REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Initiate Community Input Process for the proposed Schematic Design for a New Public Mini Park at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive (SummerHill - Patrick Henry Drive Specific Plan)
Report
COUNCIL PILLARS
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara City Code 17.35 requires new residential development to provide parkland and active recreational amenities (and/or fees in lieu) to serve the needs of residents in the immediate neighborhood of the development and to reduce potential impacts on the City park system. The review and approval process includes several steps. Residential developer applications are submitted to the City and Parks & Recreation Department staff review the application for conformance with the requirements of City Code, the park system facility, program and service needs, research based best practices, park design principles, standards and specifications, as well as compatibility with adjacent uses. Following an internal review, a proposed park program and initial schematic design are presented for community input from affected stakeholders, the general public and the Parks & Recreation Commission. The process involves public meetings, an on-line survey, and other opportunities for feedback. A revised/preferred park master plan and schematic design are presented to the Parks & Recreation Commission for recommendation to the Santa Clara City Council (Council) for review and approval.
On March 22, 2022, Council adopted the Patrick Henry Drive Specific Plan (Specific Plan) which provides guidelines for projects proposed within the 74-acre specific plan area bounded by Calabazas Creek to the west, the SFPUC Hetch Hetchy right of way to the north, Great America Parkway to the east, and Mission Community College to the south. The Specific Plan provides detailed guidance for future land uses. The vision is to transform existing office parks into a cohesive, high-density mixed-use community that fosters economic vitality near jobs, retail, services, and entertainment which enhances the quality of life for those who live, work, and recreate in the area.
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 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 locations, shared access/connectivity, potential thematic and programmatic synergy, and 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.
DISCUSSION
The Parks & Recreation Commission will receive a presentation (Attachment 1) by the Developer for the proposed Mini Park schematic design at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive, initiate and invite public comment, and provide Commission feedback. An online survey soliciting community input will be posted on the City website after the Commission Meeting and will be open until December 2, 2022. A virtual community meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2022 to gather additional community input. The developer will provide a revised/preferred schematic design and master plan for the Mini Park and respond to the community input at a future meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission for a possible recommendation to 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 fall 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 & 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 primary 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
Provide input on a proposed Schematic Design for a New Mini Park to be located at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive.
Staff
Prepared by: Gina Saporito, Staff Analyst
Approved by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
ATTACHMENTS
1. Mini Park Schematic Design Presentation - 3000 Patrick Henry Drive