OCPB agenda 070214 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

11-1 Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER 11 - Issues for Further Study / Conclusion 11 Issues for Further Study As is often the case, developing a master plan is like attempting to hit a moving target. Some issues are emerging at the time of the plan development, others require further assessment or elaboration. This chapter addresses, in brief, seven issues that will require additional thought and consideration in coming months and years. A. System Level of Service This Master Plan is built around the premise of a modified community needs-based identification of future facilities and program needs, with a benchmark or back-check using population-based standards. It uses as its basis the continuation of the 1988 Plan’s district park service areas – since that is the reality of how the park system (both existing parks and planned land-banked future parks) has been created. This district park basis continues to be valid both from a methodological and actual ap- proach to defining geographical park needs. The plan also assumes that the parks created since 1998, and those acquired and/or planned for the future, should be focus of future attention for park needs. As time goes by, however, additional needs or opportunities may present themselves. One of the municipalities within the county may have a facility need that could be addressed through a new facility outside of the municipal boundaries, and create an opportunity for a new joint project. The construction of new schools will also present oppor- tunities for co-locating parks and facility needs – likely at the community park level. Unlike the district parks, where there is one larger park for a defined geographic area, community parks may be con- structed “as needed,” and this level of park may be the type of opportunity that could arise from the scenarios identified above. Finally, population and socioeconomic factors will change over time, which may make the case for new park facility or other recreational needs that are not present at the current time. For this reason, it is recommended that the County conduct a new Community Needs Assessment of some type and scale every five years, and that this master plan be updated every 10 years, until changed conditions warrant a completely new approach and plan. This approach will enable new emerging needs to be identified and planned for, and provide a way to ac- commodate new opportunities that will likely arise. B. Subdivision Land Dedication / Payment-in-Lieu System Orange County, similar to many local governments, has a longstanding program to require new residen- tial subdivisions to contribute land or funds (based on a number of lots/number of acres formula) to- ward future parks and open space land and/or facili- ty construction. Since at least 1985, Orange County has received land or funding toward the future park needs via this method. In addition to being a part of the County’s development ordinances, local legisla- tion also enables this tool for Orange County to help insure that new residents and development help pay 1988 Orange County Master Recreation and Parks Plan 125