The purpose of this agenda item is for City Council to hold a public hearing and consider on first reading Ordinance No. 2126 adopting an update to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan.
The current Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan (The Plan) was adopted in 2005. A review of the Plan in 2016 revealed that 95 percent of the priority projects had been completed or designed. An update was required to evaluate future parks, recreation and open space needs.
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan is one of the City’s eight official Master Plans and is focused on five specific Comprehensive Plan goals that pertain to Parks and Recreation. They include destination activity centers, great neighborhoods, outstanding cultural arts, educational and recreational opportunities, environmentally responsible community and beautiful community. The priorities identified in The Plan work toward achieving these goals. The Plan identifies facilities and programs that residents would like to see added or improved. Based on community input the City prioritized the needs. The highest priorities and recommended projects in the Plan will receive consideration for future funding through the City’s Capital Improvement Program and Operating budgets based on the capacity of the City to fund implementation over five to ten years.
City staff worked closely with the consultant (Halff Associates) to complete the public engagement, inventory and assessment phases, draft action items for prioritization, and finalize the draft Plan document. Residents were encouraged to participate in the plan development through multiple public engagement tools. These included a statistically valid survey, two public open houses, notices in the Sugar Land Today publication, HOA quarterly meetings and social media. The Plan update was placed on the City’s website and an Online Town Hall was available for additional public comment on the draft document from November to early December. Public comments received were in support of the Master Plan update recommendations.
The PARCS Board is the citizen advisory Board that has provided feedback and recommendations for the Plan update at all project phases. Categorically, their input and direction focused on priority planning and development projects as well as policy issues, land acquisition needs, recreation programs, and special events. The Board received a final overview workshop of the Plan at their monthly meeting in November and the board unanimously voted to recommend the draft Master Plan on November 12, 2017.
The City’s Charter requires the Planning and Zoning Commission to make a recommendation to City Council for consideration of all master plans as components of the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission received a final overview workshop of the project at the December 12, 2017 P&Z meeting, during which time their general remarks were in support of The Plan. On January 9, 2018, the Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of the Master Plan to City Council. One member of the public spoke in support of the plan at the hearing.
On January 23, 2018, City Council held a workshop which included a review of the recommended projects and policy guidance for the Master Plan. Discussion included future parks development at Gannoway Lake Park, Brazos River Park and the 65-acre Community Park. City Council expressed support for strategies outlined in the Plan to address policies regarding use of athletic facilities, demographic trends and the pursuit of public private partnerships for parks facilities, programs and events. Strong support was expressed for improving Senior Programs and creative ways to offset cost of parks development and improvements such as grant opportunities. City Council will ultimately make a determination upon review of studies and recommendations as outlined in the short, mid, and long-term horizons identified in the Master Plan update. Overall, City Council did not express any major concerns or issues with the 2018 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan as presented.
City staff, the PARCS Board, and the Planning and Zoning The purpose of this agenda item is for City Council to hold a public hearing and consider on first reading Ordinance No. 2126 adopting an update to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan.
The current Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan (The Plan) was adopted in 2005. A review of the Plan in 2016 revealed that 95 percent of the priority projects had been completed or designed. An update was required to evaluate future parks, recreation and open space needs.
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan is one of the City’s eight official Master Plans and is focused on five specific Comprehensive Plan goals that pertain to Parks and Recreation. They include destination activity centers, great neighborhoods, outstanding cultural arts, educational and recreational opportunities, environmentally responsible community and beautiful community. The priorities identified in The Plan work toward achieving these goals. The Plan identifies facilities and programs that residents would like to see added or improved. Based on community input the City prioritized the needs. The highest priorities and recommended projects in the Plan will receive consideration for future funding through the City’s Capital Improvement Program and Operating budgets based on the capacity of the City to fund implementation over five to ten years.
City staff worked closely with the consultant to complete the public engagement, inventory and assessment phases, draft action items for prioritization, and finalize the draft Plan document. Residents were encouraged to participate in the plan development through multiple public engagement tools. These included a statistically valid survey, two public open houses, notices in the Sugar Land Today publication, HOA quarterly meetings and social media. The Plan update was placed on the City’s website and an Online Town Hall was available for additional public comment on the draft document from November to early December. Public comments received were in support of the Master Plan update recommendations.
The PARCS Board is the citizen advisory Board that has provided feedback and recommendations for the Plan update at all project phases. Categorically, their input and direction focused on priority planning and development projects as well as policy issues, land acquisition needs, recreation programs, and special events. The Board received a final overview workshop of the Plan at their monthly meeting in November and the board unanimously voted to recommend the draft Master Plan on November 12, 2017.
The City’s Charter requires the Planning and Zoning Commission to make a recommendation to City Council for consideration of all master plans as components of the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission received a final overview workshop of the project at the December 12, 2017 P&Z meeting, during which time their general remarks were in support of The Plan. On January 9, 2018, the Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of the Master Plan to City Council. One member of the public spoke in support of the plan at the hearing.
On January 23rd, City Council held a workshop which included a review of the recommended projects and policy guidance for the Master Plan. Discussion included future parks development at Gannoway Lake Park, Brazos River Park and the 65-acre Community Park. City Council commended staff for strategies outlined in the Plan to address policies regarding use of athletic facilities, demographic trends and the pursuit of public private partnerships for parks facilities, programs and events. Strong support was expressed for improving Senior Programs and creative ways to offset cost of parks development and improvements such as grant opportunities. City Council will ultimately make a determination upon review of studies and recommendations as outlined in the short, mid, and long term horizons identified in the Master Plan update. Overall, City Council did not express any major concerns or issues with the 2018 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan as presented.
City staff, the PARCS Board, and the Planning and Zoning Commission support the update to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan and recommend approval of Ordinance No. 2126 on first reading.