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POTENTIAL LAND TRADES <br /> Staff discussed the pros and cons of three sites owned or to be acquired by the School District: <br /> • Bethel Community Park: A trade for additional land at this site would not be <br /> advantageous to the City or to the neighborhood unless the trade allowed for the <br /> development of park facilities not permitted with the current configuration. Given the <br /> school district's desire to construct a second school at the southwest corner of Legacy <br /> and Avalon, it does not appear that any additional park services could be provided to <br /> the Bethel neighborhood. <br /> • Clear Lake Road Site: A land exchange for this site would represent a trade of <br /> developable neighborhood park space for regional open space. This may or may not <br /> be in the best interests of the Bethel neighborhood. A further evaluation of the open <br /> space opportunities at this site will be required. <br /> • Royal and Terry: The School District is currently pursuing acquisition of this <br /> property for a future elementary school. If they are successful, some property may be <br /> available as a trade to the City. However, the site is heavily impacted by wetlands. <br /> Further evaluation of this site would be required to determine if the level of increased <br /> service at this location trade would balance the loss at Candlelight. <br /> NEXT STEPS <br /> Based on the information outlined above, staff recommend a full scoping session with City <br /> and School District representatives to discuss a range of options. City staff are concerned that <br /> a potential land exchange involving Candlelight Park may not meet the School District's time <br /> constraints, and that acquisition of an alternative site with fewer site constraints may be more <br /> feasible. <br /> Prior to this meeting, information from either the School District or the City should be <br /> collected to answer the following questions: <br /> • What project constraints are fixed? What constraints are flexible? <br /> • Are there funding issues that have implications for the timeline and that may also have <br /> permitting implications (federal funds may require additional permit requirements)? <br /> • Are their wetlands at Candlelight Park? (Note: Since this is information that will be <br /> required for the park development, regardless of a land exchange with the School <br /> District, staff in Parks Planning will proceed immediately to have a wetlands <br /> determination and delineation prepared.) <br /> • What is the status of open waterways on the site and what are the current regulatory <br /> issues? <br /> • Will development of Candlelight Park for a school require rezoning from the current <br /> AG zoning? <br /> • What will City staff in Transportation require for street connectivity for development <br /> of Candlelight Park site? <br /> • What are the neighborhood and community losses /gains for parks, recreation and <br /> open space associated with a trade for school district property at Clear Lake Road or <br /> the potential acquisition site at Royal and Terry? <br /> Bethel /City Partnership 10/27/00 <br /> Parks Planning 3 <br />