HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD 2017-0022; CALAVERA HILLS COMMUNITY PARK; Consistency Determination (CD)Calavera Hills Community Park -Gateway Project
Project Description
The Parks & Recreation Department is requesting a Consistency Determination for a new park 'gateway'
project proposed for the Calavera Hills Community Park. This project was included in the Parks &
Recreation Department's Needs Assessment and Comprehensive Action Plan which was accepted by the
City Council on December 17, 2013 and is included within that document's list of "Short Term Action Items
(0-3 years}". The project is described below:
Calavera Hills Community Park -Gateway Project
When Calavera Hills Community Park was constructed, the future Fire Station #3 was sited adjacently, on
the lot at the southwest corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and Glasgow Drive. That lot remained vacant
throughout the subsequent years, and Fire Station #3 was recently re-sited to the lot on the southwest
corner ofTrailblazer and Wind Trail ways, adjacently to the future Robertson Ranch Community Park.
With Fire Station #3 re-sited, the vacant lot became available for the creation of an entryway to Calavera
Hills Community Park. Staff worked in conjunction with a consulting landscape architecture firm to create
a proposed concept plan of the entryway, which includes: a looped walkway with exercise stations, a
covered picnic area, enhanced seating, monuments signs, decorative lighting, passive turf, and perimeter
landscaping. [Exhibit 2].
Consistency with the Calavera Hills Community Park
The proposed project would not change or delete any project condition, feature, facility or amenity that
is considered essential to design, quality, safety and function of the Calavera Hills Community Park. The
proposed gateway project improves upon the park's compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood by
transforming an empty, vacant lot into a decorative and inviting improvement.
Although the addition of the 0.52-acre site for the park entry project would change the boundary of the
16.55-acre park (a 3.2% increase}, the improvement would not add a new land use to the master park site
plan. Our understanding is that per C.M.C. Section 21.42.140.100 c., this land addition can be approved
administratively by the City Planner because it does not increase the maximum anticipated site area by
more than 20% of what was anticipated on the master park site plan.
The proposed improvements do not involve the addition of a new land use and the gateway project
features are consistent with the variety of uses that would be found in an active community park. The
proposed improvements will comply with the applicable development standards of the Carlsbad
Municipal Code for the Open Space Zone; will not result in any significant environmental impact and/or
require additional mitigation; and will not result in any health, safety or welfare impacts.
There were no major issues or controversies associated with the original Calavera Hills Community Park
project which would be exacerbated with the proposed project. The project's features are desired by the
community, as they fulfill the needs identified in the department's recent Needs Assessment and
Comprehensive Action Plan. The project is included in the plan's list of "Short Term Action Items (0-3
years}". Lastly, the project is in alignment with the community value of "Access to recreation and active,
healthy lifestyles" and likewise, is in alignment with the department's vision "To strengthen community
connectivity through world class offerings and exceptional customer service."
EXHIBITS:
1. Location Map (Aerial}
2. Supplemental Information
3. Concept Plan
Calavera Hills Community Park -Gateway Project
Supplemental Information
1. No project condition, feature, facility or amenity is changed or deleted that had been
considered essential to the project's design, quality, safety or function:
The 0.52 acre site is located at the southwest intersection of Carlsbad Village Dr. (CVD) and Glasgow
Dr. and is contiguous with the Calavera Hills Community Park. The site was originally set aside for the
future relocation of Fire Station No. 3. However, in 2012 the City Council approved a master plan
amendment (MP 02-03C) to designate a larger and more centrally located parcel in Robertson Ranch
for the fire station. Given that Fire Station No. 3 has now been constructed, reserving the subject
property for a fire station is no longer essential or desired.
2. The request represents an upgrade in overall design features and or materials and improves upon
the project's compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood:
The site is currently vacant and undeveloped. The proposed project would transform the empty,
vacant lot into a decorative and inviting improvement, thereby enhancing the visual appearance of
the park within the community. The project includes an enhanced 'gateway' to the Calavera Hills
Community Park with entry signage at the corner of CVD and Glasgow Dr. and new landscaping along
the perimeter of the site. The proposed amenities, which include outdoor fitness stations and
picnic/barbeque areas, fulfill the needs identified in the Parks & Recreation Department's recent
Needs Assessment and Comprehensive Action Plan. The project, which is included in the plan's list of
"Short Term Action Items (0-3 years)", will provide desired amenities for the neighborhood and park
visitors.
