Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Preserve Land Use
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ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM REGIONAL PRESERVE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT August 2006 ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM REGIONAL PRESERVE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT Approved: August 1, 2006 Resolution No.: 2006-08-192 Includes Adopted Revisions from the Board Meeting of August 1, 2006 Prepared by: Planning, Stewardship & GIS Services Department East Bay Regional Park District 2950 Peralta Oaks Court Oakland, CA 94605 (510) 635-0135 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION A. Overview.................................................................................................................... 1 B. Business Plan............................................................................................................. 2 C. Purpose....................................................................................................................... 3 D. Proposed Trail Names................................................................................................ 4 II. PLAN SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 9 III. EXISTING CONDITIONS A. Overview.................................................................................................................. 13 B. Natural Resources.................................................................................................... 14 C. Cultural Resources................................................................................................... 18 D. Circulation................................................................................................................ 20 E. Use, Facilities and Services ..................................................................................... 22 F. Utilities..................................................................................................................... 28 G. Public Safety............................................................................................................ 29 H. Partnerships and Planning Context .......................................................................... 30 IV. LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT A. Concept .................................................................................................................... 33 B. Designation of Planning Features and Units............................................................ 36 C. Natural Resource Management................................................................................ 39 D. Public Access and Circulation ................................................................................. 42 E. Facilities and Program Enhancements..................................................................... 47 F. Utilities..................................................................................................................... 51 G. Public Safety............................................................................................................ 53 H. Promotional Initiatives............................................................................................. 53 I. Partnerships.............................................................................................................. 54 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................................................... 55 Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Preserve i August 2006 Land Use Plan Amendment FIGURES Figure 1: Vicinity Map........................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2: Overview Map........................................................................................................ 6 Figure 3: Proposed Trail Names ............................................................................................ 7 Figure 4-A: Existing Conditions: Educational Facilities..................................................... 25 Figure 4-B: Existing Conditions: Operational Facilities ..................................................... 26 Figure 4-C: Existing Conditions: Deer Park Recreation Unit ............................................. 27 Figure 5: Ownership Map .................................................................................................... 31 Figure 6: Land Use Designation .......................................................................................... 38 Figure 7: Land Use Plan – Access and Circulation ............................................................. 45 Figure 8: Land Use Plan – Improvement Areas................................................................... 46 TABLES Table 1: Origin of Planning and Capital Projects Proposed in the LUPA........................... 34 Table 2: Utility Improvement Needs ................................................................................... 51 Table 3: Capital Project Implementation Priority................................................................ 55 APPENDICES Appendix A: References and Personal Contacts ............................................................. A-1 Appendix B: Wild Plants (April-June 2005 Survey)....................................................... B-1 Appendix C: Special-Status Wildlife Species ................................................................. C-1 Appendix D: Wildlife Resource Checklist ...................................................................... D-1 Appendix E: Estimated Construction Costs.....................................................................E-1 Appendix F: Report Preparation ......................................................................................F-1 Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Preserve ii August 2006 Land Use Plan Amendment I. INTRODUCTION A. Overview Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Preserve is a unique public resource that offers a rich spectrum of cultural, educational and recreational opportunities. Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Preserve (referred to in this report as Ardenwood Historic Farm or Ardenwood) is a working farm that interprets farming life and techniques in California from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Only a few of the great estate houses dating back to the late 1800’s when agriculture was predominant and fruit orchards, vegetable crops, grain harvesting and stock husbandry flourished still remain in Alameda County. Today, Ardenwood consists of land that comprised the heart of the more than 3,000-acre local ranch owned by George Washington Patterson and Clara Patterson. The park contains the original family ranch house dating from the 1850’s, known as Ardenwood, and 208 acres of prime agricultural farm fields and grounds, which include Victorian gardens, a farmyard, walnut orchards and eucalyptus woodlands. Ardenwood Historic Farm and nearby Coyote Hills Regional Park are some of the area’s last remaining remnants of the rural environment of the 19th century. These cultural landscapes reveal aspects of California’s origins and development through their forms and features. Ardenwood Historic Farm is located within the City of Fremont, Alameda County. The parkland is surrounded by urban development and sits immediately north of the City of Newark, approximately one mile south of the City of Union City and roughly three miles south of the City of Hayward. Ardenwood Historic Farm adjoins Interstate 880 and State Highway Route 84, which makes it conveniently accessible on a regional basis (see Figures 1 and 2). Ardenwood is owned by the City of Fremont (City) and is leased to the East Bay Regional Park District. Aside from the Patterson House itself, which is managed by the City, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD, Park District or District) has development, management, operational and interpretive responsibilities for Ardenwood under the terms of a twenty-five year management agreement with the City of Fremont that was signed in March 1981 and expires in February 2007. The City has full responsibility for the historic Patterson House located in the center of the park. In March of 1982, the EBRPD Board of Directors certified the Final Environmental Impact Report and adopted the Ardenwood Regional Preserve Land Use-Development Plan (Resolution No. 1982-3-74). A year later, EBRPD certified the Final Supplement to the Environmental Impact Report and adopted an Amended Land Use-Development Plan (Resolution No. 1983-3- 67). Ardenwood was opened to the public in 1985. The Land Use-Development Plan (LUDP) outlines resource management goals and proposes physical developments and program enhancements, but is primarily a land use zoning plan that reflects the basic concept of park development and use. It presents a vision of Ardenwood as a public attraction offering a variety of educational and recreational opportunities. With the help of volunteers, also known as docents, park interpretive staff seeks to give visitors an understanding of farm life between the period of 1890 and 1930 through observation and participation in programs centered on farm chores and food and crop production. The education plan for Ardenwood focuses on the evolution of farming from horse power to gasoline engines. Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Preserve 1 August 2006 Land Use Plan Amendment B. Business Plan Since its adoption, many of the land use goals envisioned in the Land Use-Development Plan as well as recommended resource management and specific capital improvements have been realized. However, the LUDP was written before Ardenwood was opened to the public and did not fully