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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-06-17 City Commission Packet Materials - A5. Resolution 4811, Adoption of the Westlake Park Master Plan Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Carolyn Poissant – Manager of Trails, Open Space, and Parks Design and Development Mitch Overton – Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Resolution 4811 – Adoption of Westlake Park Master Plan MEETING DATE: November 6, 2017 AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action RECOMMENDATION: Approve Resolution 4811 adopting the Westlake Park Master Plan as presented by staff, in accordance with the 2007 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan and the Bozeman Municipal Code Section 26.02.220. RECOMMENDED MOTION: In consideration of all public comment and information presented to date, I hereby move to approve Resolution 4811 adopting the Westlake Park Master Plan in accordance with the 2007 Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan and the Bozeman Municipal Code Section 26.02.220 . BACKGROUND: In association with the recent Midtown Urban Renewal District planning efforts, redevelopment proposals may soon be presented that would require parkland mitigation. This in turn would offer an opportunity to provide cash-in-lieu contributions as well as “improvements-in-lieu” to existing parks in the district. In order to facilitate this, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Economic Development Office partnered to share the cost of hiring a design consultant to prepare a park master plan for Westlake Park. The master plan was developed with input from the public and existing user groups, including the Gallatin Valley BMX Club and the Southwest Montana Chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association. Three publicly-noticed meetings were held and a survey was posted on the city’s Online City Hall website. The survey results indicated strong support for making improvements to the park. The design components of the master plan concept include: • Angled, back-in parking off North Fifth Avenue • Restroom / concession and storage building • Play Area and connecting pathways • Picnic and seasonal shade structures • Fencing around tracks and community garden • Open lawn areas with small plaza and landscape improvements 407 During their regular meeting held on April 13, 2017 the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board unanimously passed a motion recommending approval of the Westlake Park Master Plan as a basis for future funding strategies in cooperation with the Midtown Urban Renewal District. An order-of-magnitude cost estimate for the basic elements of the plan is $700,000. UNRESOLVED ISSUES: Future development of the park will require site plan review and approval through the Development Review Committee process. Allocation of cash in lieu of parkland dedication funds will require Commission approval. ALTERNATIVES: Per Commission. FISCAL EFFECTS: Approval of the master plan has no immediate fiscal effects. ATTACHMENTS: Resolution 4811 Exhibit A - Westlake Park Master Plan Exhibit B – Westlake Master Plan Narrative Report compiled on: October 27, 2017 408 COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 4811 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA, ADOPTING THE MASTER PLAN FOR WESTLAKE PARK WHEREAS, the Bozeman Municipal Code Section 26.02.220 states, “the Commission shall authorize any conceptual changes, new development, or redevelopment aspects of changes in all city parks proposed by the staff;” and WHEREAS, Section 1.8.2 of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) Plan delineates a process for preparing and amending park master plans; and WHEREAS, the PROST Plan states, “the Parks Division will prepare a resolution formally adopting the new or amended park master plan and schedule the item for City Commission’s Consent Agenda;” and WHEREAS, the process for preparing the Master Plan for Westlake Park included a public input process and was reviewed by the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board as called for in the PROST Plan; and WHEREAS, the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board unanimously recommended approval of the Westlake Master Plan at their regular meeting of April 13, 2017. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana: 409 Section 1 Authority. The Westlake Park Master Plan (“Exhibit A”) is hereby adopted, in accordance with Section 1.8.2 of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) Plan and Section 26.02.220 of the Bozeman Municipal Code. PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman, Montana, at a regular session thereof held on the 6th day of November, 2017. ___________________________________ CARSON TAYLOR Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________________ ROBIN CROUGH City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________________ GREG SULLIVAN City Attorney 410 MARCH 2017 Westlake BMX Park Conceptual Master Plan Bozeman, Montana CONCEPT MASTER PLAN ELEMENTS BMX track area Small playground Restroom building Dirt Concern Free Style area Community Garden Children’s Memorial Garden Additional tree plantings Stormwater detention Paths and sidewalks Street trees Parking for +/- 30 cars 24’x24’ picnic shelter, shade structures Relationships between uses Connection to Aspen Street Relationship to adjacent land uses Concept grading NORTH 20 10 0 SCALE: 1"=20' 20 40 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 411 1 WESTLAKE PARK MASTER PLAN NARRATIVE INTRODUCTION Westlake Park was created in 1973 as part of the Westlake’s Fourth Subdivision to the City of Bozeman. The 5.9-acre park is located on the southwest corner of North Fifth Avenue and West Tamarack Street and is within the Midtown Urban Renewal District. The District Plan, adopted in November 2015, identified the park as an opportunity to further enhance public activity centers within the Midtown Area. In response, the Midtown Urban Renewal Board partnered with the City of Bozeman Parks Department to share the cost of the developing the master plan. There are multiple user groups engaged in activities in the park, with the largest being the Gallatin Valley BMX (GVBMX). For over 30 years, Gallatin Valley BMX has been building and improving the BMX course. The club maintains a BMX course that is sanctioned by the International BMX Association for green, blue and black courses. They have a user agreement with the Parks Department, which includes an annual fee paid