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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-11-15; Parks & Recreation Commission; 1199-6; Letter to Christina BrazierPARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL AB# 1199-6 RECOMMENDED ACTION : STAFF: STEYAERT LETTER TO CHRISTINA BRAZIER MTG. DATE: 1 1/15/99 TITLE : INFO 0 ACTION Accept and file. ITEM EXPLANATION : Staff has responded to a letter on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding a citizen’s concern about “over-building,” loss of open space and future plans for park development. Please refer to attached. EXHIBITS: 1. Letter to Christina Brazier - (October 19, 1999) from Park Development Coordinator. 2. Letter to Christina Brazier - (October 14, 1999) from Principal Planner. 22 October 19; I999 DEVELOPING TOMORROW‘S LEADERS Christina Brazier 2905 Via Pepita Carlsbad, CA. 92009-9238 Dear Christina, BUILDING COMMUNITY PRIDE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE rc I have been asked to respond to your letter to the Parks and Recreation Commission concerning “over-building’’ of Carlsbad, loss of open space and your interest in learning about future plans for parks. You hit on a very hot topic right now! You, as many residents, are concerned with all the new development going on right now. I understand that the Planning Department has also responded to your letter (Don Rideout, 10/14/99). They addressed the issues of development and the loss of open space, and the City’s plans to provide open space and wilderness areas throughout the City. Therefore, I will restrict my discussion to the City’s plans for parks, current and future. As stated in the Planning Department’s letter, the City has a “General Plan”, that was approved many years ago with the input of the citizens of Carlsbad. The General Plan is considered to be the “blueprint” for how the City will look, now and in the future. The General Plan has several sections, called “Elements”, that address different aspects of the City, including Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Public Safety, Parks and Recreation, and other topics. The Parks and Recreation Element, includes a “Park Master Plan” for the entire City, outlining all existing and future parks. I have provided a copy of the Parks and Recreation Element for your review. The Park Master Plan is based on providing 3 acres per thousand people in the City. When developers build projects here, we require them to either dedicate land for new parks, or if the City prefers, collect money, which we then use to buy park land. This is how we can afford to provide the beautiful parks in Carlsbad. However, per State Law (the “Quimby Act”), we are only allowed to require developers to dedicate, or pay fees, based 23 EXHIBIT I 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad CA 92008- 1989 (760) 434-2€! pg. 2; Christina Brazier - on the 3 acres per thousand population figure. This is OK though, because 3 acres per thousand people will allow us to provide an extensive park system servicing all residents of Carlsbad, and at the same time, not be so much land that we can’t provide quality maintenance of the parks and recreation employees to operate the parks. You live in La Costa Valley, which is in the South East Quadrant of the City (the Park Master Plan divides the City into four quadrants). In the attached information, you will note that the.S.E. Quadrant has several existing parks, including Stagecoach Park, which is.one of the City’s most popular facilities. You also have some very exciting future parks planned in your Quadrant. Carrillo Ranch will be the City’s premier historical park. It will be 27 acres and will include museums, trails and open space among a lovely setting of an early California adobe hacienda. It is scheduled to be open in early 2002. Alga Norte Park is planned to be 33 acres and will have the City’s second public swimming pool. The park portion is anticipated to be open between 2002 and 2003 with the pool developed several years later. If you would like to learn more about these upcoming projects, please feel free to contact me directly (tel. 434-2855). In closing, we have one of the most extensive park systems planned in the County, if not the entire State. Carlsbad is the envy of many North County cities when it comes to park facilities. That is not to say that it wouldn’t be nice to have.more. However, we believe we have a plan that is sustainable, in other words, a park system that we will be able to provide a high quality of amenities and be able to maintain and operate them over the years to come. - Thank you for your letter. It is good that you are aware of the quality of life in your community. Continue to keep an eye on what is going on and feel free to contact us at any time should you have questions or concerns. Sincerely, Mark Steyaert Park Development Coordinator attachment: c: Parks and Recreation Commission (w/letters attached) Recreation Director (wlletters attached) Senior Management Analyst, Beverly (w/letters attached) ,- 24 Sept 23,1999 Dear Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission, and raised here, and presently attend La Costa Canyon High School. I am concerned about all the over-building of Carlsbad, especially in La Costa Valley. I feel sad to see so many homes being built in an area that once was