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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRESENTATION - CITRUS RANCH PARK UPDATE AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: APRIL 17, 2006 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PATRICK SANCHEZ, DIRECTOR, PARKS & RECREATION SERVICES SUBJECT: PRESENTATION ON THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF CITRUS RANCH PARK, CIP PROJECT NO. 2046 SUMMARY A presentation by the Director of Parks and Recreation on the current status of the Capital Improvement Project (2046), Citrus Ranch Park. A review of the Design Development Plan and projected schedule for park improvements. RECOMMENDATION Direct staff to complete construction plans and specifications and return to the City Council a staff report which would include the adoption of a Resolution to Approve the Environmental Impact Report, and Approval of Plans and Specifications and Authorization to Advertise for Bids for the Citrus Ranch Park Improvements. FISCAL IMPACT The Engineer's Estimate to complete the improvements of the Phase I Base Bid for Citrus Ranch Park is $4.7 Million. The current Park Fund balance and allocation available, as of April 1, 2006, is $5,055,701.18. BACKGROUND The presentation includes a history of the Design Development Report, which was completed in January 2001. The review will include the design principles and design recommendations for the park master plan, a history of the community process, and stakeholder involvement in the original design. The presentation will include a current status of the project and an overview of the park amenities. Current phasing and financing available to complete the project and a projected schedule for completion will also be presented. In January 2000, the City of Tustin entered an Agreement with RJM Design Group, Inc., to complete the master planning services for the future park site in the Tustin Ranch area. For many years, this park was referred to as "Lemon Tree Park". When the Parks and Recreation Commission adopted the Park Master Plan in January 2001, the official name of Citrus Ranch Park was included in the Design Development Report. Page 2 The Commission felt the name "Citrus Ranch Park" better described the agricultural history of the 17 -acre parcel. Following the initial data collection, review and site analysis, a site awareness tour/workshop was conducted on April 1, 2000. Members of the community, Parks and Recreation Commissioners and other stakeholders discussed the master plan process and site opportunities and constraints, and provided input through a project questionnaire/workbook regarding the development of the future park site. Originally, six alternatives were prepared by participants at the initial workshop. Two subsequent Commission workshops were held, and a Preliminary Master Plan was prepared and submitted to the Parks and Recreation Commission in June 2000. The final recommendation to adopt the master plan was completed by the Parks and Recreation Commission in January 2001. The park site is located on approximately 16.9 acres in the East Tustin Ranch area and is bounded by Tustin Ranch Road on the North, Portola Parkway on the east and Jamboree Road on the south. Residential development and the Tustin Ranch Golf Course border the property on the west. Residential development exists across each of the streets that bound the site. Master Plan consensus provided the following design characteristics as integral in maintaining the natural profile and land form character of the knoll portion of the site. They included, but were not limited to: maintaining panoramic views from the knoll top; providing a functional aesthetic design; ensuring the aesthetics of the park design would be sensitive to the existing residential developments and bordering streetscapes; maintaining site character; emphasizing passive park uses; and coordinating the design with adjacent residential development to achieve the greatest mutual benefit and unified design. The following design recommendations, with respect to the general park planning, were included in the master plan: . The park facilities will serve the immediate neighborhood and the East Tustin Area, and the park neighbors will have a visual advantage of open space. . The existing hillside citrus grove should be preserved and integrated with the park design. . Controlled access into the grove should be maintained by providing a perimeter wood rail fence around the grove with access for maintenance and harvesting of fruit. . Interpretive displays would describe the agricultural significance of Orange County and the Tustin Area. These displays would be located at the park entrance and trailheads at the base of the knoll. . Park access should be coordinated with the regional trail system along Portola Parkway. Page 3 . Views into the park from Portola Parkway, Tustin Ranch Road and Jamboree Road should be maintained for security and maintained with driveway site lines by utilizing low shrub and ground cover materials. · Landscape treatments should blend with the landscape heritage of the City of Tustin in order to create an informal, rustic character, as defined by the existing hillside citrus grove, Tustin Ranch Golf Course, the Regional Trail and streetscape edge. . Landscaping and lighting fixture design and placement along all sides of the park should mitigate light spill onto adjacent residential property. . Security lighting for parking lots and walkways will be designed to meet the Illuminating Engineering Society standards. . The architectural theme of the park structures should be compatible with the architectural style and character of the neighborhood, per the East Tustin Specific Plan guidelines. . Parking and vehicular and pedestrian circulation should be designed to City standards. . As part of the consensus of the park master plan, it should incorporate the playgrounds, water feature, picnic areas, open play areas, restroom and maintenance building, parking, landscape and utilities. . There will be two picnic shelters, and individual, uncovered family picnic tables are located throughout the park . Children's play areas will be located adjacent to the picnic areas for adult su pervision. . Approximately three acres of open, informal play areas are included. . The restroom building will be approximately 583 sq. ft. and will include restrooms for both men and women, a small amount of storage, and an outdoor sink and drinking fountain. . The park trails will skirt the base of the knoll and provide access to the park facilities. The existing knoll ridgeline trail will be improved and maintained to accommodate maintenance and emergency access as well as public access to the arbor rest area at the knoll. · Currently, there are 869 trees in the citrus grove. Over 800 of these lemon trees will remain as an integral part of the park design. In Phase I of the Base Bid of the plans, the South Park area will have parking for 62 standard spaces and three handicap spaces. Vehicular access to off street parking for the park will be located at the mid-block of Portola Parkway, across from Allen Street. The knoll and citrus grove are the predominant land form features and will be preserved. A paved, spiral trail will provide access to the hilltop from the northern parking lot for pedestrians and maintenance and emergency vehicles. An overlook plaza and shade structure will be situated on top with interpretive displays to describe the history of the local area, the citrus grove and a description of the views of the surrounding landscape. Page 4 The citrus grove will be fenced for its protection and to reduce erosion of the slopes. The fencing will be designed to blend with the rustic character of the park and surrounding area. In order to begin construction as soon as possible with the available funds, the park is designed to be developed in two phases. Working drawings and bid documents are in their final form and are developed in a way that will allow the City to complete the base bid during the initial phase of construction. Phase 1 includes the picnic facilities, restroom building, children's play area, parking lot, turnaround, landscape, irrigation, rough grading, the development of the knoll, and the overlook shade structures. The initial Engineer's Estimate of probable construction costs for the base bid of Phase 1 is $4.7 Million. Phase 2 is the northern area and would include additional parking, picnic facilities, playground and related landscape and irrigation. The Engineer's preliminary estimate of construction costs for Phase 2 is $2.6 Million. The current Park Development Fund balance as of April 1, 2006, is $5,055,701.18. Patrick Sanchez Director, Parks and Recreation Services