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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 663 RESOLUTION NO. 663 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA ADOPTING A PERMANENT OPEN SPACE ELEMENT FOR THE GENERAL PLAN WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga desires to preserve open-space lands within the City Limits and its Sphere of Influence; and WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga adopted an Interim Open Space Element effective until June 30, 1973; and WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga completed extensive studies of all existing open spaces in order to formulate an Open Space Element including goals and policies; and WHEREAS, said goals and policies along with recommended actions will be followed in the implementation of the Open Space Element; and ~ WHEREAS, on June 11, 1973 the City of Saratoga Planning Commission recommended to the City Council for adoption the attached Open Space Element; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga adopts the attached Open Space Element (Exhibit "A'r), and incorporates it into the City of Saratoga General Plan. The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of Saratoga at a regular meeting held on the Z~ day of .T~ ~ , 1973, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmen Smith, Dwyer, Bridges, Diridon and Kraus NOES: None ABSENT: No~ ATTEST: CITY CLERK EXI{IB!T "A" OPEN SPACE ELEMENT City of Saratoga · WILLIA2.iS & MOCI%,Z : CITY A]x]) REGIO>L~L PLA~ING 1045 Sansome Street, San Francisco, California 94111 Adopted by Planning Commission - June 11, 1973 INTRODUCTI.ON Much of Saratoga's distinction and exclusive reputation is attributable to its low density residential patterns, beautiful orchards and adjacent mountain background. To preserve the quality of life in Saratoga, these assets must be recognized as an essential part of the City's open space inventory. Otherwise~ their heritage can easily and quickly be destroyed by complacent · attitudes which neglect conservation oriented planning and permit haphazard economic-oriented development. Already, policies to limit growth have been promulgated within the City proper, and five year service boundaries have been established for the Sphere of Influence to assure orderly low density urban expansion in selected areas beyond the City's limits. Existing. open space in Saratoga is unique in sSveral ways. First, it provides an unmatched backdrop for the City. Second, past and current develop- ~ent policies have resulted in extremely low density residential development in much of the City. One acre plus lots provide private recreation space and an overall sense of openness in developed areas. Third, the past history of the City as a s~rmmering place for wealthy Bay Area residents has endowed Saratoga with several outstanding recreational and open space resources. Finally, pre- vious history as urbanizing part of unincorporated Santa Clara County resulted in the uncoordinated location of a large number of schools in Saratoga by several school districts. These many districts confuse the identity and co- hesiveness of saratoga but their school sites do make major contributions to saratoga's recreation and open space resources. Open spaces provide places for recreational activities and neighborhood commonsl Open space is useful in ways other than recreation. It serves to separate neighborhoods and buffer land uses as well as provide intervals of green to break the monotony of continuous development. Open space also helps to prevent erosion 'and allow water to seep back into the ground. Open space is essential to provide habitats for small animals, plant and trees. It con- tributes to protection from the spread of fire and from earthquake destruction. Open space in Saratoga provides many small areas of scenic beauty. Trails for hiking and biking would be uninteresting but for the open spaces they traverse. Open spaces.are critical to maintaining the character of the physical assets which make up this unique setting. They must be protected. The re- .maining open spaces, vacant and agricultural lands, orchards, streams and parks must be identified ~nd evaluated to determine their best use or non-use. The purpose of this open space element is tO promulgate the value of open space and to identify programs and methods which will aid in the preservation and development of open space in ways more beneficial to continuing the high quality of life in Saratoga. This purpose is to' be implemented by the adoption of the open space policies and goals and following the recommended action program con- tained in the succeeding paragraphs. OpenSSpace Policies The policy concerning open space is intended to broadly define the expectations of Saratoga.residents concerningopen space. These policies help to determine how much open space is needed, which kind of open space is considered most beneficial and what kind of fiscal and maintenance responsi- bilities the citizenry are willing to assume. The policies outlined here were the product of a policy conference sponsored By the City and open to all residents of the City in April 1973. Each conclusion presented here was adopted by a majority of those at the Conference. These policies will define the general parameters of the open space action program. . The low density residential characterlof Saratoga should be maintained. · . Development in the Sphere of I.nfluenCe shall be in an orderly, regulated and limited