3. The proposed revision does not change the density (i.e. the addition of units) or boundary of the
subject property:
The proposed revision would not add residential units nor change the density or boundary of the
Calavera Hills Community Park Master Plan. The gateway project would add 0.52 acres of parkland
which represents about a 3.1% increase in the overall size of the Calavera Hills Community Park.
4. The proposed revision does not involve the addition of a new land use not shown on the
original permit (e.g. adding a commercial use to a residential project, replacing single family units
with attached residential units, vice versa for each example, etc.):
Both the existing park site and the area proposed for the gateway project are zoned P-C with a
General Plan land use designation of OS. The OS land use designation allows for parks and
recreational uses as well as public facilities such as fire stations. No new land uses would be added
as a result of the proposed revision.
5. The proposed revision does not rearrange the major land uses within the development (e.g. it does
not exchange the locations of single family units with attached units):
As described previously, the gateway project would enlarge the size ofthe Calavera Hills Community
Park and the expansion of the park is consistent with the existing OS land use designation.
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6. The proposed revision does not create changes of greater than ten percent {10%}, provided that
compliance will be maintained with the applicable development standards of the Carlsbad Municipal
Code as follows:
Per individual lot or structure -yards, setbacks, coverage or height {height reductions of
>10% are permitted).
On an aggregate project basis-parking, open space, common area or landscaping.
The 0.52 acre addition to the 16.55 acre park represents about a 3.1% increase in the size of the park
and the improvements will comply with all applicable development standards. Per C.M.C. Section
21.42.140.100 c., the land addition can be approved administratively by the City Planner because it
does not increase the maximum anticipated site area by more than 20% of what was anticipated on
the master park site plan.
7. The proposed change will not result in any significant environmental impact, and/or require
additional mitigation:
The project will be located on a vacant graded site. A habitat preserve is located over 100 feet from
the site on the north side of CVD and multi-family residential development is located to the east on
the opposite side of Glasgow Dr. The remainder of the site is surrounded by the existing park. The
design of the gateway project includes site lighting, however the lighting will be shielded to prevent
glare or light spillage onto nearby residences and habitat areas. Excepting security lighting, the park
lighting (site and sports fields) is turned off at approximately 10:00 p.m., when the park closes. Noise
generated from the gateway project is not expected to exceed existing noise levels from typical
activities that currently occur in the park. The project will be required to comply with all applicable
federal, state, city and local regulations, including all water quality regulations.
8. The proposed change would not result in any health, safety or welfare impacts:
The gateway project is compatible with the existing park development and the features are similar in
nature to those approved by the Conditional Use Permit (CUP-266 ) for the existing park, including
the findings of approval contained in Planning Commission Reso. No. 2409. Additionally, the project
is in alignment with the community value of "Access to recreation and active, healthy lifestyles."
9. There were not any major issues or controversies associated with the original project which would
be exacerbated with the proposed change:
In 1985, a conditional use permit (CUP-266) was approved for the Calavera Hills Community Park.
The park contains a community center, gymnasium, several softball fields, basketball courts,
playgrounds, picnic areas and turf play areas. In 2013, the City Council authorized development of
a community garden in a segment of the park (Reso. No. 2013-220). The CUP for the park has been
amended and extended through the years. The most recent extension (in 2000) allows for operation
of the park in perpetuity. The conditions of approval require the Planning Division to perform an
annual site inspection to ensure compliance with all conditions of approval. There has been no
unresolved complaint history from Code Enforcement, Police Department or Fire Prevention.
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10. The proposed change would not be readily discernible to the decision makers as being substantially
different from the project as originally approved:
The gateway project site became available for an expansion of the park due to the relocation of Fire
Station No. 3 to Robertson Ranch. The gateway project, which would expand the size of the existing
16.55 acre park by 0.52 acres, will fulfill a currently unmet community need by providing outdoor
fitness stations and additional picnic areas within the park.
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