Pleasanton Parks and Recreation Master Plan

2-28 Pleasanton Parks and Recreation Master Plan Section Two – Recreation Facility Needs Assessment 2014 2.9.4 Acreage Analysis The City of Pleasanton strives to provide five (5) acres of local parkland per thousand residents, as established in the Pleasanton General Plan 2005‐2025, Public Facilities and Community Programs Element, Policy Program 10.18. This policy raises several questions: Are there currently five (5) acres of parkland per thousand residents? If not, how many more acres are needed now and in the future to keep pace with growth? Is the goal of a minimum of five (5) acres per thousand (1,000) residents enough parkland to accommodate all identified future recreation demands? The following discussion addresses these questions, examining the issue of parkland acreage from two standpoints: 1) overall City‐wide acreage needs as compared to the parkland acreage standard and 2) acreage needs as calculated based on identified recreation facility needs. City‐wide Parkland Acreage Based on Acreage Standard In general, a parkland acreage standard is the ratio upon which development fees and/or dedications can be based. Establishment of a standard creates an obligation to fund improvements that achieve the standard throughout the City. The Quimby Act is a California State law that gives each City its authority to require fees and/or dedicated property to offset impacts on park facilities created by new development. Five (5) acres per 1,000 residents is the highest standard allowed under the provisions of the Quimby Act. Establishment of a standard does not necessarily limit the City in the acceptance of negotiated fees or property as conditions of approval for future development. On the other hand, a parkland acreage goal can be higher than the standard, reflecting a community’s desire or need for additional parkland. A City’s acreage goal represents a self‐imposed target that provides a planning guideline without a formal commitment to fund achievement of the goal. The Pleasanton General Plan 2005‐2025 included all parks (except golf courses) and schools (recreation areas only) in acreage analysis totals. This Master Plan does not include schools in the acreage analysis totals since school sites are not always available during non‐school hours and the City does not control availability of recreation facilities at the school sites.