Thursday, March 15, 2007

Open Space for Land and People

Little Rock Open Space Committee
Policy Statement

SECTION I

It is the policy of the City of Little Rock to establish an open space system which has as its fundamental goal to improve the quality of life for all citizens by being a proactive tool to integrate the urban design element with the creation of cohesive neighborhoods and communities and preserve our natural environment within the metropolitan area. The open space policy should protect private property rights while encouraging environmentally friendly development.   This policy should reduce storm water run-off, improve air quality, preserve biological diversity, foster noise abatement, increase property values, and encourage sustainable development.

A clear open space policy for the City of Little Rock will:
1) Give the City a clear policy and direction for land usage
2) Provide venues for outdoor recreation
3) Establish/improve contrasts to the built environment
4) Provide for safe access to currently fragmented open space lands
5) Create improved avenues for pedestrian and bicycle transportation connections
6) Address both city and non-city owned land
7) Make use of our readily available resources such as parks, watersheds, public utility easements and the Arkansas River
8) Strengthen guidelines for urban infrastructure relating to preservation of water capacity, water quality and storm water drainage
9) Reinforce requirements for development guidelines with regard to use of areas which require special management or regulation (unstable soil areas, floodplains, watersheds, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs, groundwater recharge areas, and areas required for the protection and enhancement of air quality)

Section II

Recommendations:
1. Adequately define the uses and types of open spaces within the City of Little Rock (we recommend reviewing "Open Space Element" as recently adopted by the City of San Diego as a starting point)
2. Strengthen the existing open space ordinance; Revise elements of this ordinance (floodway, hillside, etc..) to meet the City's open space policy
3. Conduct an analysis and inventory of the natural drainage and storm water systems originating or flowing through the City boundaries with the goal of protecting these drainage structures.
4. Inventory existing public and private open space within the City of Little Rock including all "sensitive" lands (including unstable soil areas, floodplains, watersheds, areas required for the protection of water quality and water reservoirs, groundwater recharge areas, areas required for the protection and enhancement of air quality, and high priority ecological areas--see work already completed by Nature Conservatory for Pulaski County)
5. Develop an open space acquisition plan; create a special fund to acquire property, develop incentives for donating land for open space as part of a large scale developments, list priority acquisitions and timelines for their acquisitions
6. Create incentives for private land owners to establish open space.
7. Develop conservation easements as an alternative to city acquisitions.
8. Develop strategies to work with all governmental agencies (sharing data and information) especially other Pulaski County governmental units and the State Land Commissioner in regard to protecting and managing Arkansas River shoreline and river islands.
9. Develop plans to connect existing parks and open spaces both within the city, with those in adjoining communities, and state parks and state natural areas.
10. Identify, manage protect open space associated with public utilities including (but not limited to) CAWD, Wastewater utility, Entergy, AHTD, railroad lines.
11. Develop incentives to restore damaged lands including (but not limited to) quarries, barrow pits, steam corridors and other brown field locations.
12. Develop a conservation subdivision ordinance that contains incentives for residential developers to use this type of subdivision.
13. Set specific goals for the amount of open space and public parkland for each census tract to ensure that all citizens have reasonable close access to parks and open space.
14. Develop clear lines of responsibility and authority within city government for carrying out open space policy (for instance, the Planning Commission may have the responsibility of identify areas that need to be saved as open space while the oversight of existing open space could be the responsibility of the Parks Commission).
15. Create a position within City government to manage existing open space and work to manage acquisition plan

SECTION III

Other Recommendations that may be outside the scope of Open Space:
1. Develop a city wide infill strategy.
2. Review the master parks plan every 3 years.
3. Identify ownership of the Fourche Creek floodway and flood plain; Develop a plan to begin acquiring these properties
4. Develop a comprehensive plan for abandoned properties (both owned by the city and private owners) that could include using them to develop urban open space including additional parks, public gardens, etc.
5. Develop a comprehensive growth plan for the city which should include all of the current city department maps and plans. The goal of the plan is to outline what the city will look like in the next 10/20/50 years.

Thursday, March 15, 2007 11:21:57 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Friday, March 30, 2007 2:54:21 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

If you want to know what kind of impact growth has on parks and open space, look at the revenue that Conway is able to generate with its Park Impact Fees.

Since the fee is structured to replace the capacity that is lost because of growth you can begin to see what is lost in cities like Little Rock that don't have an impact fee.

If they really want a city within a park then they'll pass an impact fee so that local leadership makes the land purchase decisions and not development. Parks aren't gifts given by developers.

Tax Payer

Friday, March 30, 2007 2:57:50 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

How about cleaning up/improving the parks that we already have?

The setting for some of the city's parks are beautiful and unique, however they've all gone considerably downhill in the last several years. With a young child, I frequent Little Rock's parks consistently, and am astonished at the state of some of those playgrounds and outdated equipment.