manner based findings on topography, geology, soils, safety, conservation, public facility availability and access. . The importance of the views of the mountains from the City shall be a £actor when considering development in the Sphere of Influence. · Landscaping is generally adequate but attention shail be given to preserving natural and/or orchard open space. . Park dedication provisions of the subdivision ordinance and planned community residential development are recognized as important methods for the City to obtain open spaces. . School sites should provide open space and recreation resources of the City. .' The Creeks which lace through Saratoga shall be preserved as nearly as possible in their natural state because of their open space and recreational values. OPEN SPACE GOAL~ 1. To preserve and maintain in its natural state as much of the open space lands in the Sphere of Influence as is practicable. 2. To provide trails, paths, and scenic highways for c~tizen access to areas in the Sphere of Influence. 3. To preserve and improve the low density'and natural character of Saratoga by.the inclusion of permanent open space within the City. 4. To' enhance built-up areas with landscaping, especially in commercial areas .and along streets. 5. 'To provide parks and recreational facilities ~ithin the City which are accessible to each neighborhood, unless the low density of an area makes it unnecessary. 6. To assist private owners of open space lands to maintain them in their existing state and make them more accessible to the public. 7. When development must occur, encourage forms of planned community develop- ment that provi.des large amounts of visible open space adjacent to public streets. 8. To use open space to provide safety from hazards to human life such as wildfires, earthquake destruction, landslides and flooding. 9. To conserve natural vegetative and topographic features which exist in Saratoga and its Sphere of Influence. 4 RECOM~ENDED ACTION Modern attitudes, strengthened by improved knowledge, environmental concern and supportive legislation have created strong implications that traditional concepts of the primacy of individual property rights may no longer prevail. Local governments are mandated to become less passive in the urban process and exert greater influence over the character and timing of developments. The trend of planning in the 1970!s is toward sophisticated environmental control. To accomplish this requires organizing and managing available resources, utilizing available controls and, where necessary, inventing new, bold techniques to make best use of, enjoy and preserve for the future our inherited estate. -. The Saratoga Open Space Element is an attempted response to this challenge. Implementation can be by a variety of means including public education, persuasion, regulation and acquisition. There is no suggestion th'at the public acquire · property w~thout fair compensation; however, there may be questions as'to what is, under modern circumstances, fair compensaeion. Maj or .F.~opo sal s Cit' 1. Recommend appropriate zoning for land not located in y s Urban Service 2. Recommend a Hazard Zoning District to be applied to land where development · would imply serious risks to persons and property. 3.' Establish an Open Space District to be applied to private and public land where open space is a primary or secondary feature (parks, schools, utility rights of way, some institutions and private recreational facil- ities). 4. Expand the function of school grounds to include active puclic recreation. 5. Establish priorities for acquisition of park land and development of facilities. 6. Establish priorities for public open space and trails. 7. Determine the feasibility of acquiring a park site near ArgonaUt School. 8. Maintain Saratoga's low density character with even lower densities than now exist in steep areas, according to slope and other physical character- istics. 5 9- Encourage ~hat development preserve or replace natural vegetation to the greatest possible extent. 10. Encourage planned con~nunity development designed to provide masses of open space. 11. Maintain the existing height limits for buildings. 12. Determine and preserve, where possible, key view areas, both toward and from the mountains. 13. Determine, designate and preserve~ if possible, buildings and sites of historic and cultural importance. 14. Use as much as possible the open space benefits of utility rights of way, schools and institutions. 15. Encourage dedicating to the City excess public lands, These lands could 'then be developed for parks and open space. 16. Consider increasing the park dedication requirement in connection with subdivisions. 17. Encourage o~mers of large parcels to pla~e their land into agricultural preserves (Williamson Act), ~here appropriate. 18. Coordinate with the Flood Control District to attempt natural preserva- tion of the City creeks and recreation use of the banks, wherever possible. 19. Support State, County and District park acquisition programs consistent with Saratoga plans and policies. Review and Revision This Element, even though adopted, is intended to be preliminary in the sense that it needs to be revised and coordinated with the other Plan Elements to be prepared during 1973. T~e current planning program will culminate. in a composite, comprehensive General Plan that will include open space reconmenda- tions, as well as other proposed uses for.land within the City and its Sphere · of Influence.