Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director
Subject: Final Quarry County Park Master Plan
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing the adoption of the Final Quarry County Park Master Plan.
body
BACKGROUND:
Quarry County Park (“Quarry Park”) is a 577-acre County-owned and operated park that is located in the unincorporated community of El Granada. The park is comprised of several properties-including Mirada Surf East and West, the Wicklow property, and Quarry Park-that were consolidated under County ownership and management between 2010 and 2014. Most of the park is located on the east side of Highway 1, with Mirada Surf West abutting the Pacific Ocean.
Quarry Park provides coastside residents and visitors with a variety of recreation opportunities, enhances the local sense of community, and supports healthy living and connection with nature. The park hosts several visitor amenities including almost 4.5 miles of trails for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikes; a playground; picnic areas; two pump tracks and a skills trail; and a community garden. The San Mateo County Parks Department (“Department”) manages the park to: (i) offer a wide array of recreational experiences for the public, (ii) protect and enhance natural habitats, (iii) reduce wildfire threat to neighboring communities, (iv) decrease the impacts of erosion and sedimentation, and (v) improve the health of the vegetation communities and watersheds.
To best manage this park unit and create a community-endorsed long-term vision for the recreational use and resource management of Quarry Park, beginning in 2017, the Department undertook the development of the Quarry County Park Master Plan (“Master Plan”). A master plan is a long-term planning document that establishes a vision and conceptual layout based on community desires and management obligations. Typically, upon adoption, the plan is used to advance priorities, develop projects, and inform policies. A master plan, however, is not a project-specific or policy document.
As part of the Master Plan development process, five public workshops were held and online surveys were administered. Over 260 individuals attended the in-person workshops and 235 responses to the online surveys were submitted. Several presentations were made to the Midcoast Community Council as well. In 2019, the Master Plan development process was temporarily paused while matters regarding dog recreation in the San Mateo County Park system were resolved. Since that time, several priorities from the draft Master Plan have been implemented. These priorities include the advancement of wildfire fuel reduction projects (197 acres of fuel reduced since 2019), the commencement of the Department’s Off-leash Dog Recreation Pilot Program, and construction of the Quarry Park Pump Track.
DISCUSSION:
The guiding principles of the Master Plan are “Restore, Enhance, Protect.” Included in these principles are the goals of protecting and restoring existing and native resources; promoting the conservation of and engagement with nature; promoting inclusivity for all people; meeting the evolving recreational needs of the public; respecting the park’s neighbors; and building partnerships in order to steward the land. Specific community priorities that emerged from the Master Plan’s public engagement process include:
• Dog-friendly features
• Safe co-use of trails
• Preservation and restoration of natural resources
• Local park amenities for youth
The Master Plan’s recommendations are organized into three categories: (1) trail system and signage, (2) visitor facilities and amenities, and (3) natural resource management. Each category supports the goals and guiding principles of the Master Plan, with all recommendations drafted to meet and implement these goals as Quarry Park continues to serve as a natural recreation environment.
Future implementation actions have been divided into specific timelines, including in progress, ongoing, short term (0-5 years), medium term (5-10 years), and long term (10-20 years). As specific projects are defined and proceed through the project-specific CEQA environmental review and Coastal Development Permit approval processes, there will be further analysis and definition of project scope, plans, and outcomes, as well as additional opportunities for public feedback.
The Final Master Plan has been revised accordingly based on the public feedback received to date and has been made available to the public on the Department’s website. In addition, the Final Draft Master Plan was shared with the Parks and Recreation Commission at its September 1, 2022 meeting.
The Quarry Park Master Plan is not considered a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (see CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). In addition, CEQA applies when a public agency proposes to “approve” a project, where “approval” means the decision by a public agency which commits the agency to a definite course of action. The adoption of the Quarry Park Master Plan, however, does not commit the County to any definitive course of action regarding the matters therein. As recommendations and/or projects contained in the plan are brought forth for consideration and implementation, they will be subject to CEQA review and permitting. In fact, CEQA review has already been completed, or is underway, for many projects identified in the Master Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting this resolution.