SR-901-007 (2)
IF
Council Meeting: May 10, 2005
MAY I 0 2005
Santa Monica, California
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
City Staff
Subject:
160114th Street-Interim and Long Term Uses
Introduction
This report recommends that the Santa Monica City Council approve staff's
recommendation for interim uses on the recently acquired property located at 1601 14th
Street ("the site"), authorize staff to proceed with applicable planning approvals and
support in concept the preparation of a long-term plan for the entire block for community
recreation facilities as well as the potential for incorporation of a below-grade City water
reservoir.
Backaround
On October 12, 2004, the City Council authorized the acquisition of the three-acre site
adjacent to Memorial Park. Existing improvements on the site include a 18,525 sf
building, and four shed-type structures ranging in size from 5,200 sf to 5,800 sf. The
remainder of the site is paved. (Attachment A). The Big Blue Bus is storing up to 30
buses at the site until July 2005.
Discussion
Interim Use of Site
On an interim basis staff proposes to relocate the Open Space Management Division's
Public Landscape, Community Forest and Park Operations from the Santa Monica
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Airport to the site. These functions currently occupy a 6800 sf hangar and an adjacent
46,000 sf storage yard at the Airport which construction of Airport Park will displace.
The site will serve as an interim location for Public Landscape, Community Forest and
Park Operations until a permanent location is available.
To ready the site for interim use, Building A, a shed-like building located at the eastern
end as shown on the attached site plan (Attachment A) would be retrofitted with large
doors and used for storage of plant materials, custodial supplies and related equipment.
A modular trailer unit will be placed on the site to provide offices, showers and
restrooms for Open Space Management functions. Exterior site work will provide
surface parking for staff vehicles (40 spaces) and city vehicles (66 spaces).
Necessary planning approvals include. an Administrative Approval and Architectural
Review Board review. Improvements will be completed in time to allow construction of
Airport Park in fall 2005. One-time costs for these improvements are estimated at
between $300,000 and $350,000. Rental costs for the modular trailer unit, estimated at
$76,000 for three years, and on-going utility costs for the site estimated at $26,400
annually, will approximate the rent paid by Open Space Management to the Airport
Fund for the current site and therefore can be absorbed within the division's current
budget.
Community members have expressed interest in exploring the possibility of using a
portion of the site for overflow parking for Memorial Park use. A Conditional Use Permit
would be required for this to occur on a regular basis. Based upon a preliminary review
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of the site conditions, approximately 28 spaces are available with access from 14th
Street and these spaces could be segregated from the balance of the site using existing
fencing. Staff will evaluate this idea and if feasible will apply for a Conditional Use
Permit.
Long Term Use
The site is located adjacent to Memorial Park. The entire block, totaling 13.4 acres,
bounded by 14th and 16th Streets, Colorado Avenue and Olympic Boulevard, is owned
by the City. Memorial Park occupies 10.4 acres of the block. Two baseball fields, one
large multi-use sports field, four lighted tennis courts, a dog run, a children's play area,
a gymnasium, and community meeting rooms, staff offices, the Police Activities League,
the new Santa Monica skatepark, public restrooms, and concession stands are located
at the site. Memorial Park is heavily used by youth sports groups and City classes and
leagues including Little League, Bobby Sox, Santa Monica Adult Softball League, and
AYSO.
The City's Open Space Element and The Parks and Recreation Master Plan stress the
need for additional parkland and identify Memorial Park as an important open space
resource in the City. Policy 1.3 of the Open Space Element targets the acquisition of a
minimum of 5 acres of new parkland, giving priority to accessible locations within the
geographic heart of the community. Policy 3.2 calls for the open space role of Memorial
Park to be redefined to improve its connection to the community and to provide stronger
linkages with other key resources in the City. Parkland acquisition priorities stated in
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the Parks and Recreation Master Plan include acquiring sites in central locations that
are accessible by the broadest cross section of residents, are adjacent to existing parks
or schools, are in excess of one acre and adjoined on at least two sides by streets.
New parks are to be targeted for multiple uses, not for the exclusive use of a single
recreational activity. The Master Plan further identifies the need for additional sports
fields to meet existing and future demand.
To maximize the utility of a costly property acquisition, additional public uses that might
be compatible have been considered by staff. The interests of the community in
securing reliable, independent water led to consideration of constructing a water
reservoir on the site. While further engineering analysis is required, staff believes that
construction of park improvements above an underground reservoir is feasible and will
be the subject of further analysis as planning for the site proceeds.
The acquisition of this site adjacent to Memorial Park is an exceptional opportunity to
engage the community in a long-range planning process for phased improvements to
the entire block to accommodate recreational and underground water reservoir needs.
The resulting plan would identify phased capital improvements to achieve the plan's
goals. Prior to embarking on such a process, City staff will focus on the full range of
funding strategies available to support the permanent improvements and develop a
planning timeline for Council consideration.
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Environmental Review
The proposed interim improvements are categorically exempt (15303 Class 3c)) under
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that the proposed modular unit
would be a small building designed for an occupant load of 30 people or less.
BudQetlFinanciallmpact
Funds for interim improvements will be proposed for Council consideration in the
context of the FY2005-06 City budget.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the interim uses proposed for the site
as described above, and authorize staff to initiate the planning process for these interim
improvements.
Prepared by:
Barbara Stinchfield, Director
Karen Ginsberg, Assistant Director
Elaine Polachek, Open Space Manager
Department of Community and Cultural Services
Attachments:
A. Site Plan
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