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Home My Public Portal About2040 Parkville Master Plan - Section 4 Our Plan Focus Area 2128 Parkville 2040 Master Plan Sustainability and the Environment reviews the sensitive environmental areas that should be protected, identifies ways to be more sustainable and considers the role of parks in the community. The Sustainability and the Environment Chapter begins by identifying strategies the city and residents can put forth to become more sustainable including green infrastructure and energy efficiency issues. It then turns to the natural features present in Parkville, including floodplain, tree cover, slopes, and streams, and identifies what land use regulations can help protect life, property and the natural features themselves. It ends with an overview of the park system in Parkville and identifies some growth strategies and key considerations. SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOCUS AREA 2 Parkville, Missouri 129 Focus Area 2 - Sustainability and the Environment touches on many of the 2040 Guiding Principles. Sustainability and the Environment relate directly to Community Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship. The Civic and Open Spaces guiding principles also relates because of the importance of open space in environmental protection and the strong role the city has in guiding these efforts. Likewise, the Integrated Land Uses guiding principle connects to this chapter because land use rules and regulations around protecting sensitive environmental land and buffering incompatible land uses. Finally, the Community Character of Parkville is strongly linked to the natural environment whether it is the connections to the Missouri River, the rolling hills of the area or the plentiful tree cover. All of these guiding principles influenced the recommendations made in this section. RELATIONSHIP TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES Community Sustainability Community Character Environmental Stewardship Civic and Open Spaces Integrated Land Uses Transportation Housing 2040 GUIDING PRINCIPLES Downtown Old-Town District 130 Parkville 2040 Master Plan SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 45 152 29 435 Riverfront Trail extension Partner with Platte County to extend Riverfront Trail to the west Partner with Platte County to extend Greenway north to Tiﬀany Springs Park Riss Lake Miss o u r i R i v e r Weatherby Lake Lake Waukomis Wyandotte County Lake Tiﬀany Springs Park Brush Cree k Preserve stream corridors for environmental, recreation and connectivity beneﬁts Establish Brush Creek Greenway Future trail Extension Utilize utility ROW for future trail connection Discourage most built development within the ﬂoodplain Adopt slope preservation ordinance 45 SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTSTRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES The Strategic Opportunities map and the items listed below represent the major Sustainability and the Environment strategic opportunities that correspond to physical and visual improvements within the city of Parkville. • Preserve stream corridors for environmental, recreation and connectivity benefits. • Adopt slope preservation ordinance. • Discourage most built development within the floodplain. 2.0 Figure 4.08 Sustainability and the Environment Strategic Opportunities Parkville, Missouri 131 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION Green infrastructure Green infrastructure refers to methods of dealing with stormwater that mimic natural processes such as filtration, evaporation or storage. One main goal is to deal with stormwater management on-site instead of conveying water off site via curb and gutters. There are many types of green infrastructure including: Bioretention Facilities are depressions or shallow basins used to slow, capture and filter stormwater through permeable soil, grass, mulch or plantings. Rain Gardens are made of native shrubs, mulch and flowers in a small depression designed to pool and slowly reabsorb stormwater underground. Green Roofs are vegetated roofs to help capture and use stormwater on site to support the plantings and help reduce urban heat island effect. Rain Barrels are barrels used to collect rainwater that can be used for landscape and lawn watering. Permeable Pavement are a pavement type with high porosity that enables rainwater to pass through and filter into the ground instead of becoming runoff. Parkville should encourage the private use of these solutions on residential and commercial properties. Additionally, the city should be a leader in green infrastructure by utilizing the features on new publicly-owned development or when retrofitting an existing facility space or site. Rain Gardens Rain Barrel Vegetated ‘Green’ Rooftop Bioretention Facility Permeable Pavers STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.1 • Actively encourage the use of green infrastructure for stormwater solutions to mitigate the effects of combined sewer overflows into natural water bodies. • Consider adopting a residential sustainability grant to financially incentive the use of green infrastructure on residential properties. • Evaluate and implement green infrastructure changes on city-owned property to be a model for the community. Promote the use of green infrastructure solutions to stormwater management 132 Parkville 2040 Master Plan NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION Renewable Energy + Energy Efficiency Renewable energy includes sources of energy that are non-finite such as solar, wind or geothermal. Wind energy is typically dealt with at a larger geographic scale than a city. However, it is now more common for solar and geothermal energy to be addressed by cities within comprehensive or master plans. Renewable energy is sustainable, abundant and will often lead to cost savings over time. Residential or commercial property owners may desire the ability to install solar photovoltaic panels or a geothermal heat pump to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and save money on energy. Installing or retrofitting with high efficiency facilities will also help save money and reduce overall energy usage. Currently, Parkville does not have any code regulating or allow for the use of solar panels or geothermal energy. Not all residents will want to install renewable energy or efficiency retrofits, but there are several options Parkville should consider. One initiative to further promote renewable energy undertaken by other communities within the Kansas City metro area have done is to streamline the process for residential solar panels installation. Another is to provide financial incentive to install energy saving systems such as solar, wind, geothermal, insulation and high-efficiency windows or doors. These initiatives create a structural change to help create an environment for alternative energy expansion. SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.2 • Adopt regulations to allow for the use of residential and commercial solar or geothermal energy. • Consider creating financial incentives to sustainably retrofit homes with high energy efficiency appliances or alternative energy panels or systems. Create an environment that encourages the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency Parkville, Missouri 133 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION Floodplain Floodplain is typically found at low-lying areas near streams, lakes or oceans that become inundated with water during rain events, snow melt or other high-water events. Figure 4.09 shows the 100- and 500-year floodplain in Parkville. 100-Year & 500-Year Floodplain One-hundred-year floodplains are those areas of land that have an annual flood probability of 1% in any given year. Likewise, five-hundred-year floodplains are those areas of land that have an annual flood probability of 0.5% in any given year. Figure 4.09 Floodplain Map Parkville City Limits Nearby City Limits County Line 100-Year Floodplain 500-Year Floodplain NW R i v e r R d 435 NW River Rd Eas t S t 435 9 9 45 45 Tom Watson Pkwy 134 Parkville 2040 Master Plan Parkville’s Floodplain Parkville is no stranger to flood events given its proximity to the Missouri River. A large swath of the southern half of Parkville is floodplain. The area between downtown Parkville and the Missouri River is parkland (English Landing Parking and Platte Landing Park), which is able to help absorb and manage flooding while also providing a community benefit. Floodplain Management Parkville code regulates the management and development of land within the floodplain through a Floodplain Management section. Currently, the city requires land within the 100-year floodplain to meet certain criteria for residential and non- residential construction. It is recommended that all new development be steered away from the floodplain due to the risk of life and property damage that can result from flooding events. Floodplain should be left as undeveloped open space with permeable surface that allow water to be captured, stored and filtered back into the ground during high water events. Any development occurring within the floodplain boundaries should be very low impact and a preference is made for park and recreation land, including ball fields. NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.3 • Adopt a new floodplain ordinance that allow for only low-impact development within the floodplain with minimal impermeable surfaces. Discourage most built development within the floodplain Parkville, Missouri 135 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION Streams Figure 4.10 shows the watersheds and streams for the Parkville area. The largest waterbody in the Parkville area is the Missouri River. There are several other streams that run through the community including: • Rush Creek • Naylor Creek • Burlington Creek Stream Types There are several ways to classify streams, but two common ways are by permanency and includes perennial and intermittent streams. Perennial Streams, often referred to as type 1 streams, are those that exist almost all of the year including during times of extreme drought. Type 2 streams, often called intermittent streams, are those streams that exist most of the time except in cases of extreme drought. Figure 4.10 Streams Map Parkville City Limits Nearby City Limits County Line Missouri River Type 1 - Perennial Stream Type 2 - Intermittent Stream NW R i v e r R d 435 NW River Rd Eas t S t 435 9 9 45 45 Tom Watson Pkwy Rus h C r e e k Bur l i n g t o n C r e e k Wh i t e A l o e B a r n c h Rush Creek Bru s h C r e e k Bru s h C r e e k 136 Parkville 2040 Master Plan Stream Buffers The areas around streams are ecologically sensitive and should be protected. The EPA recommends a stream buffer ordinance that requires a minimum 100-foot buffer along either side of type 1 streams and a 50-foot buffer along either side of type 2 streams. These buffers