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DISCUSSION <br /> As indicated when this item was discussed previously, there a number of issues that require <br /> attention as part of the overall park design and staff and the Commission determined that it was <br /> appropriate to hold a public meeting early in the design/evaluation process to assure that the <br /> park is designed with appropriate public input from the general public and dog owners. A brief <br /> summary of the key design items are detailed below. <br /> Site Analysis <br /> Included as Attachment 2, is the architect's site analysis that outlines, amongst other things, <br /> overall site conditions and various site features. Of note, is the existing topsoil stockpile that is <br /> used occasionally by City staff for various park maintenance and improvement projects. Based <br /> on discussions with the City's maintenance staff, this stockpile will be relocated as part of <br /> project construction which will allow for the expansion of the dog park into the stock pile area. <br /> One benefit of this relocation is that the northern edge of the park can be designed in a more <br /> symmetrical shape which in turn will allow for the reservation of a larger site adjacent to Bernal <br /> Avenue for a future use consistent with the Bernal Specific Plan. This reconfiguration could also <br /> facilitate additional parking, if necessary in the future to meet demand. <br /> As part of the overall development of the Bernal Property, the City prepared environmental <br /> impact reports that covered the Bernal Phase II Specific Plan and the Bernal Community Park <br /> and these documents provide an adequate review of this site. As a result of these documents, <br /> no additional environmental analysis is required for this project. However, notwithstanding this, <br /> the architect contracted with an environmental consulting firm to review those documents in <br /> relation to the proposed dog park and in summary, the consultant indicated that the most <br /> obvious impact of the dog park would be the displacement of gophers and ground squirrels <br /> which will most likely take refuge to similar existing habitat adjacent to the dog park site. Further, <br /> it is assumed that many species that currently use the site are likely to continue its use, to some <br /> extent, during times when the park is inactive (e.g., sunset to sunrise) and that animal use <br /> outside of the fenced area is not expected to change dramatically given that dogs are currently <br /> walking in the area on the existing trail. <br /> Parking <br /> The architect utilized a traffic engineering firm to prepare a parking survey looking at a number <br /> of local off-leash dog parks/areas including Muirwood Community Park in Pleasanton, <br /> Dougherty Hills Dog Park in Dublin and the Canine Corral at Hap Magee Ranch Park in <br /> Danville. The summary results of the survey are as follows: <br /> Summary of Parking Survey <br /> Park Maximum Vehicle Demand Average Vehicle Demand <br /> Muirwood Community 3 3 <br /> Dougherty Hills 9 6 <br /> Hap Magee Ranch 33 21 <br /> Based on this survey, the preliminary concept plan assumes the addition of 12 new parking <br /> spaces which would be in addition to the 13 existing parking spaces creating total parking <br /> capacity for 25 vehicles. However, staff feels it prudent to plan for additional parking if <br /> Page 3 <br />