1.4 Building on Other Plans

The 2017 PMP builds on a foundation of plans, studies and ordinances. The most relevant of these are summarized here.

CITY OF FRESNO PLANS AND STUDIES

MASTER PLAN FOR PARKS & RECREATION (1989)

The 1989 Parks Master Plan guided Fresno’s park development for 25 years before being superseded by the new General Plan. It provides a profi le of the Fresno community at that time, establishes park and recreation facility standards and policies, and establishes 17 park planning areas, with proposed new parks and park improvements in each.

GENERAL PLAN (2014)

The General Plan outlines a long-range vision for the physical development of the city, with an emphasis on infi ll development. The Plan’s Parks, Open Space and Schools (POSS) Element analyzes Fresno’s parks and recreation facilities and establishes goals and policies for future development of the parks and recreation system. The General Plan features:

• Classifi cation of park types and calculation of existing “city park space”/”city park land;”

• Level of Service (LOS) goal to provide 5 acres of city park space per 1,000 residents, including 3 acres of community, neighborhood and pocket parks and 2 acres of regional parks, greenways and trails;

• Parks and Open Space map indicating locations and service areas of existing and potential future parks.

The 2017 PMP is the basis for General Plan amendments related to parks and open space.

DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY PLAN (2016)

The Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan further details land use and development characteristics, public facilities, and implementation strategies for Downtown and surrounding areas. The Downtown Neighborhoods Plan emphasizes the role of street trees in providing identity and supporting quality of life, and sets a goal of putting all residents within a half mile of a park or publicly accessible open space. Strategies include partnering with schools, using city-owned vacant land for parks, and evaluating other underutilized parcels for potential parks.

SOUTHWEST FRESNO SPECIFIC PLAN (2017)

The Southwest Fresno Specifi c Plan (not yet adopted as of this writing) is a community-informed vision for a part of Fresno that has experienced disinvestment over the years but has potential for positive change. Among other policies, the draft Specifi c Plan supports an emphasis on improving existing parks fi rst; calls for increased access and amenities at ponding basin parks; identifi es “essential” and “recommended” improvements applicable to all parks; and identifi es future park locations.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN (2016)

The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) analyzes conditions for walking and biking in Fresno, sets goals for Fresno to equitably improve the safety, convenience, access, and completeness of bike facilities, and recommends specifi c improvements. The ATP features maps of existing and future bike and pedestrian networks.

PARK IMPACT FEE NEXUS STUDY UPDATE (2016)

The Nexus Study Update determines the park impact fee needed to cover the acquisition and development of 2 acres of new park land per 1,000 residents as well as a share of debt repayment on the 2008 parks bond. Nexus Study is a legal requirement and basis for the City’s updated Parks Impact Fee (PIF). The Nexus Study Update:

• Projects population growth and household size and estimates average cost of acquiring land and developing parks of each type;

• Calculates cost of providing 2 acres of new neighborhood and community parks per 1,000 residents, plus the equivalent of 0.4 acres per 1,000 of park land improvements associated with 2008 parks bond;

• Acknowledges that additional funding sources are needed to fully achieve General Plan park land standards

• Establishes Park Impact Fee with two components: Park Development

Component, which pays for improvements, and Quimby Land

Acquisition Component, which pays for acquisition.

ADA FACILITIES TRANSITION PLAN (2016)

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that all State and Local government entities make their programs, services, and activities available without discrimination toward people with disabilities. The development of a Facilities Transition Plan is a requirement of the ADA.

The ADA Facilities Transition Plan lists, prioritizes and sets forth a schedule for the physical changes that must be made in order to provide programmatic access to City programs, activities and services. The parks facility improvement priorities identifi ed in the PMP will be included in an addendum to the ADA Facilities Transition Plan.

FRESNO MUNICIPAL CODE

The Fresno Municipal Code provides the regulatory structure for creating new parks in connection with the development approval process, in both chapters 12 and 15. Key provisions are summarized below.

• Article 4.7 establishes the Park Facilities Fee and authorizes City Council to set the parameters, including the amount of land and the typical facilities to be included in parks.

• Article 4.7 Section 12-4.705 states that residential subdivisions with fewer than 50 parcels shall be responsible for paying the park fee but not for

dedicating land. Subdivisions with 50 parcels or more shall pay the fee and dedicate 0.6 acres per 1,000 residents in the form of pocket parks.

• Article 33 states that the City may impose conditions of approval on subdivisions, as needed to achieve consistency with planning policies, design guidelines, ordinances or State law.

• Article 37 defi nes the process for requiring land to be dedicated and reserved for specifi ed public purposes, including parks. The article enables the City to provide the option for a subdivider to pay a fee in lieu of land dedication.

• Article 41 provides subdivision design standards, including standards for park location and design.

• Article 59 describes the Planned Development process, which allows for variation from base zoning where the City fi nds that the proposed development is “demonstrably superior” in terms of community design, environmental preservation, and/or community benefi t.

• Article 61 states that “concept plans” are required when land designated for Low, Medium Low, or Medium Density Residential in the General

Plan is proposed to be annexed. Concept plans must show how they will achieve “complete neighborhoods.”

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER PARKWAY AND THE MIDTOWN TRAIL

The San Joaquin River Parkway Master Plan recognizes and supports related efforts that expand recreational opportunities for Fresnans. The San Joaquin River Parkway offers unique experiences such as kayaking, fi shing, and nature interpretation in the City’s backyard. Several City parks are located adjacent to the Parkway and provide trailhead access points. Parkway land is being assembled and developed incrementally as part of a long-term vision for public access, recreation, and natural area conservation along the river. Development of the San Joaquin River Parkway is being managed by the San Joaquin River Conservancy. Funds have been identifi ed for construction, and funding needs to be identifi ed and allocated for maintenance once the Parkway is built.