5.13 RECREATION / OPEN SPACE

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Christina Brown
5 years ago
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1 5.13 RECREATION / OPEN SPACE The project includes the development of two 5+ acre public parks, four pocket parks and various trails. This complies with the Board of Supervisors established minimum standard ratio of 4.7 acres of park land per 1,000 people. Currently, the public utilizes an extensive unofficial trail system that extends throughout the project area. All trails and parks within the Rice Ranch Specific Plan will be dedicated to the County for public use and will provide multi-use recreational opportunities, thereby complying to County guidelines Setting a. Regional Setting. The following values were obtained from the OCP FEIR and verified by Claude Garciacelay of the Santa Barbara County Parks Department. The Orcutt area currently has a total of acres of dedicated public recreation space. Approximately 95% of this acreage is located within Waller Park, which is also utilized by residents of the City of Santa Maria. Public neighborhood parks total approximately 7 acres, with an additional 9 acres in County-maintained open space. There are 16 private neighborhood parks totaling acres, which are disproportionately distributed throughout Orcutt s newer neighborhoods. Based on the standard of 4.7 acre per 1,000 population, Orcutt (population 36,600) has an existing deficit of 11.8 acres of active recreational parks. This is the overall deficit of minimum acreage needed for recreation in the community, but does not reflect deficiencies in facilities for specific activities. Dedicated public hiking/equestrian and off-road bike-path trails are currently unavailable in the Orcutt area. However, an extensive network of unofficial trails accommodates hikers, bikers and equestrians. This unofficial trail system is especially extensive in the southern part of the Orcutt community, along many parts of Orcutt Creek with trails leading to the Solomon Hills. For information regarding proposed public and private recreation improvements within the Orcutt area, refer to the OCP EIR, Section 5.16 Parks and Recreation / Trails. b. Project Site Setting. Rice Ranch contains 4.8 miles of interconnecting multiple use trails that provide access to the nearby foothills and connect to neighboring trails. Segments of this trail system extend across Key Site 12, linking Orcutt Creek to the north with the Solomon Hills to the south. These trails currently receive light to moderate use by the public. Because of the lack of officially adopted public trails and the distance to National Forest areas, these trails provide for a substantial recreational outlet for the Orcutt community. In addition, there are no public parks on or adjacent to the project site. c. Regulatory Setting. The community of Orcutt is within the jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara County. Recreational activities in the County are guided by the Comprehensive Plan Recreation Element. The County s trail policy states that all trails developed by and/or dedicated to the County shall be multi-use. County Park Department trail standards specify a trail tread width of 4-6 feet within a foot easement. The appropriate specifications at a specific location would be based on the local setting and terrain

2 For information regarding the County Parks Department fee structure, refer to the OCP FEIR, Section 5.16 Parks and Recreation / Trails Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Threshold. The County does not have specific thresholds regarding impacts involving recreational facilities. However, the Board of Supervisors has established a minimum standard ratio of 4.7 acres of parks per 1,000 people to meet the needs of a community (Santa Barbara County Comprehensive Plan, 1992). County policy state that public trails be multi-use, such that they allow both pedestrians and bicycles, and, if applicable, equestrians. Parks/Recreation Policy 4 of the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan states that opportunities for hiking and equestrian trails should be preserved, improved and expanded wherever compatible with surrounding land uses. The development of private trails should be planned such that they do not preclude planned public trails in the same area. Consequently, a significant impact would occur if: Planned public trails are not designated for multi-purpose uses; or Planned private trails conflict with access to public trails. b. Previously Identified Impacts and Mitigation Measures. The original OCP FEIR identified five Parks, Trails, Recreation and Open Space impacts (REC-1 through REC-4). The Key Site 12 analysis identified two site-specific impacts (KS12-REC-1 through KS12-REC-2). These are summarized below (Table ), with applicable mitigation measures noted. If the impacts or mitigation would be modified as a result of the proposed project, these changes will be addressed below. It should be noted that not all mitigation measures identified in the OCP FEIR are relevant for Key Site 12. These measures were omitted from table Table Summary of Recreation Impacts Identified in OCP Final EIR OCP FEIR Impact Impact Summary 1995 OCP FEIR Analysis: REC-1 Intensification of Use in Existing Recreational Facilities. Increased population associated with buildout of community plan could result in significant and unavoidable impacts, leading to unavailability of facilities to existing and future residents. REC-2 Increased Demand for Recreational Facilities. Increased population associated with the community plan would worsen existing facility deficit and cause a substantial increase in demands for parks, trails, bike paths and recreational facilities resulting potentially significant impacts. Impact Type OCP FEIR Mitigation Summary All measures pertain to the County; none applicable to the applicant REC-11. County Parks Dept. shall review trail easement requirements, location and design on a case-by-case basis and for obtaining appropriate permits and environmental review prior to trail construction. Trails shall be sited to avoid significant environmental constraints and minimize conflicts. Impact Modified by Proposed Project? REC-3 Loss of Open Space/Established Public Use of Trails. Buildout of the community plan would substantially reduce the amount of Class I Other measures pertain to County actions, and do not apply to the applicant REC-6. Dedication of appropriate areas in fee or as easements for public open space, and to dedicate trail easements

