Resolution No. 4510 - Laserfiche WebLink

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and Terry Street. Given the passage of the Bethel School bond measure earlier this year, the District is interested in moving forward with acquisition and development of the site as rapidly as possible with a target date for opening a Kindergarten through 8th grade school on the site in Fall 1998. One of the benefits of the Barger site is that the site can be designed to jointly meet the need for both a school and community park. Consistency with Past Council Actions The Parks and Open Space Acquisition Study, reviewed by the City Council in February 1996, recognized the area west of Terry Street, between Royal and Barger Avenues as the location of a future community park. The site originally targeted by Parks Planning staff for a community park was located on Royal Avenue, to the southeast of the proposed school/park. The Royal Avenue site ranked fourth among other proposed community parks sites citywide based on the analysis staff provided to Council. Re-ranking the community park sites based on the site now proposed for the school and park would move this site up to a number two ranking. The criteria for ranking park sites was adopted by the Council in March 1995. The new school/park ranks particularly high with respect to the following criteria. · Threat of land being lost to development -- The prospect of a school locating in this area has already triggered a number of property sales and much interest among developers. Land values in this area have increased significantly since staff first identified the school site and values are expected to continue to increase as the school and other city services become available. Once those services are available, vacant land in this area is expected to disappear and the opportunity for reserving land for a community park may be lost or at least would come at a significantly higher price. · Develop shared facilities with schools -- This site will be designed on the basis of sharing facilities and minimizing duplication. Parking lots, athletic fields and gymnasiums in particular are being sized and designed to maximize use. By developing the site for joint use, rather than having the District and City acquire separate sites, the overall acreage needed is reduced considerably. · Availability of non-general fund revenue financing -- The site acquisition costs will be shared with the school district. The City's portion will be funded primarily by Parks SDC. · Recreational value especially for targeted youth in the 5 to 12 year old age group -- Preliminary plans for the site indicate that a high recreational value is likely given the proposed ultimate development of the site with 5 ballfields, 5 soccer fields, a track and field facility, tennis and basketball courts, a community center, two playgrounds, a skateboard bowl, picnic areas and a dog off-leash area. Only minimal development of the park would occur in the short-term, the primary objective at this time is to reserve the site for a park and open space while vacant land is available in this area. Development of the site with park facilities would occur over time as resources become available. · Physical and Visual Access -- The ability to plan this site prior to the development of the surrounding properties with residential neighborhoods provides an opportunity to influence the future street patterns in this area in a way that maximizes access to the school and park site. Status Report/Council Action Site Acquisition -- The appraisal for the properties was completed in October 1996. Based on the