The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCFW Open Space Acquisition ProgramOpen Space Acquisition Program Council Work Session December 3, 2019 Jennifer Dyke, CFM Stormwater Program Manager Trinity Trail Planning Team •North Central Texas Council of Governments •Streams & Valleys •Tarrant Regional Water District 2 •City Departments •Budget •Code, Environmental •Communications •Economic Development •Park & Recreation •Planning & Development •Transportation Public Works, Stormwater •Water •Why Preserve Open Space? •Open Space Planning •Potential Acquisition Areas •Acquisition Funding •Next Steps 3 Why Preserve Open Space? It helps us achieve our vision of being the most livable city in the country 4 Population Growth, 1950-2045 Fort Worth, Dallas, and Arlington 5Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NCTCOG 278,778 741,206 1,412,326 434,462 1,197,816 1,704,996 7,692 365,438 532,260 0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000 1,600,000 1,800,000 2,000,000 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 Fort Worth Dallas Arlington 895,008 Fort Worth 13th Largest City in the US May 2019 620012019 North Fort Worth Development FEMA Current FEMA Historic What Kind of Community do we Want to be? 7 OR Make Fort Worth the Nation's Safest City •Flood reduction through stormwater capture and conveyance •Study of 300 cities showed that more green space was associated with- •Lower risk of crime •Fewer burglaries •Fewer violent crimes 8 Patricia-insert appropriate image City Council Strategic Goals Improve Mobility & Air Quality •Connects neighborhoods and increases recreation/trail connectivity opportunities •Reduces air pollution •Decreases Urban Heat Island 9 Patricia-insert appropriate image- City Council Strategic Goals Create & Maintain a Clean & Attractive City •Improves water quality in Fort Worth and regionally •Provides natural recreational and educational opportunities •Protects wildlife habitat 10 Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Mountain Bikers' Association City Council Strategic Goals Strengthen the Economic Base...Create Quality Jobs 11 •Study of millennials identified top priorities as living near parks & open space,work, & transit •Helps compete for talent •Improves nearby property values •Promote tourism •The Fort Worth Nature Center has approximately 60,000 visitors each year City Council Strategic Goals Building Blocks of Economic Development Promote Orderly & Sustainable Development •Open space quality, connectivity, and public access helps maintain sustainability 12 City Council Strategic Goals SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Spheres of Sustainable Development FW Adopted Plans with Open Space Goals Comprehensive Plan •Strategic Stormwater Management Program Master Plan (MP) •Floodplain Management Plan •Nature Center & Refuge MP •Southside Medical District Strategic Plan •Downtown FW Strategic Action Plan •Cultural District MP 13 •Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan •Active Transportation Plan •Confluence: The Trinity River Strategic MP •Trinity River Vision MP •Trinity River Vision Neighborhood Recreational Enhancement Plan •Lake Worth Vision Plan & Watershed Greenprint •Lake Arlington MP Comprehensive Plan Adopted Policies-Examples •Protect land needed for projects such as natural stormwater conveyance &detention, riparian buffer protection, & linear greenways with trails •Encourage the preservation &enhancement of the natural landscape by retaining trees, natural drainage ways, & unique vistas •Conserve riparian buffers to protect water quality of Lake Worth & Eagle Mountain Lake •Protect the environmental quality of Lake Arlington 14 Open Space Planning 15 •How should we identify priority open spaces to preserve? •Not for active/sports use •Passive/trail use is encouraged •Limited ongoing maintenance cost/responsibility (natural is best) 5 6 11 12 13 16 Ecosystem Preservation Economic Development Community Access, Equity & Iconic Places Water Quality Flood Control Health & Recreation Open Space Acquisition Prioritization Criteria Secondary Criteria Affordability Bluestem Park, Alliance Area 16 Potential Acquisition Areas 17 Lake Arlington Shoreline FEMA FloodplainExisting Parks 500’ Lakeshore Buffer Existing TrailProposed TrailProposed SidepathProposed Bicycle Facility Urban Village 2015 Opportunity 19 2019 Opportunity Lost? 20 ETJ ETJ ETJ ETJ Aledo West Fort Worth/Mary’s Creek Area FEMA FloodplainExisting ParksExisting TrailProposed TrailProposed SidepathProposed Bicycle Facility Imagery: ESRI World Imagery Future Water Reclamation Facility Sycamore Creek Area Bacteria Regulatory Requirements Majority Minority Area Majority Minority Area FEMA Floodplain Existing Parks Existing TrailProposed Trail Proposed Sidepath Proposed Bicycle Facility Existing Bicycle Facility Existing Signed Route Existing Sidepath Existing Natural Surface Trl “Some of Fort Worth's Last Remaining Natural Open Spaces Lie Along West Fork East” Reference: Confluence,The Trinity River Strategic Master Plan The River Partners-Fort Worth, Stream &Valleys, TRWD 2018 23 East Fort Worth/Trinity River Area City Limits FEMA FloodplainExisting Parks 500’ Trinity Buffer Existing TrailProposed TrailProposed SidepathProposed Bicycle Facility City Limits Hurst Richland Hills Haltom City Potential Funding Sources for Open Space Acquisition 25 Potential Funding Sources 26 •Park Dedication Fee •Could potentially be used to acquire open space if it fits within the park dedication criteria •Future Bond Programs •Partnerships with non-profits Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Nature Center •Enterprise & Special Revenue Funds •Water-to provide water infrastructure & protect drinking water quality •Open space would have to first meet Water Dpt. use •Stormwater Utility-to mitigate flooding & erosion •Has to benefit the drainage system •Environmental-to protect water quality / MS4 •Has to have a direct surface water quality protection feature •Gas Well Trust Funds 27 Potential Funding Sources Next Steps 28 Trust for Public Land Mission: to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come •Past success on Lake Worth & Lake Arlington Greenprinting •Accelerate open space prioritization tool development •Provide independent unbiased expertise 29 Next Steps •Contract with Trust for Public Land •Build tool to identify & prioritize open space •Develop Open Space Plan/Policy •Dedication vs. Purchase •Maintenance •Etc. •Engage public •Begin process to utilize funding from Gas Well Trust Funds 30Arcadia Trail, North Fort Worth 31 March 2020 •Present information to Plan Commission & Council •Include past public input from partner orgs. & departments •Determine gaps in information and where additional input is needed Public Engagement June 2020 •Coordinate public engagement during the initial 2020 Bond public meetings •Launch an online tool for public input Fall 2020 •Compile public input and present to Council Discussion & Questions