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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - Parks and Recreation Board - 1993 - 01/25 - Special CalledME TTES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD SPECIAL CALLED MEETING JANUARY 25. 1993 - 6:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT Jim Waldbauer, Secretary Lonnie Thomas, Vice -Chairman Ray Galloway Ross Obermeyer MEMBERS ABSENT Tom Clark, Chairman Gordon McIntyre Deby Chappell Ailene Tollett, Resident Susyn Redmond, Allen Environmental Action League Richard Ferrar, Architect Bruce Smith, President, Arvida Shawn Randall, Arvida Tom Keener, Community Development Department, City of Allen Noel Crume, Planning and Zoning Commission, City of Allen John Green, Land Owner STAFF PRESENT Rhoda Savage, Director of Parks and Recreation Sue Witkowski, Secretary Larry Kirk, Program Coordinator I. CALL TO ORDER PAGE 2 MINUTES - PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JANUARY 25, 1993 The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m., by Vice -Chairman, Lonnie Thomas. II. DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Richard Ferrar began the presentation by pointing out the land which would be up for discussion and gave a brief background. The development group owns approximately 2400 acres of land which are included in the current zoning requests along with two additional tracts of land - John Green Tract (Mr. Green is present at tonight's meeting) and the Whisenant family tract of land. Mr. Ferrar presented a map of land prior to the purchase by Briar Ridge, and outlined the land uses as they are currently zoned. Multi -family units were pointed out and he indicated they would be planned as a buffer between the business park and single family residential areas. Mr. Ferrar indicated that there were 47 acres of neighborhood parkland needed and they have 46 acres set aside to meet the requirement. Mr. Ferrar also indicated there was a 10 acre church camp and he felt the City should try to obtain. There is planned a 50 foot landscape easement outside of the right-of-way of major roads that will be a meandering, berm protected, pedestrian trail. These trails will be privately owned, built and maintained. A brief outline was given on Rowlett Creek bridge and the fact that there would be no alleys along Rowlett Creek and only wrought iron fencing allowed. Home owner documents will state that if a tree larger than three inches is removed, there will be a $1,000 per inch fine and then the Vee must be replaced. Mr. Ferrar indicated that the top four things that people want are usually playgrounds, pools, golf, and jogging/walking paths. In Mr. Ferrar's opinion, what has happened over the years is that problems have arisen with public recreation, parks departments are having a difficult time maintaining budget at a level that is needed. The architect also felt it was hard to have input into what kind of equipment is placed in public parkland. Therefore, Twin Creeks has designed in all private facilities for their neighborhood parks. In relation to the proposed golf course, Mr. Ferrar gave the following information: PAGE 3 MINUTES - PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD ' JANUARY 25, 1993 The golf course is a public golf course - privately owned. Owned and developed by Arvida, it is open to the public. There is no guarantee that the course will remain public. Only about 20% of the people are avid golfers and the golf course cannot survive on that - especially in the early years. It will cost about $750,000 per year to maintain. The developer is aware of the conflict with the greenbelt and golf course. The concern the developer stated is that of safety for the residents trying to access the linear park, liability for the City and Twin Creeks would be tremendous. The developers are currently working on a plan as to how significant natural areas can be safely accessible by the public. Lonnie Thomas indicated that the location of the golf course is the greatest issue that the Board will discuss this evening and had some concerns in that regard: 1. The Comprehensive Plan of Allen notes that there would be only one golf course for the City, therefore, Twin Creeks could possibly be the only golf course the City will have. Mr. Thomas then asked the developer if there were other options for the ownership of the land based on that information. The developer indicated that since it would be owned by the home owners association of Twin Creeks, there would be no control on it remaining open to the public. 2. Mr. Thomas pointed out that people were very concerned about an obvious conflict with where Arvida wants to put the golf course, and asked the developer what their response to those people would be. Mr. Bruce Smith (Arvida) said that the proposal is obviously an alternate use of the floodplain adjacent Rowlett Creek. He indicated that nothing will happens to the creek nor will anything happen to the trees in the creek, but it will have a direct conflict with the trail going along the creek where the golf course is. He said the trail cannot go along the banks of Rowlett Creek and have a golf course there as well. He said Arvida has looked at numerous places to put it in the tract, and there is no way to do it and put a golf course as well. Mr. Smith said that obviously, when you look at the overall land in { Allen, that space in the floodplain around Rowlett Creek area stands out as PAGE 4 MINUTES - PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JANUARY 