Oroville Area Urban Greening Plan Joint Meeting of the Oroville Planning, Park, and Arts Commissions October 12, 2015
Project Team Lead Agency Butte County Department of Development Services Claudia Stuart, AICP, Principal Planner Partners City of Oroville Don Rust, Community Development Director Luis Topete, Associate Planner Feather River Recreation and Park District Apryl Ramage, Executive Director Ann Wilmann, Former Executive Director Consultant Placeworks
Funding was provided by the Strategic Growth Council through the Urban Greening Grant program, funded by Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006. Special thanks to the community members who took time to participate in outreach events and provide feedback about the future of urban greening in their community.
Plan Context Plan Developed 2012 to 2015: Periods of flooding Historic drought July 2015: Local state of emergency for drought declared Greening improvements not always colored green! Bike paths Pervious paving Sidewalks Update plantings to low-water, drought-tolerant species
Key Points Guides and coordinates green community improvement projects Identifies voluntary greening opportunities no requirements! Based on community priorities Will help City, County, FRRPD, other local agencies and community organizations to apply for greening project funding
What is Urban Greening?
Planning Process: Outreach Green Team Meetings Multiple agencies and community organizations Stakeholder Interviews Additional community organizations, agencies Community Workshops First Community-wide Workshop June 29, 2013 Southside Workshop October 26, 2013 Second Community-wide Workshop Nov. 18, 2013 Open House: August 13, 2015 Other Outreach: Sunrise Rotary, Lake Oroville Area Garden Club, Park Commission, City Council, others
Planning Process: Phases Identified Issues and Opportunities Green Team meeting and site tour Stakeholder interviews Meetings with local organizations Community workshops with site tours Downtown Southside Regional: Schools, parks, regional connections Outcome: Preliminary list of over 100 greening opportunity sites
Planning Process: Phases Evaluated Greening Opportunities Ranked and prioritized using several criteria
Planning Process: Phases Prepared Draft Urban Greening Plan: Developed document including greening examples, conceptual designs, sketches, and simulations; urban forestry management plan; low-water plant palette; programmatic recommendations; phasing and implementation plan
Plan Contents Part I: Introduction Part II: Greening Opportunities Bicycle and Pedestrian Systems Urban Forestry Parks and Open Space Stormwater Management Clean and Green Vacant Lots and Alleys Part III: Implementation Design Concepts Planting Design Phasing and Implementation Appendices Opportunities Matrix Plant Palette Tree Planting and Care Recommendations
Opportunity Sites
Priority Greening Opportunities PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE SYSTEMS Recreational Trails Connect Brad Freeman Trail under Green Bridge Connect Nelson Park to Forebay Connect Brad Freeman Trail to Oro Dam Other Pedestrian and Bike Opportunities Improve Myers Street through Southside Improve Oro Dam between SR 70 and Washington Ave.* Safe Routes to School Connect sidewalks in portions of Southside Improve streets around Las Plumas High School Safely link Thermalito schools with residential areas east of SR 70 Create a Safe Route under power line between Southside and Las Plumas High
Recreational Trails Connect Gap in Brad Freeman Trail under Green Bridge
Recreational Trails Connect Nelson Park to Thermalito Forebay Aquatic Park/Aquatic Center
Recreational Trails Connect Brad Freeman Trail to Oro Dam/SR 162
Safe Routes to Schools Fill in Sidewalk Gaps along Fallbrook, Burlington, Columbia, and Wyandotte Avenues
Safe Routes to School Safely Link Thermalito Schools with Residential Areas East of Highway 70
Safe Routes to School Create a Safe Route to School below the Power Lines between Southside and Las Plumas High School
Other Pedestrian and Bicycle Opportunities Improve Oro Dam Boulevard between SR 70 and Washington Avenue*
Other Pedestrian and Bicycle Opportunities Improve Myers Street through the Southside Neighborhood
Priority Greening Opportunities PLANTING CONNECTIONS AND SITES Add street trees, plantings along Myers Street south of Oro Dam Beautify the river and levee in downtown STORMWATER MANAGEMENT Address stormwater along Oro Bangor and Ithaca Street Manage drainage at Myers/Wyandotte intersection Shade El Medio Fire Department event site CLEAN AND GREEN VACANT LOTS AND ALLEYS PARKS AND OPEN SPACE Plan new trees, update irrigation at Nelson ballfields Clean and green Southside vacant lots Clean and green Southside alleys Build a community garden in or near Thermalito
Planting Connections and Sites Beautify the river and levee downtown
Stormwater Management Address Oro-Bangor Highway and Ithaca Street Flooding
Stormwater Management Improve Stormwater Infrastructure at the Myers Street and Wyandotte Avenue Intersection
Clean and Green Southside Vacant Lots and Alleys
Urban Forestry: Goals Increase citywide canopy coverage from 4% to 21% Enhance forest structure Higher proportion of native, low-water trees Diverse species composition Diverse age distribution Increase Urban Forest Benefits Per Tree Stormwater Management Air Pollution Reduction Beautification Neighborhood Walkability
Implementation and Funding Phasing Concept Funding Resources and Partnerships
Next Steps November 12, 2015: Butte County Planning Commission December 8, 2015: Butte County Board of Supervisors December 15, 2015: Oroville City Council Implementation in 2016 and beyond
Thank you! Claudia Stuart, AICP Principal Planner Butte County Department of Development Services cstuart@buttecounty.net (530) 538-7604 www.butteorogreen.net