Laserfiche WebLink
Memo to the Park and Recreation Commiszion/Woodland Hills <br />April 14, 2004 <br />Page 3 <br />Once the buffer is acquired, in order to protect its integrity, proactive measures should be <br />considered and undertaken in order to prevent damage from construction and the spread of oak <br />wilt. This will require resources in terms of staff time and contractor expense, most likely from <br />the park dedication fund. <br />Lastly, there is the cost in terms of the Commission's integrity. The Conuitission has been able <br />to negotiate for park dedication, and has yet to play the "condemnation card" in order to get <br />close to what it desires for parkland. What message will this send to developers of future <br />subdivisions, and is this the place that this "card" should be played? <br />Access Road to Well House <br />The last issue the Commission should consider is the access road to the well house. It has <br />always been the Commission's desire to require an access to the well house from the <br />development in order to discontinue their use of the Great Northern Trail. <br />In analyzing the site, what is the benefit of moving the access to the well house? In all <br />likelihood, grading will need to occur (the natural grade is at least two feet above the driveway <br />grade), and additional trees would need to be removed to accomplish the construction. <br />Construction of the driveway would also remove an opporttmity to reforest the area, thereby <br />providing additional screening of the facility from the trail. <br />Discussion of the construction of a proposed access road has to consider which possible <br />gains/losses are most important to the Commission. Probable gains of constructing the road <br />means less vehicle traffic on the trail and less opportunity for the southern trail gate to be left <br />open. Probable losses for constructing the road are construction costs (who pays -Utilities or <br />Parks?), additional tree loss, plus possible community perception that the Commission created <br />an elephant sized solution to anant-sized problem. <br />Recommendation <br />The Commission is asked to deternine the following regarding this issue: <br />1. Commitment to a neighborhood park within the buffer area. <br />2. Determination of components to be included within the neighborhood park. <br />3. Commitment to condemnation if necessary. <br />4. Commitment to moving the access to the well house. <br />S:\PLAIVIVING\Caze Fdes\2004\P 04-02 Woodland Hills\4 14 04 P &RMemo.doc <br />