REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Written Petition (030) Related to the Possibility of Acquiring 1601 Civic Center Drive for the Purpose of Establishing a City Park
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
BACKGROUND
On October 7, 2021, the City received a written petition on behalf of four homeowner associations (Civic Center Village, Civic Center, Boulevard and Park Vista) requesting that the City purchase the parcel located at 1601 Civic Center Drive for the purpose of establishing a City park. Action on the petition was referred to the February 2022 Council Priority Setting Session which was subsequently cancelled. On September 16, 2022, Council directed staff to provide a response to the written petition on, or before, the November 1, 2022 City Council meeting. This report has been prepared to provide the City Council with a summary of the residents' concerns, to transmit an offer letter from Charities Housing and to provide background information related to the feasibility of site acquisition by the City.
DISCUSSION
Written Petition
Staff met with representatives from the neighborhood, (Mr. Shafieri and Mr. Sinai), to discuss their written petition (Attachment #1). To ensure an accurate accounting of their concerns, a summary of that meeting was provided to the representatives who have asked that their input be provided in the staff report as follows:
1. Residents are concerned about the impact of area-wide density and development on the quality of life in their already congested neighborhood. During the past four decades, parks and amenities have not kept pace with the growth in density in the neighborhood. Future growth from the El Camino Real Corridor will spill over into the neighborhood.
2. Residents do not oppose affordable housing in principle but view the current proposed dense housing project as not a good fit for the neighborhood and as adding to issues of density, traffic problems and view th...
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