Maybe a focus on cleaning up and improving and modernizing the existing parks system would be more appropriate than planning new ones.

Concerned

Friday, March 30, 2007 3:13:11 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

What good is seeking public input if you are going to delete it when you don't like the content. Just because I support impact fees doesn't mean you can delete my post. Your own post says the a goal is to "create a special fund to acquire property, develop incentives for donating land for open space as part of a large scale developments, list priority acquisitions and timelines for their acquisitions" Well, hell, look at impact fees.

Ridiculous.

Tax Payer

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 2:13:08 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

I think this policy statement looks great. I would like to see some of
the items be more assertive or progressive.

For example: "11. Develop incentives to restore damaged lands including
(but not limited to) quarries, barrow pits, steam corridors and other
brown field locations."

Couldn't the city create a position that conducts restoration projects?
It could be inside the Parks Maintenance division and use the same
equipment. Switching to native grasses and increasing no-mow areas in
existing greenspaces (especially around creeks) would free up
maintenance workers and equipment operators for these restoration
activities. This would allow for a master restoration plan instead of
the piecemeal or spotty restorations that would take place when done by
other organizations. It would also ensure that the restoration activities take place whereas merely creating incentives for others does not guarantee anything will happen.

The city should also explore multiple sources of funding including
government grants (for Brownfields clean-up and stream restoration
projects), impact fees, etc.

I hope we can get this plan implemented very soon and get started on improving our city!

Johnnie C

Thursday, April 12, 2007 7:43:01 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

I live near Boyle Park, which has an incredibly unique ecosystem, a lovely lake, and wonderful paths -- it could be one of the major jewels in the city... but it also has the reputation of being unsafe. As a single woman, I am extremely hesitant to use the park at any time. I feel that working to improve safety and security in existing parks is a very important issue in the less affluent areas of town. In conjunction with the development of the University District plan, securing Boyle Park would be a great asset. It sometimes feels as though the city has abandoned the average people who inhabit the central areas - our safety and freedom to use city parks and streets is just as important as people on the west side of town.

Karen

Thursday, April 12, 2007 9:25:38 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

I think this proposal would help make Little Rock an even more pleasant place to live and visit. That should encourage businesses to locate here and tourists to linger here, both of which would be good for our local economy.

Where my daughter used to live in Colorado, the bike paths were used regularly by commuters on foot, on bikes, and even on roller blades. Streets near the paths had bike lanes for safety. People seemed to enjoy being able to go from park to park as well.

One thing our visitors from out of state often have commented upon is the number of trees we have in Little Rock. With all the development going on, we need to have a policy that protects this admirable feature of our fair city.

Although I live in Western Little Rock, I agree that green spaces need to be safe and accessible all across the city. Besides promoting good health through cleaner air and water, having appealing places to walk and ride bikes is an encouragement for people to get out and exercise. Green spaces are good for the economy and for the environment, for the body and for the spirit.

Shannon

Shannon Chamberlin

Monday, April 16, 2007 9:46:17 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

I am concerned about the music noise level from Murray Park. Our home was here before the park existed. In the last three years the loud thumping music lyrics are heard word for word in our home. Saturdays and Sundays(when pavilions are free) become intolerable in the Spring and Summer. The listeners increase the volume to try to capture the sound which is impossible outdoors. It floats very easily up and into our home. We love music ourselves but not the intrusive kind. I have spoken to the park department before and they say it is a police problem. There are no warning signs regarding music at the park. The park's geographic location is a police no man's land. Help create better and enforcable policy for this great growing park.-Susan

Susan McGowan

Saturday, April 21, 2007 7:44:37 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Yesterday I exited the interstate and while I was stopped at the light I noticed the wonderful unmowed meadow in the interstate right of way. It was beautiful with flowers and protects the soil and water. Directly in front of me I saw a city park and a city employee on a riding mower cutting the grass real short, including right up to the banks of a stream. No flowers, no habitat for wildlife, great opportunity for erosion and for trash to wash into the stream. Sort of ugly in comparison to the meadow and not very green.

I think the city should have no mow zones and use native plants to improve the beauty and ecology of our parks. Mowing is fine for ball fields, maybe high mowing is appropriate for frisbee areas, dog walking areas, etc. but within 50-100 feet of streams and in other less used areas having the native plants and flowers would be a big improvement in looks and help in water quality in our streams.

The cost of mowing could be saved and put into other things (like native plants, reforestation, safety and play ground equipment) to make LR really a "city in a park" with natural areas appropriate for the capital of the "Natural State".

