Rohnert Park council OKs plan for new parks

The Rohnert Park City Council on Tuesday approved the development of a new park, with basketball courts, soccer fields and a baseball diamond, at no cost to the city. The move overturned an earlier Parks and Recreation Commission decision denying the development and exposed a rift between the council and the influential commission.

The park will be built by the developer of the 1,450-unit University District housing development, a project just north of the Green Music Center that will add the first new homes in Rohnert Park in 25 years.

A state law allows cities to require that developers dedicate parkland as part of new housing projects. Rohnert Park’s code calls for 5 acres of parkland for every 1,000 new residents, in this case amounting to 21.96 acres, but it also allows the developer to provide park improvements instead of land.

Brookfield Homes, the University District developer, proposed to dedicate 13.66 acres, spread out over two parks, and make up the difference by adding around $2.5 million worth of amenities including sports fields, playgrounds and lighting. The Parks and Recreation Commission in November, voted 4-1 against this proposal, preferring instead to require the full 21.96 acres of vacant land for a future park.

The decision baffled some on the City Council.

“I’m frankly surprised that, in a matter like this, someone from the Parks and Recreation Commission is not here to defend their actions,” said Councilman Jake Mackenzie. “Clearly there are some deep-seeded disagreements. I’m very uncomfortable about the way this is coming in front of us.”

The council voted 4-0 to accept the proposal that will create the 6.83-acre Twin Creeks Park and another 6.83-acre park that will consist primarily of paths and benches. Councilman Joe Callinan was absent. Mackenzie asked for a future joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss their differing opinions.

Kevin Pohlson, vice president of land and planning for Brookfield Homes, said he was pleased with the vote and said construction on the park could start this summer. Crews have been clearing pads for the houses and will install utilities next month. The first homes could be completed by the end of the year, he said.

“We’re really pleased that we will be able to get the park constructed,” Pohlson said. “This park, it’s a big deal.”

The outcome was never really in doubt Tuesday as council members said they would prefer a fully built park to a larger amount of vacant land that the city would be on the hook to develop.

“Because we work on budgets, we have to be realistic,” Councilwoman Pam Stafford said. “What good is the land with nothing on it if we don’t have the money to develop it?”

Councilwoman Gina Belforte echoed her colleagues’ surprise at the Parks and Recreation Commission’s earlier decision.

“I’m trying to understand where the Parks and Recreation Commission was coming from,” she said. “Clearly, it makes sense to work with the developer on this.”

Mayor Amy Ahanotu said he would push for a joint session with the Parks and Recreation Commission, saying such a meeting is “probably overdue.”

Had the council asked for the full amount of parkland, it might have been years before the city had the money to develop the park, said Marilyn Ponton, the director of development services.

“Under this, the city benefits,” she said. “We don’t have a vacant lot that could be a weedy eyesore. It adds value to our city.”

You can reach Staff Writer Matt Brown at 521-5206 or matt.brown@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MattBrownPD.