25, 1993 probably not only one of the best in Allen, but one of the best places in north Dallas to put a golf course. Lonnie Thomas questioned the condition of the creek bed, width, amount of trees, and what the developer was planning to do to protect against erosion and tree loss. Mr. Smith, indicated it would be a problem, and indicated that the only way to stop erosion completely would be to concrete in the creek bed and that was unacceptable. He also told the Board that there would be tree loss every few years due to natural erosion of the bank areas. When Mr. Thomas inquired whether or not the developer viewed any other option for location of the golf course, Mr. Smith responded that there were over 200 acres of land that will be used for something other than houses whether it be a golf course, softball fields, or some other type of planned area, but that 3040 acres will remain open areas around the golf course. Lonnie then questioned Arvida representatives as to whether or that they planned any low-water dams along Rowlett Creek. Mr. Smith indicated that they were not allowed to do that as all water rights to Rowlett Creek belong to the City of Dallas and would therefore need their permission to use the water. Director Rhoda Savage questioned the developer on the number of acres in the community facilities as they are zoned now, and the acres in community facilities under the proposed zoning request. The developer indicated that under the current zoning, there were 175 acres zoned Community Facility (CF) and under the proposed zoning request, there would be no community facility acreage. Ray Galloway questioned the developer regarding what would happen to the athletic participants who reside in Twin Creeks who wish to play in City of Allen athletic leagues or youth athletic leagues through the Allen Sports Association. The developer indicated that there would be the possibility of the City and/or ASA being able to schedule some of their activities on Twin Creeks fields (two C soccer -size fields and one baseball -sized field). The developer also indicated PAGE 5 MINUTES - PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JANUARY 25, 1993 that in some cases, athletic leagues will be formed within Twin Creeks development. Mr. Ross Obermeyer, Park Board Member, indicated his concern that much of this was on a good -faith basis, and his interest to represent the City of Allen. He indicated that he was looking for assurance that everyone had the best interest of the residents of Allen in mind. Following a lengthy discussion and workshop, the following document was drafted to be presented at the Wednesday (January 27, 1993) Planning and Zoning Workshop: SUMMARY OF PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JANUARY 25, 1993 WORKSHOP REGARDING: TWIN CREEKS ZONING REQUEST The Parks and Recreation Board called a special meeting on January 18, 1993 to discuss the zoning request for Twin Creeks Development. A brief summary of the proposal was presented to the Parks and Recreation Board. The Board needs additional information prior to their next special meeting in order to understand the effect of the proposal on City Parks, Community Facilities and Floodplain. During last nights meeting, the land developers reviewed the proposed park areas with the Board. Issues that need clarification regarding the impact of the zoning request include: 1. Does the development of a golf course satisfy the need for a Special Use Park. If so, can we guarantee its availability to the general public? 2. How does the proposed zoning affect the areas zoned Community Facility? 3. How many acres of floodplain will be dedicated under existing zoning requirements versus proposed zoning for: A. Rowlett Creek PAGE 6 MINUTES - PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JANUARY 25, 1993 B. Watters Branch 4. What alternative designs have been considered to enable golf course layout and preservation of the linear park system? a. Has location of the golf course along one side of the creek only been studied? This would allow the other side of the creek to be preserved for linear park. b. How could the course be planned outside the floodplain? C. How much additional space along the creek would be needed to include a linear park trail and adequate buffer zone? d. Could the layout of the golf course and linear park be designed using trees as part of the buffer thus reducing the width of the buffer area? e. To guarantee the golf course remain public, has consideration been given to land dedication to the City for a privately developed, maintained and operated course? 5. How many acres of open space is required under existing vs proposed zoning? 6. How many acres of parkland is required to be dedicated under existing vs proposed zoning? 7. Is the developer willing to provide acreage for a Community Park to offset the impact on community facilities as per the proposed zoning? 8. Where are the 184 acres of public parks located? A special Parks and Recreation Board meeting has been set for February 1, 1993 for action on issues regarding the Twin Creeks zoning request. Information obtained during the Planning and Zoning Workshop will be provided the Parks and Recreation Board, IV. AD.IOURN [I C 1; PAGE 7 MINUTES - PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD JANUARY 25, 1993 There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m. These minutes read and approved this,llth day of February, 1993. U - Tom Clark, Chairman 3 aldbauer, Secretary