3 Table Summary of Recreation Impacts Identified in OCP Final EIR REC-4 Key Site 12 Analysis: KS12-REC-1 KS12-REC-2 undeveloped open space and the existing extensive trail network, resulting in potentially significant impacts through the loss of established hiking, biking trails and passive recreational areas. Increased Demand for Neighborhood Parks. Buildout would reduce undeveloped open space in the urban area while increasing population in areas with no established or proposed neighborhood parks, resulting in a potentially significant impacts. Loss of Established Public Use of Trail/Open Space. Project would reduce the amount of undeveloped open space and would fragment the existing trail network, resulting in potentially significant impacts. Increased Demand for Local/Neighborhood Parks. Development would create potentially significant impacts to recreation by introducing additional residents into an area that currently has no public parks or recreation areas. REC-11. See above Measures pertain to County actions, not applicable to the project applicant. KS12-REC-1. Specific Plan/Development Plan shall incorporate hiking trails that will connect with the proposed trails for southeast Orcutt KS12-REC-2. Specific Plan/Development Plan shall include provision for dedication, funding and construction of a 5-acre public park next to the proposed elementary school, a 5+ acre park to serve the 8 unit/acre neighborhoods and one additional 1+ acre park to serve each other neighborhood. Yes; see analysis below Yes; see analysis below OCP Impacts REC-1 through REC-4 are general Recreation and Open Space impacts that would result from cumulative development under the OCP. They are not specific to the proposed project site, and most mitigation measures associated with them pertain to County efforts to implement recreation or trail-oriented plans. The applicant would be subject to the requirements of such plans. OCP Impacts KS12-REC-1 and KS12-REC-2 will be modified by the proposed project and are further discussed below. Impact KS12-REC-1: Loss of Established Public Use of Trail/Open Space. The OCP states that construction of additional units and a roadway network would reduce the amount of open space and would fragment the informal existing trail network. As proposed, the project would result in a, significant but mitigable impact. The proposed project has addressed the above impact by designing future trails on-site to connect with the informal existing trail network as shown on The Multiple Use Trail Plan (Figure 15 of the Rice Ranch Specific Plan). The Rice Ranch Specific Plan designates two types of multiple use trails, an 8-foot wide trail and a 5-foot wide natural trail. All the trails within the Rice Ranch Specific Plan will be dedicated to the county and will provide multi-use recreational opportunities. In addition, this impact is incrementally lower than the OCP FEIR analysis due to the reduction in proposed development from 900 to 793 units. However, impacts are considered potentially significant, until such time that sufficient public open space and trails are dedicated under the mechanisms included in the proposed specific plan. For detailed information regarding the description and design of proposed trails, refer to the Rice Ranch Specific Plan

