REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with the Irvine Company for Construction of a Tot Lot at Swegles Park and Adopt a Finding of Categorical Exemption Under CEQA Guideline 15303.
BACKGROUND
On August 13, 2012, the Planning Commission approved a planning application submitted by the Irvine Company for 955 Stewart Drive. The application was for a Special Development Permit for 186 residential rental units, vesting tentative map and mitigated negative declaration. The project had a number of conditions of approval including the possible dedication and improvement of approximately 0.62 acres of property for public park purposes. The proposed park land did not meet the City standard for soil contamination so it could not be accepted for use as a city park. Without land dedication, the project was required to pay a total park-in-lieu fee of $3,018,864.82. On September 23, 2013, the 0.62 acre parcel originally planned for park purposes was approved by the Planning Commission for an additional 16 residential units. The additional 16 units required park fees of $367,889.64. Irvine's final requirement for park fees as part of their development at 955 Stewart was $3,386,754.46.
Swegles Park is located immediately north of the Irvine Company project at 545 Santa Real Avenue and was constructed in 2013 by the developer of the northerly property. The developer, WL Homes LLC, provided for land dedication and constructed the park improvements at no cost to the City. However, per the City's Park Design Guidelines, Swegles Park, a "Mini Park", should include a tot lot, and the City understood that additional improvements for Swegles Park would be funded and constructed at a later time.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan Goal CC-11 - Provide a wide range of recreation programming.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project is exempt from CEQA -New Construction/Conversion of Small Structures (CEQA Guideline 15303).
DISC...
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