To the Briones Regional Park Land Use-Development Plan
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1994 AMENDMENT TO THE BRIONES REGIONAL PARK LAND USE-DEVELOPMENT PLAN Approved: December 6, 1994 Resolution No: 1994-12-305 East Bay Regional Park District Planning/Stewardship Department 2950 Peralta Oaks Court P.O. Box 5381 Oakland, CA 94605 (510) 635-0135 1994 AMENDMENT OF THE BRIONES REGIONAL PARK LAND USE-DEVELOPMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Page # Introduction/Purpose ............................... 1 Land-Use Zoning for New Properties .................. .. 1 Background ................................... .. 1 Proposed Zoning .................................. 2 Master Plan Zoning Unit Percentages ................... 8 III. Specific Recreation Amendments .................... , .. 10 a. Designation of the Lafayette Ridge Recreation Unit with an Equestrian Day Camp .................. 10 b. Connection of the Lafayette Ridge Trail in Lafayette .... 17 c. Replacement of Special Event Camp Site at Corral Valley With a New Special Event Camp Site at Coyote Valley .. 18 . FIGURES 1. Land Use Zoning and Project Area Map ................. 3 2. Special Management and Resource Units of the Western Parcel . 5 3. Proposed Lafayette Ridge Recreation Unit with Equestrian Day Camp ......................... 11 4. Connection of the Lafayette Ridge Fire Trail .............. 19 5. Proposed Special Event Camp Site at Coyote Valley on Bear Creek Road . ..... :'. ·22 TABLES 1. EBRPD Resource Inventory Key - Special Units 9 APPENDIX A. Contra Costa County Public Works letter concerning Bear Creek Road (Coyote Valley Special Event Camp) 23 I. INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE The purpose of this amendment is to update the 1981 Briones Land use Development Plan (LUDP\EIR or "plan"). There are two major objectives to this effort. The first objective is to designate land use zones for the new acreage acquired since the LUDP. The amendment also establishes protective zoning for major creeks throughout the parkland. (add to page 79 of the 1981 EIA.) The second major objective is to increase recreational opportunities at Briones Regional Park. The::S-pecific recreational amendments included in Chapter III are: " "0, • Designation of the 19 acre Lafayette Ridge Recreation Unit for an equestrian day camp facility and staging area (add to page 22 of the 1981 LUDP) Connection of the Lafayette Ridge (fire) Trail in the vicinity of Vista Bella Road in Lafayette to provide emergency/fire response (add to page 25 of the 1981 LUDP) • Designation of a new Special Event Camp Site at Coyote Valley on Bear Creek Road (add to page 25 of the 1981 LUDP) The Amendment is intended to stand alone as a separate document that serves as an addendum to the adopted documents. Briones Regional Park, within Contra Costa County is 5756 acres in size. It is encircled by Alhambra Valley Road on the north in Martinez, Reliez Valley Road and Pleasant Hill Road on the east in Lafayette, Highway 24 and Happy Valley Road on the south in Lafayette, and Bear Creek Road on the west in an unincorporated area. (Refer to Figure 1, the Land Use Zoning and Project Area Map.) II. LAND USE ZONING FOR NEW PROPERTIES BACKGROUND Since the LUDP was adopted in 1981, acquisitions of approximately 680 acres have been made in seven different areas. This brings the total park acreage to 5756 acres. New properties are described below and land use zoning is designated for each area. The land use zoning procedure is established by the Master Plan to protect natural resources and guide recreational development. The zoning of the -new areas -complements-existing zoning for the -remainder of the parkland. Standard zoning for a regional park is divided into two basic units. Natural Units comprise the majority of the parkland including the significant natural features in a cohesive area. Recreational development will be limited here, consistent with the preservation of natural resources. 1 Recreation Units are designated for areas suitable for recreational and staging facilities. These will be accessed by roads, located on flat areas, and located at the edge of the parkland, whenever possible. (See Figure 1 for locations of new units.) Appropriate activities and facilities for a Regional Park and its zones are established by the Master Plan. New or upgraded recreational facilities, including trails, which are allowable uses, must have inter-departmental review to determine: if the type or scaLe_of project complies with existing plans; if an amendment and public review are -required as well as whether the project complies with CEQA. Within the two basic land use zones are special overlay units, which are designated for resources which require a higher level, or specialized form of management beyond the District's basic operations and