DEPARTMENT: Parks & Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 2
SUBJECT:
Easement Exchange Agreement with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for Salado Creek Greenway
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes an exchange of easement for the City to accept a 7.973 acre easement (Exhibit “A”) from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs located along Salado Creek in NCB 12175 in Council District 2 for the Linear Creekway Development Project, a 2010 Proposition 2 Sales Tax Initiative funded project approved by voters in November 2010 and for the City to grant a 10.116 acre access easement (Exhibit “B”) to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This property is within the San Antonio city limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction, Bexar County, Texas and is primarily located within the 100 year floodplain.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The proposed easement acquisition is in support of an interconnected hike and bike trails, known as the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails system, which is funded through sales tax initiatives approved by voters in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. The objectives of the program are to acquire and preserve open space along San Antonio creekways and to develop multi-use hike and bike trails, trailheads, signage and associated amenities for use by San Antonio residents and visitors.
The easement to be transferred from the VA to the City is located within the floodplain along Salado Creek and will be used for the Salado Creek Greenway trail extension from John James to Jack White Park. Said trail easement consists of approximately 7.973 acres as described in Exhibit “A”.
In exchange, the City of San Antonio will dedicate a variable width access easement to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs along portions of the eastern and southern border of John James Park. The easement to be transferred from the City to the VA will be used as an alternate entry to the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Said access easement consists of approximately 10.116 acres as described in Exhibit “B”.
This easement exchange is consistent with policy adopted by the City Council for the acquisition of properties along San Antonio creekways funded by sales tax initiatives and the adopted Parks and Recreation Strategic System Plan. The easement exchange acquisition is also consistent with Natural Resource and Urban Design Goals of the San Antonio Master Plan Policies.
ISSUE:
The proposed property acquisition is to be acquired in support of the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails system. The multi-use hike and bike trails and associated amenities will provide for outdoor recreation and an alternate means of transportation. The ability for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between connected destinations is essential to the concept of the greenway trail system. Once the necessary property has been acquired, capital projects will be designed and constructed that include multi-use hike and bike trails, trailheads, signage and associated amenities for use by San Antonio residents and visitors.
ALTERNATIVES:
This acquisition is a necessary connection to a larger system along San Antonio creekways through which multi-use trails and related park improvements will be/have been constructed and are essential to the implementation of this voter-approved project. Should this acquisition not proceed, it could cause the project to be incomplete due to gaps within the system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be minimal annual operating, security and maintenance expenses for the easement to the City. Associated expenses for operations, maintenance and security will be addressed upon project development, implementation and completion. The projects associated with this easement acquisition are scheduled to be constructed between 2016 and 2021.
There is no fiscal impact associated with the easement acquisition to be granted to the VA.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this easement exchange for the Linear Creekway Development Project. The Planning Commission has recommended approval of the proposed easement exchange.