SR 05:165 - Laserfiche WebLink

The Phase II Specific Plan will focus primarily on the development of park and open space elements of the 318-acre City-owned Bemal Property. City staff envisions the entire Phases I and II Bernal Property areas as a 516-acre integrated community, set within a "grand" park environment. Defining characteristics of the grand park setting are stately, commanding, inclusive presence, forested, and recognizable form. Historical precedents considered comparable in purpose include Golden Gate Park in San Francisco (1,013 acres), and Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon (93 acres). City staff and consultants have explored the application of New Urbanism to grand park and open space planning and design in the context of the Phase II Specific Plan area and to define the design parameters of the grand park opportunity for Pleasanton. The results of this effort are presented in the Bernal Property Phase II Specific Plan Area Design Philosophy (Attachment 7) and summarized in the following guiding principles. These principles represent a synthesis of design thought extrapolated t?om the best features of grand parks, selected New Urban ideas, the Draft Bernal Phase II Specific Plan vision statement and objectives, and staff and consultant input. Staff recommends that the Council direct staff to generally incorporate these principles into the policies and guidelines of the Draft Phase II Specific Plan update text. Principle 1. Locate the most intensive park uses on the least amount of land, thus maximizing the open space value of, and preserving existing habitats in natural areas. Principle 2. Locate the least intensive park uses on the largest land areas available to maximize the perception of open space. Principle 3. Consolidate the most intensive park uses next to existing and proposed compatible uses. This should minimize infrastructure costs and maximize the sharing of facilities. Principle 4. Arrange woods and meadows in response to topographic and watershed patterns. Principle 5. Arrange streets, trails and paths in relation to creeks, woods, and meadows. Principle 6. Provide opportunities for pedestrian links throughout the Bernal Property, including bike paths, multi-use trails, transit access, jogging and hiking paths. Provide low-impact path systems in the most sensitive landscapes. Principle 7. Dissipate traffic flows through the use of multiple points of entry, and small, dispersed parking lots. Principle 8. Minimize on-street parking and maximize shared parking opportunities. SR 05:165 Page 8