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Home My WebLink About08 CHAPTER 7 I I. . . PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE PLAN Chapter 7 Open Space Introduction Communities use the term "open space" differently as the natural and built environments differ so widely from place to place. In Auburn we define open space as land largely undeveloped, which has been left in a natural, near natural or natural appearing condition. Open space includes both public and privately owned land. The Growth Management Act of 1991 (GMA) recommends that cities and counties develop park and recreation elements which complement the expected land development pattern of the community (RON 36.70A.070(8)). The GMA also requires us to "identify open space corridors within and between urban growth areas. They shall include lands useful for recreation, wildlife habitat, trails, and connection of critical areas." (RCW 36.70A.160). This plan is intended to meet the requirements of the GMA, and to ensure that Auburn still has green spaces years from now. Why We Need Open Space The majority of the Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan is devoted to determining how we can best serve our human constituents. The Open Space component of the Plan is different, however. In addition to benefiting people, open space is valuable to wildlife and to maintaining environmental quality. We are planning for the entire community. Open space benefits are many and diverse. In addition to environmental advantages, open space provides psychological relief and opportunity for solitude that people need on occasion. Open space can: · Provide physical and visual buffers between urban and rural areas, and between incompatible uses. · Provide opportunities for passive and active outdoor recreation, in close to home settings. · Preserve natural areas and environmental features with significant educational, scientific, wildlife habitat, historic, and/or scenic values such as views of major visual resources i.e., as Mount Rainier, the valley floor, and vistas along scenic routes. · Provide public access to creeks, rivers and other water bodies. · Create distinctive settings within the city or within a neighborhood by preserving features such as hillsides, rivers, wetlands, scenic corridors and potential trail corridors. 7-1 Auburn * More Than You Imagined CI1Y OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON . Provide connections between developed areas and natural areas. Provide corridors suitable . for wildlife movement. . Offer health and safety benefits such as flood control, protection for water supply, cleansing of air, and separation from hazards such as landslides. Goals and Policy The goals and objectives of the Open Space Plan are focused on developing a high quality, diversified park and open space system that preserves and enhances significant environmental resources and features. Goal 1 To acquire and manage important open spaces in the City of Auburn. Objective 1.1 Coordinate planning efforts to create a system of open spaces, an acquisition and conservation strategy, a management and maintenance program, public art and an education component. (This objective supports the City of Auburn's Comprehensive Plan goal 21, objective 21.2). Objective 1.2 Pursue acquisition and conservation of critical open space lands. Acquisition of open space should be consistent with the site selection criteria and conservation priorities adopted with the Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan. . Goal 2 To develop a Greenbelt Open Space System with an interconnecting network of open space land allowing movement of people and wildlife. Objective 2.1 Develop a system of trail corridors/greenbelts to link major parks and open spaces, residential neighborhoods, and other activity centers such as schools, employment centers, and community centers. Objective 2.2 Explore the use of utility and transportation corridors to expand the trail system. . 7-2 · · · PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE PLAN Goal 3 A funding mechanism should be established so that open space can be acquired on a regular basis. Objective 3.1 Open space proposed for acquisition with public funds should be evaluated for criteria using the Open Space Evaluation Form in the Appendix. Objective 3.2 The City seeks to acquire less-than-fee interest in lands which can provide open space benefits compatible with reasonable private uses of the remaining ownership interest. Policy 3.2.1 The City pursues agreements for public use of utility rights-of-way for public trails or as connectors between open space parcels. Policy 3.2.2 The City should approve use of public trail rights-of-way for underground utilities, or crossing of rights-of-way, in exchange for public use of utility rights-of-way or in return for fees dedicated to open space acquisition, maintenance or operation. Policy 3.2.3 The City participates with other government agencies or land trusts in joint acquisition or land trades of regionally important open space lands. Policy 3.2.4 The City devises methods for efficient and equitable exchanges between land owning divisions of City government to achieve open space goals. Policy 3.2.5 Conservation easements along river and stream corridors throughout the City are being sought. The program seeks continuous easements across property boundaries along these corridors. A System of Open Spaces To maximize the benefit of open space lands, Auburn seeks a meaningful system of open space. An open space system that best serves the needs of people consists of a series of activity centers, interconnected by open space corridors. Because the central portion of Auburn is already largely developed, it will be difficult to develop a connected open space system in this location. Therefore, the care and preservation of individual green spaces such as parks and school grounds becomes very important. The function of public lands as neighborhood open space should be carefully analyzed before any changes in use or ownership are considered. 7-3 Auburn * More Than You Imagined · · ·