management. See Table 1 for the listing of these units. No known archaeological, historic, cultural, geologic, paleontologic, wildlife or plant resources requiring Special Protection Unit status have been identified on the new parcels. Potential supporting habitat exists for several native wildflowers: fragrant fritillary, Diablo helianthella, and Mt. Diablo fairy lantern. However, no populations of these species are known to occur in these areas. The District nevertheless recognizes that additional surveys are needed to determine the extent of these sensitive resources throughout the entire park. Special Management Units and Special Resource Units are estabiished within new properties to bring these areas into compliance with District standards. PROPOSED ZONING Western parcel This 603 acre area composed of several adjacent acquisitions (Duarte, Pereira, Rosa Trust/Union Bank and Santos properties) is located adjacent to Bear Creek Road. The topography con'sists primarily of ridge top and side slopes of a large ridge stretching westward from the center of Briones. It contains several draws with relatively flat land that is easily accessible from Bear Creek road. The ridge line is the largest area of relatively flat land. Elevations range from about 720 feet to elevation 1235 feet at Costa Peak. Several small, manmade stock ponds serve grazing cattle on this property which is primarily non-native grassland with oak savanna. Yellow star thistle is widespread and feral pigs are currently being controlled. Oaks are widely scattered on the ridges and slopes. Riparian vegetation is located in the many swales. Wildlife inhabiting this area includes perching and raptorial birds, a diverse selection of reptiles and mammals including raccoon, gopher snake, red fox and deer. 2 WESTERN:-_--_ PARCEL (see Figure 2) EXISTING NAIVRALARE4 BriD~"es R-e"g,",i,0' ; 2'11 P;ark SPRINGVTEW PARCEL ~ NOTE: Existing major creeks are NORTH designated as Special Resource Units (SRU). Refer to page 7. ~ MIl.. ES Figure 1 - LAND USE ZONING & PROJECT AREA MAP Briones Regional Park Legend Specific Recreation & Fire Protection Access ~ Proposed Natural Area Proposed Recreation Unit * Proposals CJ Existing Nature Area Existing Recreation Unit 1994 Draft Amendment [0 the Briones Land Use-Development Plan Sept. 1994 prepared by PlanninglSleward.hip Deparn",m, - Ea., Bay Regional Park Diroict 3 There are several multi-purpose roads along the ridge tops and in some draws which provide park vehicular and emergency access as well as access for hikers, equestrians and bicyclists. The ridge top has excellent views of the area, with the west end of the Pereira trail providing a good view-point of the adjacent Briones Reservoir. There are no public utilities. The Western Parcel is designated as a part of the Natural Unit (see Figure 2). Several stock ponds in this property are designated as Special Management Units because of their existing or potential value as wetland habitat for wildlife. A small spring fed wetlana: is designated as a Special Resource Unit. The following measures will be taken to manage the ponds and wetland. PRESCRIPTIONS: • Fence selected ponds and wetland areas to prevent cattle and wild pig damage and to enhance vegetation and wildlife habitat. Enclosures will include the entire wetland plant association and adequate buffer. The District will provide an alternative water source for cattle which will -also be designed to accommodate wildlife use. • Remove Bullfrogs when feasible, to reduce the threat of predation to native amphibians. • Deepen ponds as needed to maintain and improve water quality. • Increase water flow into ponds, as needed by enhancing existing potential spring sources or through maximizing the interception of runoff. An approximately 12 acre area, cal/ed Coyote Valley, is designated as a Special Event camp site within the Natural Unit (see Figure 1 and Figure 5). This area is discussed in more detail in Chapter lII.c. Echo Springs parcel This 11 acre property is primarily a steep, south facing slope with a riparian drainage at the western edge and with a relatively level area fronting Echo Springs Road. Elevations range from 680 feet to 1000 feet. The primary vegetation cover is chaparral with oak/bay woodland species in the drainage and flatter areas. This area is potential Alameda whipsnake habitat. The California Natural Diversity Data Base does not identify it as whipsnake habitat and there have been no verified sightings in this area of the park in the recent past. It contains no park facilities or utilities other than an EBMUD water meter available for District use. It is near the Spengler Trail. The ridge top above the property provides fine views of the surroundings. A good view of the property itself, is available from Spengler Trail. The Echo Springs property is not suitable or appropriate