home to many animals. I am afiaid that we are losing a lot of open-space areas. space areas in Carlsbad? My family has lived in Carlsbad over 20 years. I was born Are there plans for more parks, wilderness areas, or open Please give me any information on future plans for our town. Sincerely, Christina Brazier 2905 Via Pepita Carlsbad, CA 92009-9238 25 0C.T-20-99 WED 09: 05 P, 02 i c - Citv of Carlsbad October 14.1999 Christina Brazier 2905 via Pep’ita Carlsbad, CA 92009-92$8 Dear Ms. Brazier: First I must apologize for the delay in replying to your letter. It is normally our practice to respond to letters within a week. However, we have been very busy latety dealing with the exact issue that you have raised, namely Ute conservation of open space and wildlife habitat. Our hectic pace for the past several weeks resulted in an unavoidable delay in writing back to you. i i We appreciate your letter,and your concern about the loss of open space. The question you have raised is a large and complex one having to do with the overall issue of growth in our region. To give you a proper answer, we must begin with the laws that govern property rights and development. Beginning with the Constitution, there are many laws that protect the right of property owners to use their property in a way that is economically beneficial io them. The government cannot refuse to allow some development of property without paying for it. In cases where a government agency has gone too far in regulating land use, the courts have awarded damages to private property owne‘rs who were denied ‘a reasonable economic use of their land. This does not mean property owners can do whatever they wish, but it does mean that there are limits to government‘s ability to regulate private property. California cities typically regulate private property by having a General Plan and Zoning. These documents describe the. kinds of land uses that can be permitted in various places. I have enclosed copies of the Carlsbad General Plan and Zoning maps for your use. La Costa Valley area is shown on the General Plan map as RLM and RM. These ’ designations mean the ama is planned ,for Residential Low and Moderate density. The zoning is P-C which means Planned Community. In keeping with these regulations, the property owner applied for permits from the City to build approximately 1,000 homes, two schools, a child care center, a church, roads, and other features that will support the new neighborhood. La Costa Valley also contains some open space as shown on the General Plan map. * Before the City approved that project, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared to analyze the effects of the project on the area. The EIR indicated .that the project would have some significant negative environmental effects, and it recommended measures to reduce or eliminate those effects. These kinds of measures are called “mitigation.” La Costa Valley was required to provide considerable mitigation to compensate for its environmental impacts, including setting aside some land nearby as permanent open space. I 2075 Las Palmas Dr. * Carlabad, CA 92009-1576 - (760) 4 EXHIBIT 2 26 P. 03 1 OCT-20-99 WED 09:06 t CHRISTINE BRAZIER OCTOBER 14,1999 PAGE TWO Even though projects may meet alf the requirements of the law, we understand that development of previous!y natural, open areas can be upsetting. It would not be possible to keep every paicel of natural land as open space. However, the City is doing everything possible to ketbp as much open space as we can, while also giving private property owners their rigtits to develop. We have had an active open space planning effort for over 70 years. IMost recently we have undertaken a plan called the Habitat Management Plan which ill save the most important remaining pieces of natural land in the City. If you count all of our beaches, lagoons, parks, mitigation areas and other natural land that will rema n in permanent open space, the totaf is approximately 10,000 acres or about 40% of the 1 ntire City. I We hope this letter has adwered some of your questions and given you new information about the community you live in. Please continue to care about these issues, and write to us again if you have.further questions or thoughts regarding growth. Sincerely, A //&/ .?d&- r. J DON RIDEOUT Principal Planner Attachments c: City Manager Community Development Director Planning Director c 27 * OCT-20-99 WED 09: 07 P, 04 September 23,1999 Dear City ManagerRay Patchett, La Costa Canyon.%@ School. I have lived in Carlsbad all my life. I am concernek that the quality of life that existed not too long ago is rapidly &hanging. I am saddened by -the rapid loss of open space areas. Ilam' worried about the environment that once was home to many kimals. I miss the flower fields on El Camino Real that are not the: Target center. The over building, especially La Costa Valley, saddens me. What does the future hold for the youth of Carlsbad? :Are we being squeezed out from all the building? What abciut the wildlife? How will that effect our environment? Are there fixture plans for open space areas, parks, natural wilderness areas? My family hd lived in Carlsbad. 20 years. I am a student at I would appreciate hearing fkom you regarding future plans for the City of Carlsbad. rc' Thank You Christina Brazier 2905 Via Pepita Carlsbad, Ca 92009-9238 ,- .