Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDI 92-01; Open Space & Conservancy Resource; Discussion Item (DI) (4)April 22,1992 Tom Erwin, Chainnan Carlsbad Planning Commission 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, CA 92009 I am pleased to forward the attached "Open Space and Conservation Resource Management Plan" for your review and consideration. On June 19, 1990, the City Council appointed a 9-member Open Space Advisory Committee, and charged it with completing certain unfinished tasks that had been recommended by the earlier 15-member Open Space Citizen's Committee'. To that end, the Committee has completed their work on the enclosed Resource Management Plan. If our Committee's recommendations are followed, the Open Space and Conservation Resource Management Plan will be the primary implementation program for the Open Space and Conservation Element of the City's General Plan, and will fill the gaps in the City's current open space program. The enclosed Plan therefore sets forth goals and guiding policies for the acquisition, protection, financing, maintenance and liability for open space and trails. However, in order to formulate these goals and policies, it was necessary to assemble and sort through an extensive base of open space data, hold numerous public meetings and workshops, and then translate the information gathered into equitable open space priorities which would be most beneficial for the community as a whole. As a result, the enclosed Plan also includes maps and detailed inventories of existing and approved open space, open space represented by constrained lands, and a host of other baseline material. One of the Committee's key objectives was to produce a Plan that was realistic and capable of being implemented. Toward this end, the enclosed Resource Management Plan recommends priorities for future open space acquisitions, and sets out specific implementation strategies for achieving these priorities at a citywide level, as well as on a Local Facilities Management Zone basis. With the submittal of the enclosed Open Space and Conservation Resource Management Plan, it is the opinion of our Committee that the charge given it by the City Council has been fulfilled. 2075 Las Palmas Drive - Carlsbad, California 92009-1 576 - (61 9) 438-1 161 h TOM ERWIN, CHAIRMAN CARLSBAD PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 22,1992 PAGE TWO However, during the course of our deliberations, several related issues arose which were neither a part of our original charge, nor of our consultants' scope of work or contract. Nevertheless, the Committee feels that these new issues should be addressed, and recommends that Staff and the Committee be directed to pursue the following unresolved issues: 1. Coordination of the Habitat Mananement - Plan with the ODen Space and Conservation Resource Mananement Plan and ODen SDace and Conservation Element. The Committee recognizes that the parallel efforts of the City's Habitat Management Plan (HMP) Advisory Group will require revisions to the Open Space and Conservation Element, and revisions to the enclosed Open Space and Conservation Resource Management Plan. We therefore recommend that coordination of these related open space planning efforts be continued. 2. 3. Consideration of Equestrian Use of a Dortion of the Carlsbad Trail Svstem. The matter of equestrian use within the Trail System arose as a planning issue from a segment of the public very late in the trail planning process. Consideration had been given to such use much earlier in our work, but was excluded from the Trail System due to potential conflicts and a lack of interest from the public at that time. As the trail study was almost complete when the issue was brought before us again, and because more consultant work would have been required to fully address it, including additional time and money, it was recommended that this issue be deferred and addressed at a later date. Incomoration of the Resource Management Plan into the ODen - SDace and Conservation Element of the General Plan. As the Open Space and Conservation Resource Management Plan is intended to be the primary implementation program for the Open Space and Conservation Element, it is recommended that Staff and the Committee work jointly to integrate and incorporate the Plan into the Open Space and Conservation Element. This work would also involve a further updating of the Goals, Objectives, and Policy and Action Programs of the Open Space Element to insure that they parallel the intentions and priorities expressed in the enclosed Resource Management Plan, and to insure that the updated Open Space and Conservation Element is consistent with other Elements of the General Plan, such as the Parks and Recreation Element. As you know, the current Open Space Advisory Committee was established by the Council to exist for three years. It is our recommendation that the above additional tasks be undertaken by the existing Committee in the 1 + years remaining. Toward the end of that period, further recommendations will be forthcoming from the Committee as to its ongoing existence, the possible need for and creation of an Open Space Commission, or some other arrangement. I I TOM ERWIN, CHAIRMAN CARLSBAD PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 22,1992 PAGE THREE It is my personal opinion at this time that open space in Carlsbad deserves and needs an ongoing advocate and forum for addressing issues related specifically to open space and trails. I feel that the existing Committee structure provides such a forum, and would recommend that it, or some similar body, be continued into the foreseeable future. Over the past two years, I have had the unique pleasure of working closely with the Advisory Committee members, the City's excellent staff, and our very professional consultant team in preparing the attached Plan. My special thanks and appreciation go to Courtney Heineman and Kim Welshons, who spent endless volunteer hours as members of our key sub-committee, Terri Woods of the City's Planning staff who provided us with consistent help and support of the highest caliber, and Mr. Paul Rookwood of WRT who, in heading up the consultant team, was able to offer us not only professional expertise but also a keen sense of perspective and balance throughout our work together. Sincerely, Chairman, Open Space Advisory Committee Enclosure