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RIVERSIDE
PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING DATE: October 17, 2002
ZONING CASE OZ-002-023: Proposal of the City of Riverside Park and Recreation Department for a plot plan review of the master plan for Sycamore Highlands Neighborhood Park on approximately eleven vacant acres, situated on the northwest corner of Fair Isle Drive and Abernathy Drive, in the O - Official Zone.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
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The City of Riverside Parks and Recreation Department has prepared a master plan for the development of an approximately 11 acre community park in the Sycamore Highlands community, place- located in the block generally bounded by Lockerton Place on the north, Fair Isle Drive on the east and Perthshire Plan and Abernathy Drive on the south. Planned facilities include covered picnic areas, benches, walkways, play grounds, a water feature, basketball and softball areas, open turf areas and seating areas. The park is planned to be built in two phases, with phase 1 anticipated to begin in late 2003.
BACKGROUND
The project site was originally planned as a 17 acre school site when the Lusk Highlander specific plan was adopted in the mid 1980's. An amendment to the Specific Plan, SP-001-967, adopted in October 1997, eliminated the school site and converted part of it to residential use and the remainder to the park site being reviewed here.
The Park and Recreation Department has met with the community and developed the proposed park plan based on neighborhood comments.
At its September 5,2002 the Planning Commission approved Cases SP-003-023, RZ-008-023, PD- 003-023 to facilitate a multi-family apartment development on eight vacant acres situated at the southwest corner of Fair Isle Drive and Sycamore Canyon Boulevard. The developer of that site has agreed to make a financial contribution towards the construction of this park. The Park and Recreation Commission approved this park design at its October 7,2002 meeting.
ANALYSIS
In reviewing this project, staff has the following comments:
• General Plan/Specific Plan/Zoning Considerations
As noted previously, a neighborhood park has been planned for this site since an amendment to the Sycamore Highlands Specific was adopted in 1997.
City Planning Commission October 17, 2002 1 OZ-002-023
The property is zoned O - Official and all development here is subject to the O Zone Plot Plan review process.
• Location and Access
The planned park site has public street frontage on the north, east and south sides, with pedestrian access provided off of Lockerton Place on the north and Abernathy Drive on the south.
• Site Design
The park is planned in two phases, with the first phase including construction of the features located east of the Children's Butterfly Garden, with the second phase completing the plan.
The overall site design and arrangement of park uses proposed on the site is reasonable and logical. Picnic sites, gazebos, informal turfed play areas and formal recreation areas (tot lots, childrens' play ground, basketball half courts and a ballfield backstop) are proposed throughout the site. The spacing of the different uses is wide enough to reduce conflicts between different site users, while allowing clear lines of site between each area to ensure security. Walking paths connect each of activity areas.
All of the activity areas maintain at least sixty feet of separation from the property lines, exceeding the twenty foot setback generally required for institutional uses, such as public parks.
No new fencing is proposed around the site. The west property line is currently fenced with a six foot high tubular steel fence, surrounding the Sycamore Canyon Park. An opening in the fence will be provided for access between the neighborhood and wilderness parks.
No restrooms will be provided on-site, per the request of the neighborhood. o Parking
No off-street parking lot will be provided for this park. In meetings with the Park and Recreation Department during the planning ofthe park site, the community indicated that it was opposed to a parking lot on the site. Limited parking will be provided on-street adjacent to the park. As this is a neighborhood park, intended to serve the surrounding residences and not the greater community, the parking demand for the site is much reduced as users will be expected to walk or bike to the site. The on-street parking on the adjacent streets is anticipated to accommodate the planned users of the site. • Building Design
Two, 12-foot-high. single-story picnic buildings are proposed, to be used as covered picnic and seating areas. Two trellises are proposed in the children's butterfly garden, intended to provide shade. Elevations of the plans will be subject to Design Review staff approval.
City Planning Commission October 1 7,2002 2 OZ-002-023