John

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 10:07:53 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

little rock will benifit now and particularly in the future if an "open space" policy is adopted now.The positive impact of such a policy is obvious to anyone who is concerned about the present sprawling growth we now see all around us. there seems to be very little attention to the impact we are having on our environment.the streams, the air (we're on the edge of non-attainment)the many treeless hill sides all make apparent what's happening. One has to conclude that an open space policy must be adopted---soon.

And why not--what's the negative? Look at the Woodland Edge development.A drive through is an excellent way to see open Space" in pratice. There is an accomodation of needed living space and a very obvious look of openess. The housing density seems about the same as other developments of the same vintage so developers can realize about the same return on their land investment.

With some education policy should be salable.

bob brave

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 4:13:20 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Having discussed this policy statement and the opportunity to comment on these ideas with lots of people I have been struck by a common element in many of their replies. Many people feel that commenting on this policy statement is futile and that their comments will have no impact on the way reckless development is destroying this city’s beauty and natural resources. Can someone from the city comment on this? Could comments made here help pass and ensure enforcement of a powerful open space policy? I think a lot of people feel like big money and large developers always get their way, no matter how damaging their projects are to our natural resources. Examples of this include what has happened in West Little Rock along Cantrell in an area that had been zoned a scenic corridor, the clear-cutting and moving of a large section of Callagahan Creek to make room for a few more houses in a development in the Otter Creek area, and the huge clearing and leveling project going on now between Shackleford Rd. and I-430 to make room for a large shopping center.
I think more people might comment if they knew their actions would actually help preserve and restore our greenspaces and prevent highly damaging projects from being approved.
I said it on here before, but I’d love to see nearly every item in this policy statement implemented and enforced as soon as possible. The longer we wait the more we will lose.
To learn more about great places in the Little Rock area and human impacts on these resources visit: www.fourchecreek.org

Johnnie C

Thursday, April 26, 2007 6:11:22 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

The walkway from Kohl's to Bowman Curve is a great way to start. Even though there is heavy traffic on nearby city roads, the streamside walkway is a pleasant place to enjoy an afternoon outside. Let's have more areas like this one.
John and Mary.

John and Mary

Friday, May 11, 2007 8:07:17 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Part of our city's land use development policy could be a pre-development requirement that for each and every preliminary plat the applicant must have an "open space plan". A dedication of no less than say 20% of the platted area, exclusive of street R/O/W, must be reserved and dedicated as either as a public park or a permanent open space reserve. For smaller platted areas (possibly 40 acres or less) where the city may not want to accept the open space because of maintenance concerns a fee in lieu of dedication could be required.

Another public policy that would greatly assist in the elimination of hillsides, excessive grading, and clearing forested areas is to insist and require that landscape architects and/or land planners prepare the overall development scheme before engaging the civil engineer.

Jack Castin

Friday, May 11, 2007 1:25:19 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

As an avid camper and hiker I have enjoyed the natural beauty of Arkansas for many years. I have always been struck by the millions of dollars we spend to destroy the natural beauty of the place that we actually live. The streams and creeks of this state's natural areas are incomparably beautiful and well worth driving for hours to experience. Where we live however we spend millions of dollars channelizing, concreting, and covering in the name of flood control and safety. The better solution would be to allow the streams their floodplain as open space. The safety issue is actually caused by the channelization which creates a deep rushing torrent of water of which curious children can approach the edge. A shallow stream channel that overflows its banks creates its own buffer zone during times of flooding. Instead of spending the millions we now spend on concrete ditches, spend the money on aquisition of flood plain land. This will create ribbons of natural areas through neigborhoods, widely imparting the value increase and providing an alternate network of paths for bikers and pedestrians. Children would take possession of these areas as their own natural playground. Many of the recreational uses (sports, playground, etc.) are not incompatible with land that may flood every few years.
I believe the current policy of spending large amounts of money for more channellization and concrete ditches is the wrong direction. This money should be rebudgeted to acquire the land around the streams and restore the streams to their natural state. I have no illusions that this can be accomplished easily or quickly in areas that are currently developed. I do believe that if we change direction it could be accomplished over a long period of time in currently developed areas, and it could serve as a blueprint for currently developing areas.

Richard Fish

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 11:04:50 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

I applaud the City's efforts in addressing Open Space - an issue that the capitol city of this state should consider, as many cities across the nation have resolved to face the problem of vanishing open space head on. Though various methods for doing so are available, getting citizen support behind the concept from the outset is a critical step in acheiving a desirable outcome. I believe that citizen commentary will be considered, and can either encourage ongoing investigation of this issue or stop it in its tracks. Whether you support open space or not, let the City know.

It's a long process, have patience. And "here, here" to Jack Castin's comments!

Julie

Name
E-mail
Home page

	Remember Me
Comment (HTML not allowed)
Enter the code shown (prevents robots):

Categories

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Open Space for Land and People