HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C: Bethel Community Park/YMCA Project Update
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Work Session: Bethel Community Park/YMCA Project Update
Meeting Date: July 31, 2013 Agenda Item Number: C
Department: Public Works Staff Contacts: Neil Bjӧrklund
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Numbers: 541-682-4909
ISSUE STATEMENT
This work session will provide an update on revisions to the Bethel Community Park Master Plan
completed in 2012 that enable a new YMCA community center facility to be constructed in the
park. No action is being requested of the council at this time.
BACKGROUND
The Eugene Family YMCA approached the City of Eugene Parks and Open Space (POS) Division
and the Recreation Division in 2009 with a proposal to expand their services in the Bethel area by
building and operating a new facility in Bethel Community Park. Because this area did not have a
community center or recreation services to meet the growing needs of the area, and the City did
not have sufficient resources to offer comparable services to that area in the foreseeable future,
the Parks and Open Space and Recreation divisions felt the proposal merited consideration. As a
result, POS agreed to conduct a park planning process to evaluate the proposal and involve the
community in reviewing options for amending the master plan for the park. POS held a series of
four public meetings and four web-based surveys to gather public feedback from more than 650
community members.
The original Master Plan for Bethel Community Park included a future community center of
approximately 10,000 square feet. While this is an average size for City-run community centers
that typically serve specific user groups (seniors, children, families, etc.), a full-service community
center like a YMCA would require closer to 65,000 square feet and a significant additional number
of parking spaces to accommodate all users. The larger building size and additional parking
necessitated revisions to the master plan for the park.
Based on extensive community input, a revised master plan was approved by the Parks and Open
Space Division in January of 2012, which provides a site adequate for the YMCA facility on the
west side of the park, next to Legacy Street (see diagram, Attachment A). Additional information
regarding the master plan revisions and the public involvement process is available on the project
website at www.eugene-or.gov/bethelpark.
Future development in Bethel Community Park must also comply with a Conditional Use Permit
(CUP) currently on file with the City Planning and Development Department. Including a
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relocated, larger community center in the park will require either a modification of the existing
CUP approval or a new CUP approval. Parks and Open Space staff will work with the Eugene
Family YMCA and their contractors to update the existing CUP consistent with changes in the
updated park master plan. Prior to embarking on the land use approval process, and assuming the
substantial costs associated with that process, the Y has asked the City to enter into a long-term
agreement to lease the identified site to be used for the Y facility. The lease will be the topic of a
future council work session.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Project and Priority Plan, adopted by the council in May
2006, lists the following as a Priority 5 project: “Provide major community center on west side of
Beltline to serve Bethel.” Priority 5 projects were defined as “projects that realize the
community’s long range vision for parks, open space, recreation programs and services, but are
not anticipated to be completed within the next 20 years.”
The Council’s goal of “Effective, Accountable Municipal Government” and the related outcome of
“Public engagement that involves the community broadly” apply to this project. The Parks and
Open Space Division led an extensive public process involving hundreds of community members
in making the decision to allow a larger community center in Bethel Park.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
No action is required at this time.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
No recommendation.
SUGGESTED MOTION
No motion is required.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Revised Master Plan Diagram
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Neil Bjӧrklund, Parks and Open Space Planning Manager
Telephone: 541-682-4909
Staff E-Mail: neil.h.bjorklund@ci.eugene.or.us
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Attachment ‘A’
Revised Bethel Community Park Master Plan 2012
North
Scale
Community Center Related Improvements
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