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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSM051903CITY OF CENTRAL POINT City Council Study Session May 19, 2003 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. ATTENDEES Mayor: Hank Williams Council Members: Nate Banry, Dick Halley, Kay Harrison, Donna Higginbotham, Mike Quilty, and Bill Stults were present. City Administrator Phil Messina; Planning Director Tom Humphrey; Public Works Director Bob Pierce; Recreation Supervisor Nancy Hanson, and Deputy Recorder Deanna Gregory were also present. III. BUSINESS A. Discussion of Park Master Plan Draft Recreation Supervisor Nancy Hanson explained the process of creating a committee consisting of community members, Council Members and City Staff. She stated that the City of Central Point has grown and is having a difficult time keeping up with the demand for parks and open space.- Over the past few years the City has implemented measures to ensure parks in new developments as well as park facilities for its growing population. In 1991 the City implemented a Park System Development Charge, to help build the construction of new facilities. At the time no new parkland had been purchased by, or donated to the City in over 10 years. In 1991 the first Park Master Plan was completed. In December of 2002 the City Council agreed to update the master plan in order to accurately plan for future park acquisition, equipment, and programs. The City used the format established by the Oregon Parks and Recreation program for the basis of the Master Plan. A goal of the process was to update the Parks Master Plan by establishing goals, objectives, and strategies for existing and new parks. The committee was established to identify areas where the city was lacking in parks resources and try to match them with funding sources. The committee tried to involve as much public input as possible in order to get an idea of where City resources should be spent. In 2001 the City sent out a questionnaire asking several questions regarding parks and recreation. The city used the results of that survey to help supply some of the base information forthe master plan. The results of the survey are in the Park Master Plan Draft. The city sent out a second survey and held a public open house to address concerns and goals for Parks Planning. Over 50 people showed up at the open house and good information was discussed. The purposed Park Master Plan includes information on Demographics, Parks Planning from the Comprehensive Plan, and Comparing Central Point's Park System to the Statewide averages. Once the Committee collected public input and gathered additional information they assessed the existing park system and came up with a set of Goals, Objectives, and Strategies for the Master Plan. She explained the Goals set by the Committee: 1. Build Water Play Facilities 2. Develop a Regional Swimming Pool 3. Build a Community Center 4. Increased Open Space 5. Develop a Regional Park Facility 6. Develop more walking and bicycle paths throughout the City of Central Point. 7. Add restrooms to new and existing parks. 8. Continue to add new programs to the Recreation Department. There was discussion regarding open space and pocket parks. Some of the pocket parks that have been constructed are not large enough to provide the facilities the public has asked for. The Council discussed the Goals and Strategies. They are happy with the results from the Committee. Conclusion: City Administrator Phil Messina stated that the June 16th, Study Session will discuss the Master Plan in more detail. B. Discussion of Issues Around Commercial Retail Development Planning Director Tom Humphrey would like to have direction from the Council regarding "Big Box" retail stores. Currently the C-4 zone is designated for "Community Shopping Centers". Staff feels that a community shopping center consists of one large anchor store and several small buildings. He explained that the City has been approached by representatives from large companies interested in locating a store on the Naumes property known as the Pear Blossom Center at the corner of Hamrick and East Pine Street. This property is currently zoned C-4. He stated that the Central Point Municipal Code does not provide standards or regulations for "Big Box" type development. Mr. Humphrey explained that the developer of the Pear Blossom Center has attempted to sell parts of the property to small businesses without success. They have been talking with representatives from Walmart about locating a Walmart Superstore with 207,000 square feet of building facing Hamrick Road. The Walmart on Crater Lake Highway is approximately 70,000 square feet. A proposed Master Plan for a community shopping center was discussed for this property several years ago with the installation of a signal to be located on Pine Street with access into the shopping area and across Pine Street for those businesses located there. Staff is concerned that if the City were to receive an application for a building larger than 80,000 square feet we would have a challenge with the standards that are currently in place for smaller commercial size buildings. Mr. Humphrey stated that he would like direction from the Council regarding restricting the size of commercial buildings for City of Central Point C-4 zones to 80,000 square feet. There was discussion regarding Home Depot and Walmart coming to Central Point. It could be good for the citizens of Central Point to have a store with a variety of shopping. However they do not want to deter from Downtown Revitalization and are concerned about the smaller businesses in town going out of business by Big Box development. When the Council developed the Central Point Statement of Value they indicated that they value planned growth that will retain our small town atmosphere. Conclusion: Council was in agreement that Staff should prepare an emergency ordinance to stipulate the maximum size of an anchor building in a Community Shopping Center in C-4 zoning. This could change in the future after the City has had a chance to review and set in place standards needed for "Big Box" type of development. IV. ADJOURNMENT The Study Session for May 19, 2003, was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.