to the City of Bozeman for use of the park. Other uses and user groups within the park include the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association (SWMMBA), who helped build and maintain the mountain bike skills area, a community garden site managed by the Recreation Division, and the Children’s Memorial Garden, originally installed by volunteers. In addition to these uses, the City of Bozeman Parks and Recreation Department had identified a need for the following elements: - Parking for approximately 30 vehicles - Restroom and concession / storage building - Accessible playground - Picnic tables and pavilion PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT The development of the master plan included a preliminary meeting with users of the park in December 2016, followed by a series of three public meetings. An online survey was also posted. The GVBMX group identified the following planned or wished-for improvements to the BMX venue: - A four-foot high chain link fence to keep spectators and dogs off the course during events for safety and to close the course in muddy conditions - Flag poles - two or three in prominent locations - A removable shade structure at the start of the course - Additional viewing areas on the north edge of the BMX course - A multi-purpose building, with restrooms, two window counters (one for registry and one for concessions), and a storage room with a double door or roll up entry six feet wide for storage of event and park maintenance equipment and supplies - Area for shade tents for weekend events - Area for food trucks to park for weekend events 412 2 Discussions regarding the mountain bike course focused on future plans and opportunities for the site. The potential to move the SWMMBA venue/course to the east of its present location to fit alongside and between the BMX Course and the Children’s Memorial Garden was discussed with the group. This would leave a triangular space in the northwest quadrant of the park, which could become an informal play/viewing/activity space. The group was open to the idea of relocating the mountain bike course and creating a new course, to be built by SWMMBA. Two public meetings were held to review a draft of the master plan. The first meeting was held January 31, 2017 with approximately 20 people attending. The second meeting was held March 29, 2017 with mainly the board members. In addition to the public meetings, an online survey was posted on the City of Bozeman website. Approximately 70 people completed the survey and provided comments on the plan. Based on comments received at the public meetings and online, the master plan was revised to reflect a consensus of ideas for the future of the park. PLAN ELEMENTS The goal of the master planning process was to improve the park for the existing users while adding amenities for nearby residents and future visitors to Midtown. The master plan enhances the existing uses and provides improved connectivity within and to surrounding neighborhoods. The relocation of the mountain bike course creates an opportunity for a small plaza to be created adjacent to North Fifth Avenue, across from the intersection of Aspen Street. Working toward the urban renewal goal to create an active public space within the Midtown District, the plaza will act as a physical connection between the commercial and recreational areas of the District. With the goal of added parking for park users, several options were explored. To maximize park space, an on-site parking lot was dismissed in favor of providing additional on-street parking adjacent to the park. The existing parallel parking area along North Fifth Avenue is shown on the master plan to be converted into back-in, angled parking. In order to accommodate the extra width needed for these spaces, a narrow portion of the park will be used for these spaces, as well as the relocated sidewalk. The back-in angled parking provides several advantages to park users: beyond just adding additional parking spaces, back-in angled parking provides a safe place for families to unload gear and improves safety by eliminating the need to back out into oncoming traffic. Approximately 20 additional spaces would be provided, while minimizing the amount of park area affected. The open lawn area in the northwest corner of the site will provide a flexible space for use as a small market, festival, or performance venue. Concerns from neighbors about excessive noise would need to be respected, however. The Parks Department will monitor the use of loudspeakers and amplifiers to ensure neighboring properties are not unduly affected. Additional tree plantings will provide shade and enhance buffering of noisy activities. The proposed multi-use building will contain restrooms, concession space and maintenance / storage areas. A concrete path from North Fifth Avenue will provide barrier-free and service access to the building. Space or spectator viewing and event staging is provided in several locations of the park, as requested by the user groups. A small playground is proposed to be located near the restroom /concession building, which will serve area residents and those visiting the park. 413 3 The remaining uses of the park, the community garden space and the Children’s Memorial Garden will remain in their current locations. Access to these areas will be improved with additional path connections. A service access is proposed on the northeast portion of the property to provide maintenance access for the Parks Department as well as for working on the bike tracks and courses. PHASING The park improvements shown on the master plan will likely be completed in phases, depending upon available funding. Improvements to the BMX course will be completed by GVBMX in accordance with their fundraising abilities and requirements to maintain course certification. Relocation of the mountain bike course will need to occur in order for improvements in the north half of the park to be completed. Much of this work can be completed by SWMMBA volunteers. Improvements to the frontage along North Fifth Avenue, including the parking, relocated sidewalk and entry plaza would be the first priority in creating a safe and welcoming access into the park. The Restroom / concession building and the playground would be likely a second phase to the park development. Improvements to the community garden and Children’s Memorial Garden will be facilitated by the Parks Department and completed with volunteers. The picnic pavilion could be installed at any point, but is a lower priority for the user groups at this time. 414