Timeline History
NOV 2007 Community process began
MAY 2009 Draft Recreation and Open Space Element released
JUL 2010 Funding for the environmental review secured
JUN 2011 Revised Draft of the Recreation and Open Space Element released
Nov 2013 Final Administrative Draft of the Recreation and Open Space Element Released
Outreach Mayor’s Open Space Taskforce
• 80-member taskforce and numerous working groups, 2007-2008
Community Meetings
• 22 neighborhood-based community meetings, 2008-2009; Open House-December 2013.
Focus Groups- e.g. nature and natural areas, Chinatown tenants and youth, SPUR, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, etc., 2008-2009
PROSACNov., and Dec. 2007; May-Sept. 2009, August 2011, Jan. 2014
Recreation and Park CommissionNov. 2008, June 2009, August 2011, January 2012
Planning CommissionOctober 2008; May 2009; June, August, and October 2011
Community Working Groups, individual stakeholders, neighborhood groups September, October, and November 2011; November 2013
Role of the General Plan General Plan Elements are high level policy and
visionary documents.
General Plan policies vs. the Planning Code
A guide for directing decisions that are “on balance” in conformity with the GP
Challenging to distinguish between high level policies and detailed actions and programs.
Why should we update the Element? Updated plans and priorities
Updated information on priority acquisition and renovation areas
Further clarity and guidance on conversion of open space
Emphasize importance and need for community engagement in open space projects
Inclusion of all our supplemental and new types of spaces: living alleys, parklets, POPOS, etc.
Shifting focus from natural areas to nature and local biodiversity
ProposedObjectives & Policies
ProposedObjectives & Policies
Well-Maintained and Highly Utilized Open Space System Flexible and dynamic use of existing open spaces and recreational facilities: user responsive recreational programming, community garden, concessions, active and passive uses.
Preserving open space by restricting its conversion to non-recreational uses
Maintain open spaces to modern standards
Flexible and dynamic use of existing open spaces and recreational facilities: user responsive recreational programming, community garden, concessions, active and passive uses.
Preserving open space by restricting its conversion to non-recreational uses
Maintain open spaces to modern standards
Population density, high density of low income, seniors, children and youth
Future growth areas
Areas that are not within walking distance of a space
Population density, high density of low income, seniors, children and youth
Future growth areas
Areas that are not within walking distance of a space
High Needs Areas: Priority Renovation and Acquisition Areas
Connectivity:An Open Space Network
Street Network: Green Connectors Parkways Living Streets Living Alleys Street Closures
Trail Network: Bay Trail / Coastal Trail The Ridge Trail Cross-Town Corridor
Restoring local biodiversity including native and non-native habitats
Education and awareness of habitat/ecology.
Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability
Coordinate management on designating and protecting natural areas
Environmentally sustainabledesign
Engaging the Community Design, Programming, and
improvement to recreation and open space
Facilitate community initiated recreation and open space efforts
Secure Long-term Funding Sources
General Obligation Bonds
Tax Revenue options
Public - private partnerships
Park Improvement Districts…
Snapshot of community comments on the 2009 draft
““Our parks are Our parks are special places special places and a respite and a respite
from urban life, from urban life, they should be they should be
protected and not protected and not commercialized.”commercialized.”
““Our parks Our parks should be should be
preserved as preserved as open space.”open space.”
““Concerns Concerns about about
privatization: privatization: focus shouldn’t focus shouldn’t
be on short-be on short-term revenue term revenue
generation, but generation, but on long-term on long-term protection of protection of
our open our open spaces.”spaces.”
““Nature should be Nature should be incorporated incorporated
throughout the City throughout the City and greater and greater
emphasis should be emphasis should be placed on its placed on its
importance in the importance in the ROSE.”ROSE.”
““Recreation should Recreation should have a greater/lesser have a greater/lesser
emphasis (both emphasis (both comments heard).”comments heard).”
““Sustainability Sustainability should play a should play a
more prominent more prominent role.”role.”
““Maintain Maintain private open private open
space space requirements in requirements in the ROSE, not the ROSE, not
just in the just in the Planning Code.”Planning Code.”Maintaining our parks
is a key concern.
What has Changed since the previous draft?
What has Changed since the previous draft?
What Changed from the 2011 Draft Emphasis on Recreation in addition to Open Space
Clear guidelines on replacement open space where removed (Objective 1)
Focus on better utilizing parks and open spaces rather than emphasis on activation (Objective 1)
Updated the high needs areas per recent census data (Objective 2)
Focus on local biodiversity inclusive of all habitats (Objective 4)
Emphasis on community engagement in programming of open space in addition to capital improvements (Objective 5)
Addition of criteria for public private partnerships (Objective 6)
Established a new network of Green Connections
Recreation and Open Space Element InitiationPlanning Commission, City Hall, Room 400
2014 Adoption Schedule
Jan.
9
Feb.
20
Jan.
7
Jan.
15
Feb.
27
Recreation and Open Space Element Informational PresentationRecreation and Park Commission-Full Commission, City Hall, Room 416
Parks and Recreation Open Space Advisory Committee Presentation
All comments due to the Planning Department staff.
Recreation and Open Space Element AdoptionPlanning Commission, City Hall, Room 400
THANK YOUTHANK YOU
Please send comments to [email protected] (415) 575-9068
[email protected] (415) 558-6332
http://openspace.sfplanning.org