HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-15 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL MEETING Special Meeting Minutes March 15, 2007 Opening: The special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman Wade Colwell at 5:35 P.M., on March 15, 2007 in Room 111 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Present: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Colwell, Davidson, Burke, Davis, Biendara, Mauritson, Hatfield and Bitler were present; Park Staff Edmonston, Coles, Whillock, Curry, Wright and Jumper, City Trails Coordinator Mihalevich and audience were in attendance. 1. Park Land Dedication Kay Curry, Park Planner Development Name: Woodstock Community Engineer: Appian Center for Design, Inc. Owner: Nock/Broyles Development Location: South of Wedington Dr. between 46th Ave. and Broyles Rd. Park District: SW Units: 54 single family units and 328 multi -family units Total Acres: 29 acres Land Dedication Requirement: 6.87 acres Money in Lieu Requirement $274,880 Developer's Request: Dedication of approximately 6.87 acres of park land offsite along the south side of Owl Creek commencing at Broyles Ave. with the approximate acreage as shown in area 1 of the attached map to satisfy the parkland dedication requirement. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends accepting the 6.87 acre parkland dedication as proposed by the developer. Justification: There is no other park located within the 1/2 mile radius of the proposed development and the high density of this development creates a need for green space. This proposed land dedication would provide a needed link along the Owl Creek trail corridor. Additionally, it would provide acreage to develop a neighborhood park with amenities for recreation to serve the surrounding developments. This park would be similar to Harmony Pointe Park. Area 2 is the 3.43 acres to be dedicated from the March 15, 2007/ 1 Rustic Meadows addition that was approved at the January 8, 2007 PRAB meeting. Charlie Sloan stated that he would give a public access easement from Area 2 to allow for trail construction to Owl Creek School. This would almost secure the entire Owl Creek Trail corridor from Harmony Ponte Park to the Boys and Girls Club with the exception of a couple of parcels east of Harmony Pointe. Curry reported a meeting of Staff and Developers has resulted in a land dedication which will tremendously increase the area of trail easement and park land along Owl Creek. Colwell observed the corridor is within the 100 year flood plain and asked what sort of structures and park development can be done in that area. Jumper said enclosed structures are not allowed in the flood plain and its best not to place play structures in the flood plain. Colwell said as we're developing a linear park with this corridor, will there be areas wide enough for play spaces. Edmonston said this corridor will be a link to various play areas and facilities such as the Boys and Girls Club, Owl Creek School, and existing parks. Hatfield said there had been a concern at the March 5 meeting for establishing a two acre park for the Woodstock residents. He also expressed concern on the visible lack of access from the platted lots as seen on the Sloan development south of the creek. Jumper said access has been part of the on-going discussion. It was reiterated the three small pocket -parks planned within Woodstock will continue to be part of that development and will provide some green space and play areas for the residents. Mihalevich said Sloan has said he will go ahead and give the trail easement along the creek to Owl Creek School so that should some of the planned future developments not happen, the trail will be secured. PRAB Motion: Colwell moved to approve Staff recommendation to accept Developer's request as stated above. Davis seconded the motion and the motion passed with a vote of 7-1-0 with Hatfield casting the 'no' vote. March 15, 2007/ 2 2. Walker Park Cell Tower Proposal: Dave Reynolds, Smith Radio Project Manager Edmonston provided an update stating at the last meeting the north parking lot location at Walker Park had been mentioned as possibly a more desirable location over the proposed location. She said Parks doesn't own all of the north parking lot and the area has been designated a Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant Boundary in perpetuity. After considering other City lands in the surrounding area it was determined none are within the area that will serve the needs required for the cell tower. Davidson said while in Ft. Smith he had looked for the tower Smith 2 -Way Radio had placed there and to the credit of the manufacturer he could not find it. Reynolds said if the tower is located outside the Park it will not look like a pine tree but will have the same appearance as other cell towers. His company will, however, construct it to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible because no one wants a tower near them. Edmonston said approving the tower on park land for a 30 year lease is a long time for Parks to be responsible. If it's in a park we do have some responsibility. Reynolds said Smith Radio will be responsible for upkeep. Edmonston said she isn't sure she wants to have the City set this precedence (commercial structures placed on park land). Bitler asked should that area of Walker Park ever be developed would it possibly be an obstruction. Burke said everyone he spoke to was not in favor of setting the precedence of placing towers in parks. Colwell suggested placing it across the street on Salvation Army land could benefit that organization and they could use the money. Reynolds said Smith Radio has talked to the Salvation Army and the mini -storage owners next door about placement on their land. Mauritson said the fact it's going to be placed somewhere in that area and will certainly be visible makes him think Parks should get the revenue for placing it on park land. Hatfield asked what would happen if the tower was no longer needed due to advanced technology. March 15, 2007/ 3 Reynolds said their contract with the City states if technology deems towers to be obsolete the existing towers installed by Smith 2 -Way Radio will be dismantled within a year. PRAB Motion: Mauritson moved to approve the placement of the cell tower in Walker Park as presented. Davis seconded the motion. The motion failed by a vote of 3-5-0 with Davis, Mauritson and Bitler voting `yes' and Colwell, Biendara, Hatfield, Burke and Davidson voting 'no'. 3. Walker Park Parking Striping Project: David Wright, Recreation Superintendent Parks and Recreation Staff is requesting funding from the Southeast Park District to restripe all the parking lots and on -street parking areas. This item was deleted from the agenda. 4. Other Business S. Adjournment: Colwell adjourned the meeting at 7:20 P.M. Minutes prepared by Cheryl Whillock March 15, 2007/ 4