REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on 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
The Santa Clara City Code Chapter 17.35 <http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/SantaClara/> (Park and Recreational Land) requires new residential developments to provide developed parkland and recreational amenities pursuant to the California Quimby Act (Quimby) and/or the Mitigation Fee Act (MFA), and/or pay a fee in-lieu thereof. The MFA standard is 2.6 acres of parkland per 1000 residents. Parkland required and/or dedicated is also reviewed in the context of Council approved specific plans and Municipal Fee Schedule, as well as applicable codes, parks & recreation program goals, research based best practices, and design standards.
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 size, shape, and location as well as adjacent amenities, shared access/connectivity, potential thematic and programmatic synergy, and the public nature of the park and the recreational facility, the future art center has also been considered in the planning and design 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. The City has issued a request for an SOQ and is in the process of selection on the consultant that will be assisting in the design of tenant improvements for the art center.
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).
Community Outreach & Public Input
Community outreach for the schematic design and master plan of the mini park 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 that followed a prior community meeting regarding the Developer’s Project of which the community/civic center and the public Mini Park are a small part.
Most, if not all, of the items requested by the community in the community meeting and the survey were already included in the initial schematic design. However, there was a request for more shade trees which have been added. There are two public art installations proposed for the mini park that will be subject to a City process anticipated to be determined at a later date through the normal Cultural Commission call for artists and jury process. Temporary art installations contemplated for the mini park developed at the art center programs will follow the City’s regular Recreation program display guidelines and timeframes, while periodic Cultural Commission temporary art displays will follow their procedures.
DISCUSSION
On January 17, 2023, the Parks & Recreation Commission received a presentation by the Developer of the revised Mini Park Schematic Design - Master Plan at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive. The Commission reviewed and liked the revised Schematic Design with the additional shade trees. The Commission then recommended that Council approve the park schematic design and master plan (Attachment 1).
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
According to the Patrick Henry Drive Specific Plan, each landowner/developer will be responsible for construction and dedication of any public parkland contribution at no cost to the City and maintenance of public parkland may be funded through either a Community Facilities District or other maintenance agreement. Therefore, there is anticipated to be no fiscal impact to the General Fund for the outreach, design and capital construction and maintenance of the Mini Park. The Developer will design and construct the Mini Park to City standards. It is anticipated that the Community Facilities District, will pay for ongoing maintenance funded primarily by the community/neighborhood which it serves. Public parks and recreational programs and services held in City parks are subject to the City’s adopted cost recovery policy and fee schedule; 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.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council 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
Approve the proposed Schematic Design - Master Plan for the New Public Mini Park at 3000 Patrick Henry Drive.
Staff
Reviewed by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
Approved by: Office of the City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 3000 Patrick Henry Drive Park Schematic Design - Master Plan