An
assortment of long-sought sports, recreational and other public
amenities has been suggested for one of the largest-remaining, vacant
city-owned sites, the land on west Bastanchury Road once planned for
a 1,200-student Friends Christian High School.
The
suggestions are in a report commissioned by the city from the Urban
Land Institute and discussed briefly at a recent City Council session
before a unanimous “receive and file” vote.
Among
ideas proffered in the report are dog and skate parks, soccer fields
and an equestrian center, with construction financed by selling a
portion of the 40-acres for residential development. However, the
report did not address funding for ongoing maintenance of public
areas.
And,
importantly, three council members indicated the site is not high
priority, falling behind Town Center development and decisions
regarding a potential new library and possible actions on the
proposed 452 Esperanza Hills-Cielo Vista homes just north of the city
limits.
The city
is obtaining appraisals on the three properties comprising the 40.5
acres on the north side of Bastanchury Road between Casa Loma and
Eureka avenues: the 13.5-acre southern “base” site, the
19.37-acre middle “main” site and the 7.63-acre northern “tank
farm” site.
Only the
“base” site, currently zoned residential estate with an oil
overlay, is without development restrictions. The “main” and
“tank farm” sites, now zoned planned development, have deed
restrictions from seller Shell-Western allowing public uses but no
housing.
Concepts
developed for the entire site took into consideration more than 180
email and regular mail responses the city received last year after a
public input request and more formal replies to “requests for
interests” conducted by the city, also last year.
The
responses suggested 38 different uses, including such non-starters as
cemetery, lake, bowling alley, medieval village, water park,
western-theme park and a villas-hotel complex.
Most-mentioned
ideas were compiled for a top 10 list: children's park, church,
community events, dog park, equestrian, homes, library, skate park,
sports complex and tennis courts.
Current
“base” site zoning would allow 24 homes at 1.8 units-per-acre,
with the city realizing a potential $15.2 million for the land. Other
options: 35 homes at 2.6 units-per-acre for $17.1 million and 47
homes at 3.5 units-per-acre for $20 million.
The
report presented three concepts for the site:
--Two
soccer fields, playground, dog park, skate park, community building,
restroom, amphitheater and five-acre equestrian center costing $17.4
million.
--One
soccer field, playground, four tennis courts, dog park, skate park,
picnic area and eight-acre equestrian center at $15.4 million.
--Traditional
park, playground, two soccer fields, one artificial turf soccer field
with stadium seating, restroom, skate park and 10-acre equestrian
center at $16.4 million.