REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of the proposed Schematic Design - Master Plan for a New Public Mini Park at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive (SummerHill)
Report
COUNCIL PILLARS
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
SummerHill Apartment Communities (Developer) is proposing a 7-story, 305 residential unit mixed-use project with 4,000 square feet (sf) of retail space to be located at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive (Project). The Developer’s Project proposes to meet its City parkland dedication requirement through a 9,250sf (0.21-acre) public Mini Park for the arts (Mini Park), a 4,900sf (0.011-acre) community art center, and payment of City Mitigation Fee Act (MFA) fees due in-lieu of parkland dedication in compliance with City Code 17.35. The proposed Mini Park and the community art center will be situated north of Mission College and across the street from a Neighborhood Park with potential for a community center, gymnasium and parking. The Mini Park will be constructed by the Developer, dedicated to the City in fee title, and maintained by the City with a to be determined level of funding from a proposed Patrick Henry Drive Specific Plan Community Facility District.
Due to the adjacent amenities, shared access/connectivity, potential thematic and programmatic synergy, and the public nature of the park and the recreational facility, the art center merits some consideration in the planning of the Mini Park. The community art center will be a first-floor condominium unit in the mixed-use building and dedicated to the City in fee title. The City will be responsible for the center’s program, operations, maintenance, and tenant improvements. Due to the timing/schedule of the development application, the community outreach and interior design of the art center will occur separately from the Mini Park parcel.
On November 15, 2022, the Parks & Recreation Commission (Commission) received a presentation of the proposed schematic design for the mini park at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive, received public comment, and provided Commission input (RTC #22-1356).
DISCUSSION
At the January 17, 2022, the Parks & Recreation Commission will receive a presentation (Attachment 1) by the Developer for the Mini Park Schematic Design - Master Plan at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive in response to the community input.
Community Outreach
Community outreach included a Community Survey that was posted on the City website after the Commission Meeting and was available to the public from November 16 - December 13, 2022. Notice was given at the Commission Meeting and an email was sent using the City’s GovDelivery system. A park specific community meeting was held on December 12, 2022; this followed a community meeting regarding the Developer’s Project of which the community /civic center and the public Mini Park are a small part.
Public Input
Most of the items requested by the community in the community meeting and the survey were already included in the initial schematic design. There was a request for more shade trees which have been added.
The Commission will review the Schematic Design, receive public comment, and make a possible recommendation to City Council for approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment. The activity covered by this residential development project falls within the scope of the project analyzed under the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Patrick Henry Specific Plan which included the construction of parks, which was approved on January 12, 2022 (Resolution No. 22-9061) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund for the capital construction of the Mini Park. The Developer will design and construct the Mini Park to City standards. The City’s public parks and recreational programs are subject to a cost recovery policy where programs with high community benefit are subsidized at higher levels by the City General Fund, and programs with high individual, but low community benefit are subsidized at lower levels. Certain parks and recreation facilities that provide a higher level of service or are within a Community Facilities District, such as the Mini Park, have alternative funding sources for maintenance activities paid primarily by the community/neighborhood which they serve.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Parks & Recreation Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> <<mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov>>.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Recommend that Council approve the proposed Schematic Design - Master Plan for the New Public Mini Park at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive.
Staff
Prepared by: Gina Saporito, Staff Analyst
Approved by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
ATTACHMENTS
1. 3000 Patrick Henry Drive Park Schematic Design - Master Plan Presentation