, stream crossings, habitat, vegetation ○ Recreational Use Assessment: impact of recreation on sensitive resources ○ Site visits + data collected in the field
○ Relevant databases + peer-reviewed literature
○ Community input
○ Regional best practices, guidelines + regulations
OSMP PURPOSE
16 OSMP FINDINGS
Easy
These actions can be performed
immediately under existing City
programs, funding, or with minimal
additional effort.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Overall habitat quality is high
2. Existing nature-based recreational use can continue on trails
3. Continue wildfire fuel reduction efforts
PRIORITIES
TIER 1
○ Improve stream crossings (H)
○ Seasonal/weather-dependent
restrictions on maintenance (E)
○ Fuels reduction plan (M)
○ Monitor recreation use (H)
TIER 2
○ Nature-based recreation
programs (M)
○ Volunteer restoration programs (E)
○ Trail calming features (H)
Medium
These actions require additional
planning, equipment, staffing, funding –
either internal or external, or other
operational changes.
Hard
These actions may require substantial
planning, interagency coordination,
staffing, funding, or other operational
changes.
17 FURTHER STUDIES
NEXT STEPS
○ Utilize the methodology presented in the OSMP for ongoing observation + monitoring ○ Develop an annual Fuel Reduction Plan
○ Conduct engineering studies for future stream crossing projects ○ Adopt trail design guidelines
(specific to Belmont OR adopt an existing set from the State or other reputable source) 18 IMPLEMENTATION
PRIORITIZATION: BASED ON THE ABILITY OF A RECOMMENDATION TO… ○ Further the PROS goals
○ Respond to community priorities
○ Resolve an existing deficiency
○ Address an existing condition
FUNDING + PARTNERSHIPS: OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE ON… ○ Capital improvements
○ Maintenance + operations
ACTION PLAN: IMPORTANT TARGETS IN THREE TIME FRAMES…
○ Short term > Long term > Ongoing
19 RECENT REVISIONS
THE PROS PLAN WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ON JULY 6, 2022 TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS…
1. Consolidate the OSMP’s Base Plan and Management Alternatives objectives, policies, and implementation actions into a single plan.
2. Clearly present priority recommendations in the OSMP by theme - environmental sustainability, balanced recreation uses and trail management, and natural hazard mitigation.
3. Pursue the creation of dedicated parkland in downtown Belmont and the Belmont Village Specific Plan area in response to potential residential density increase in the area due to anticipated housing unit development as outlined in the 2023-2031 Housing Element update.
4. Apply consistent terminology to remove ambiguity.
5. Refine specific graphics for clarity.
2024 COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
20 REVISION SUMMARY
FORMATTING
1. Color-coding graphics, tables, headers
2. Reorganizing sections
3. Presenting information visually
CONTENT
1. Defining terminology
2. Streamlining text for clarity and flow
3. Elaborating on new concepts
4. Reflects latest meetings + available info
NOT CHANGED: THE PRIMARY TAKEAWAYS OF THE DOCUMENT…
○ Inventory + Needs Assessment
○ Opportunities + Recommendations
○ Prioritization Matrix + Action Plan
21 CEQA UPDATE
CEQA PATHWAY
○ The PROS Plan was reviewed according to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
○ Policies and actions in the PROS Plan (including OSMP) were largely already addressed in the General Plan EIR
○ To retain consistency and reduce redundancy, an addendum to the 2017 EIR was prepared
○ The addendum and the 2017 EIR are programmatic – they address potential impacts that may result from the implementation of policies and actions
22 CEQA UPDATE
Addendum
PROS Plan
23 CEQA UPDATE
EIR ADDENDUM
○ The addendum analyzed the potential impacts from the PROS Plan as they relate to the impacts discussed in the 2017 EIR
FINDINGS
○ Limited new impacts were less than significant
○ No new significant impacts that had not already been discussed - no additional review is needed ○ All mitigation measures will apply
NEXT STEPS
24 1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PROS PLAN AND CEQA
ADDENDUM
2. AS SPECIFIC PROJECTS EMERGE, INITIATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
3. PERIODICALLY REVISIT THE PROS PLAN AS RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE + PRIORITIES CHANGE
25 www.BelmontPROSplan.com [email protected]