4 Mitigation Measures. The following mitigation measures are required: SEIR Mitigation REC-1. (replaces OCP FEIR measure REC-6): The areas shown on the master tentative tract map as open space shall remain in natural, undeveloped open space per project plans. development except hiking trails, parks, and roads, and utilities shall be permitted within this area. The applicant's offer of dedication of these lots to the County as public open space shall identify maintenance responsibility and funding source, which shall be an Orcutt Community Facilities District if formed, or a project s homeowners association. restriction of public access to the trails and parks mentioned above shall be allowed. Plan Requirements and Timing: Prior to map clearance for map recordation and land use clearance for the development plan, 1) the applicant shall submit easements affected lots and dedicate as public open space, 2) submittals shall be reviewed and approved by Planning and Development (P&D) and County Counsel, 3) submittals shall be docketed with the Board of Supervisors and 4) the funding mechanism shall be established. Map clearance for final map recordation and land use clearance for the development plan shall not be issued until the easement is recorded on the property title and the mechanism to provide for long-term maintenance is provided. Fence and signs shall be installed prior to occupancy clearance. Monitoring: Provisions of the easement and encroachment prevention plans shall be monitored annually through site inspections and photo documentation by P&D staff. SEIR Mitigation REC-2. (replaces OCP FEIR measures REC-11, REC-6, KS12-REC- 1): The applicant shall dedicate a trail easement to the County in perpetuity for public trails, as identified on approved Development Plan and Tentative Map, and shall develop the trail system including landscaping, fencing, and signage to standards and specifications of the Orcutt Community Plan (Orcutt Multiple Use Trails Plan and Trail siting and Design Guidelines) and County Parks Department. The developer shall be responsible for the construction and maintenance of the trail system for two years from approval and acceptance by the County Park Department, at which time maintenance responsibility would be assumed by the entity identified in SEIR Mitigation REC-1 above. Plan Requirements: Prior to map clearance for final map recordation and land use clearance for the final development plan: 1) The applicant shall submit trail system plans, including specific alignment and landscaping, fencing, and signage, and maintenance funding/responsibility, for review and approved by Planning and Development (P&D) and Parks Department; (2) The trail easement shall be submitted for P&D, County Counsel, and County Parks review and approval; (3). A performance security for trail installation and maintenance shall be submitted by the applicant to P&D for review and approval. Timing: The trail system shall be constructed as part of the overall master tract. Monitoring: Park Department staff shall site inspect to verify trail installation per requirements, and annually to monitor trail maintenance

5 Residual Impacts. With proposed mitigation, impacts associated with the loss of established public use of trail/open space would be reduced to less than significant. Impact KS12-REC-2: Increased Demand for Local/Neighborhood Parks. Development of the site at proposed densities would increase the number of residents into an area that currently has no public parks or recreation areas. However, the project includes recreational facilities that would partially reduce impacts, which are considered, significant but mitigable. The proposed project will accommodate approximately 2,554 people (793 du times 3.22 people per unit, a rate consistent with the Orcutt Public Infrastructure Financing Program). In order to comply with the County standard of 4.7 acres per thousand people, 12.0 acres of park land would be needed. The Rice Ranch Specific Plan has partially addressed the requirements set forth in the community plan in that it includes two 5+ acre public neighborhood parks and four 1-acre pocket parks. The two 5+ acre parks are to be dedicated and developed, and according to P&D, are not to be used in calculating the project s offset of park demand. The four 1-acre parks may be used for this purpose. Consequently, the project is considered to satisfy 4 acres of its 12.0-acre demand, leaving an unmet need of an additional 8.0 acres. A significant impact would occur. The two 5+ acre parks will be located adjacent to the proposed elementary school site and within the central open space area between the Pine Creek, Oaks, and Springs neighborhoods. These parks will be offered to the County for dedication in fee pursuant to an escrow agreement between the property owner and County and secured as part of adoption of the OCP. Either 5-acre park could accommodate a soccer field, which typically requires about 1.5 to 2.0 acres in a rectangular pattern. Either park site has sufficient space for this configuration (typically 400 feet by 200 feet). Potential secondary impacts to biological habitat are discussed in Section 5.2, Biological Resources. Mitigation Measures. The following mitigation measure is required: SEIR Mitigation REC-3. The project must provide an additional 8.0 acres of park area within the project site, or offsite park facilities in lieu of this requirement to meet the project s park demand. Park facilities provided by the applicant shall be installed in areas considered for housing under the applicant s proposed plan. Plan Requirements and Timing: Prior to map clearance for map recordation and land use clearance for the development plan, the applicant shall submit a revised plan that shows an additional 8.0-acre park, or pay appropriate in lieu fees as determined by P&D. Monitoring: P&D staff shall monitor compliance. Residual Impacts. Impacts would be reduced to less than significant with proposed mitigation

6 c. Cumulative Impacts. Cumulative buildout of the Orcutt area would increase demands on Recreation and Open Space through the addition of residents and the removal or modification of existing open space. Cumulative impacts shall be addressed by the County pursuing new funding sources. In addition, the OCP FEIR included several mitigation measures for the County to implement recreational planning mechanisms, including open space overlays, an open space plan, an open space maintenance district, and a multiple-use trail plan. Adherence to these plans by all project applicants within the County would reduce potentially significant impacts. d. Neighborhood-Specific Impacts. Recreation impacts would be largely the result of cumulative development, and would not be specific to any one neighborhood. An overall shortage of parkland would be mitigated by the need to provide additional acreage within the general site, or to pay an in-lieu fee to offset the parkland shortage. Therefore, a discussion of neighborhood-specific impacts would not apply to this issue

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