The Corcoran City Planning Commission approved the City Park remaster site plan and two variances, a city-initiated project that will replace the existing playground, add a park building with rentable community space, revise field layouts and integrate the 3 Rivers Regional Trail alignment across two park parcels (parcel numbers cited by staff as 20400 and 20200 on County Road 50).

Natalie, the city project presenter, told the commission the project has been in design for more than a year and that improvements in the first phase will include a new playground, upgraded fields, a park building intended for city programming and community rentals, and paving of a portion of an existing parking area. "We are looking to complete a first phase of park improvements at City Park," Natalie said. She added the park building "will include some space that'll be available for community meetings, available to the public for rent as community space as well."

Two variances were requested. The first seeks a 0-foot internal setback for the park building where the two park parcels meet; staff said the parcels were acquired by different means (donation and purchase) and that the donated parcel "cannot be used for anything other than park" so city ownership and the campus-style operation justify the internal setback. A condition proposed by staff requires that if the city later redraws lot lines or subdivides the parcels, lot lines be drawn such that the building would comply with all setback requirements at that time.

The second variance asks relief from a required buffer yard along the park's western boundary where the 3 Rivers Regional Trail meanders through a heavily treed area. Staff explained that stormwater infrastructure and necessary grading will require some tree removal in a small area where the trail alignment crosses the buffer; staff also noted it is not logical for the city to grant a conservation easement to itself on parkland it already owns. Natalie said the west boundary "is entirely like, it has so many trees that we are meeting, if not exceeding, the buffer yard requirements," but that a short segment will be affected by trail alignment, stormwater, and grading needs.

During the public hearing, resident Jody Taber asked about lighting near the park: "I didn't see any mention about lights," Taber said, noting concerns about darkness behind nearby houses. Natalie replied that the zoning ordinance limits lights to not exceed "1 foot candle as measured from the property line" and confirmed the project includes parking-lot lighting, pedestrian-scale trail and sidewalk lighting near the playground, and building exterior lighting. She said the current phase does not include field lights for the baseball/soccer fields: "No. So at this time, the only lighting within the park for the fields themselves would be at Lyons Field...and beyond that, we don't have intention for this phase of the park to include field lights."

Staff also identified several conditions and items to confirm before final approval of construction documents: verification of fire hydrant locations (a 50-foot hose pull is required because the new park building will not be sprinklered), designation of an outdoor warning point, location and screening details for garbage receptacles, screening for rooftop and ground-mounted equipment (including a transformer), and a screening element along the western edge of the parking lot to a height of at least three feet. Natalie said the architect expects to verify some materials and compliance details as a condition of approval.

Commissioners and the public discussed program uses and operations. Staff said the new building will be available for internal city programming (parks and recreation, elections, or other departmental use) and for community rental; the existing pavilion will remain and be available to rent after the playground and tennis courts are removed and replaced. Staff said t-ball fields will remain and pointed out field orientations that reduce the risk of balls entering the playground or building; staff also said reservations will limit use to youth leagues for fields near the playground to reduce risk.

The project includes a phased approach for parking improvements: a portion of the parking area will be paved as funding allows, with the intent to complete the full parking improvement no later than the second phase. The trail alignment will generally follow the western boundary before cutting across to the fields and then toward Rush Creek; staff said 3 Rivers trail design standards (including required curve radiuses) influenced the alignment and that some meandering near the trees is desirable but that grading and stormwater requirements constrained exact placement. Staff also said the city intends to pursue a crosswalk across County Road 10 as part of broader regional trail work.

After public comment and discussion, a commissioner moved to approve city file 25-015, the site plan and the two variances, with the conditions identified by staff. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.