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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-19; Parks & Recreation Commission; 198-4; I-5 Corridor LandscapePARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION -AGENDA BILL AB# 198-4 TITLE : 1-5 CORRIDOR LANDSCAPE I INFO MTG. DATE: 1-19-98 I , DEPT. PUBLIC WORKS I I OACTlON DIV. ENG. STAFF: JANTZ RECOMMENDED ACTION: Provide appropriate comments regarding the Master Plan document for further review by staff and the 1-5 corridor committee prior to final review by the City Council. ITEM EXPLANATION: Please refer to the attached memo from the Associate Engineer, Steven Jantz regarding the 1-5 Corridor Landscape Manual Plan. Staff and the Master Plan consultant will provide a presentation regarding this issue. Per Council direction, staff is requesting several Commissions review the Master Plan and provide appropriate input and/or suggestions on the landscape and art elements proposed in the document. Those comments will be considered as part of the final preparation and presentation to the Council with regards to completion of the Master Plan document. EXHIBIT: 1. Memo to Parks and Recreation Commission - Jan. 6, 1998 2. 1-5 Corridor Master Plan - Sept. 1997 (Commission Packets Only) January; 6,1998 TO: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FROM: Associate Engineer Steven Jantz 1-5 CORRlDOR LANDSCAPE MASTER PLAN On the agenda for your meeting scheduled for January 19, 1998 is an item requesting input on the City's 1-5 Corridor Landscape Master Plan document. Enclosed is a copy of the latest draft version for your consideration. The item scheduled for Monday, January 19th is not an action item but a request for questions and comments from the commissioners. The City Council authorized staff to solicit comments through the Arts Commission, Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and from the public. Staff will be presenting this plan before the three commissions during regularly scheduled January and February Commission meetings. Staff will also provide a copy of this document and display the rendering boards at the libraries for public review and requesting additional input. Staff and the 1-5 Committee will then screen the comments and provide recommended revisions to the Council for their consideration and direction for the completion of the final version. Staff and the consultant (KTU+A) will provide a brief presentation on the highlights of this program at Monday's meeting. BACKGROUND: In 1996, City staff was authorized to prepare a landscaping concept plan for the Interstate 5 corridor throughout the Carlsbad city limits, a distance of approximately 6.5 miles. This direction began as a result of an effort to landscape the recently completed improvements to the Palomar Airport Road interchange. During the review of that project, staff realized the need to establish a corridor theme along the 1-5 route because of near term improvements to both the Poinsettia Lane and La Costa Avenue interchanges. Staff recommended that a landscape treatment program be established along the entire 1-5 corridor in order to succinctly tie each interchange and the stretch of freeway in-between in a cohesive, theme based approach. The theme would be designed in such a way as to emphasize the coastal nature and historical aspects of the City. To assist in the development of the Landscape Master Plan, the Council appointed an ad-hoc committee, entitled the 1-5 Corridor Landscape Advisory Committee, to assist in the development of the theme based approach. The Committee consists of one Council member, two Planning Commissioners, two Arts Commissioners, two members of the business community and two citizens at large. This Committee was formally appointed by resolution at the May 14, 1996 Council meeting. EXHIBIT 1 The first task of the Committee was the selection of a consulting firm, including an artist, for the development of the Master Plan document. After the review of proposals from interested firms including an oral interview process, the firm of Kawasaki, Theilacker, Ueno and Associates (KTU+A) was chosen. Based on the comments received from the Committee, in addition with public input from four community workshops, the consultant team developed several alternative conceptual approaches for the 1-5 corridor. The lagoons were identified as key features unique to Carlsbad, with locations at the northern and southern ends, and one near the middle. The overall proposed art and landscape theme for the corridor uses the lagoons to link Carlsbad’s history with its future by using contemporary and historical art icons and images to accent a corridor landscape concept. Landscape plantings that simulate the aquatic plants of the lagoons are proposed to be used to carry the natural theme through the corridor. The Master Plan also proposes a phasing plan emphasizing landscape improvements first with art structures to follow as funding becomes available. The 1-5 Advisory Committee determined that landscape improvement should have the highest priority for funding since much of the southern portion of the corridor is currently lacking adequate landscape planting. Additionally, the northern portion of the corridor is in need of landscape maintenance and clean up only. The proposed art and landscape improvements identified in the Master Plan for the entire corridor is estimated at $3.6 million. There is currently no funding available for the implementation of any identified enhancement project. However, with the adoption of the final document, the City would be in a position to require identified enhancement projects as mitigation for anticipated projects along the freeway. One such anticipated project would be the construction of HOV lanes adjacent to the median of the freeway. The removal of the Oleander bushes for the HOV lanes could require mitigation and the 1-5 Landscape Master Plan would be the vehicle for the identification of appropriate landscape projects.