FROM:
Kevin MacLeod, Recreation Coordinator and Sean Condry, P.E., Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Proposed Hilldale Pocket Park Project
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
That Council receives an update for a proposed pocket park on Jordan Avenue between Hilldale Drive and Forbes Avenue and provide direction to staff.
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BACKGROUND
In 1977 the Town Council closed Jordan Avenue at the corner of Hilldale Drive due to concerns about traffic and speeding in the area. The posted 15-mile speed limit was unenforceable by the police department and did not have the desired result of slowing traffic. As a result, resolution No. 1710 was passed leaving Jordan Avenue open at the United Markets loading area to emergency vehicles and one-way eastbound traffic. The Resolution left an unused portion of Jordan Avenue to the west of the United Markets loading area. Aside from Jordan Avenue neighbors parking their cars in this area the space has gone unused. In the past 5 years a group called Friends of Jordan Avenue have requested the Town build a pocket park in this area and beautify an otherwise abandoned section of Jordan Avenue.
DISCUSSION
The Town of San Anselmo hired an intern for the summer of 2022, Ella Acker, supervised by the Recreation Department, to work on the Hilldale Park Project and survey neighbors in the Jordan Avenue area, as well as other residents in the larger San Anselmo area. A hard copy flyer for the survey was mailed out to 268 addresses in a 700 sq. ft. radius surrounding the proposed park location on June 9, 2022, and the survey link was in the Town Manager’s Newsletter for 4 weeks. The Town received 162 survey responses, largely in favor of the proposed pocket park. We have attached the survey results, Attachment 1.
• 125 of the 162 respondents answered they would like a pocket park on Jordan Avenue
• 53 of the respondents indicated they would be willing to contribute additional time and/or money to the project
• 76 of the respondents said they live within ½ mile from the proposed Hilldale Pocket Park
Along with the survey Town staff conducted a series of public meetings. The first was a Zoom meeting on July 7, 2022, and the second was on July 9, 2022, in person at the proposed location of the park. During the meetings town staff presented information on the park layout and features while answering questions from the local community and addressing their concerns.
The most common question and concern was regarding through traffic from the United Market parking lot to Jordan Avenue and Forbes Avenue. The park will not block the driveway for the United Market loading area and as a result will not affect current traffic patterns in any way. Public comment and feedback from the public during the two meetings was positive and any concerns were addressed by town staff.
In addition, Town staff met with the owner of United Markets since the proposed pocket park location backs up to their loading area and parking lot. The owner spoke with the manager on site, and they had no concerns about the proposed project or location.
Friends of Jordan Avenue created the attached rendering of the park, Attachment 2. The proposed park for phase 1 would be approximately 2000 sq feet with a bark surface similar to the Creek Park picnic area. There would be two picnic tables and an ADA compliant picnic table. Garbage facilities would be installed and collected by Marin Sanitary. Friends of Jordan Avenue would build the proposed perimeter fence with materials supplied by the Town. In addition, the Town would install new ADA ramps at each end of the street. The rendering shows landscaping at each end but there is no water currently and this would either need to come from adjacent properties or the Town would need to look into installing a water meter. Any plants would need to be drought tolerant and approved by MMWD.
Both Maggiora and Ghilotti and Van Midde Concrete have offered to complete some items at cost including removal of the asphalt on the street and installation of the concrete pads. With the volunteer efforts of the Friends of Jordan Avenue, help of contractors, and the Town, the estimated cost to build the park is approximately $30,000. Weekly maintenance of the proposed pocket park would be a shared effort with the community and the Town for now.
FISCAL IMPACT
Construction of the Hilldale Pocket Park is estimated to be approximately $30,000 and funding would come from the General Fund.
CEQA AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY
The proposed pocket park is categorically exempt under CEQA existing facilities 15301 c. Creation of a new pocket park is consistent with the Climate Action Plan section S-1 Urban Forests and Ecosystems and under S-2 Habitat Restoration and Soil Regeneration.