help prevent property damage, reduce the severity of floods, prevent stream bank erosion and protect this natural habitat. Additionally, stream buffers can help to improve water quality and prevent further water quality degradation. When stream buffer areas can be left undeveloped with grasses, shrubs and trees, natural processes help to filter pollutants from water before they enter the stream. Grasses, shrubs and trees also help to stabilize the stream bank which prevents erosion, which negatively impacts water quality. Stream Buffers + Trail Expansion Stream buffer ordinances can have economic and societal benefits as well as environmental ones. Trails located within stream corridors can be designed to have minimal negative environmental impact and can help incentivize the preservation of stream buffer areas. There are community benefits to preserving these stream corridors because they can attract neighborhood growth of an undeveloped area that is organized around this amenity. Some of the proposed stream buffer areas and trails are indicated for properties currently in unincorporated Platte County but within future annexation areas. NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Figure 4.11 Stream Buffer Diagram STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.4 • Adopt a stream buffer ordinance to secure conservation corridors that could also serve as trail connections. • Expand Parkville’s trail and greenway system along streams as identified on the master trails map. Preserve stream corridors for environmental, recreation and connectivity benefits Parkville, Missouri 137 Slopes Figure 4.12 shows the results of the slope analysis for the Parkville area. The yellow and green areas have lower slopes and includes land that is flatter. These areas are most suitable for new development. The orange and red areas have higher slopes. The blue areas show floodplain and existing waterbodies. Areas with high slope are sensitive ecological environments that can be vulnerable to erosion which can lead to a loss of topsoil and water quality degradation. Slope erosion can also lead to wildlife habitat loss, can alter drainage patterns and intensify flooding. Generally, new development should avoid areas with steep slopes. Any development that does occur in areas with steeper slopes should be carefully and sensitively designed to prevent slope erosion. Slope Preservation Ordinance Slope preservation ordinances can be tailored to fit the need of the community but generally place restrictions on development in areas with more than a certain percentage of slope with restrictions put in place once slopes hit between 15% and 25%. Figure 4.12 Slope Map Parkville City Limits Nearby City Limits County Line Low Slope High Slope Floodplain / Water NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION NW R i v e r R d 435 NW River Rd Eas t S t 435 9 9 45 45 Tom Watson Pkwy STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.5 • Adopt a steep slope preservation ordinance to regulate development in areas with steep slopes. Protect high slope areas of Parkville to prevent environmental degradation 138 Parkville 2040 Master Plan NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Tree Cover Preservation Trees contain a multitude of benefits for the environments and the community. These benefits range from environmental to economic to societal. Benefits include: • Prevent urban heat island effect • Provide oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide • Provide shade cover / natural air conditioner • Bird and wildlife habitat • Reduce stormwater runoff • Scenic / increase property values One significant threat to trees in communities are diseases and pests. Tree diseases such as the Oak Wilt and pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer have decimated tree cover on residential streets across the United States. This devastation has been especially bad in neighborhoods with one tree species that dominates the neighborhood. Requiring and incentivizing the planting of tree species diversity will be a key step in protecting existing and future tree cover. Other threats relate to tree loss due to development. Parkville should encourage new development to preserve tree cover as much as possible. Other policies to consider include requiring two trees planted for each tree lost or removed also help. The Mid-America Regional Council has a model tree preservation ordinance that Parkville should consider adopting. Tree protection and expansion is a sustainable action that helps future generations of Parkville residents enjoy a high quality of life. STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.6 • Encourage new development and redevelopment to preserve tree cover as an amenity feature. • Create and adopt a tree preservation ordinance (using MARC’s model tree preservation ordinance as a guide) to protect local tree cover. Actively preserve and replenish Parkville’s tree cover Parkville, Missouri 139 NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION Reducing Waste & Recycling There is a growing trend of communities taking a more proactive stance on waste generation and recycling efforts within their community. Waste, both the end result and creation of the original material, are a major source of greenhouse gases. Landfills (especially organic products like food waste) release methane gas, which is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. To curb this impact, some communities are aiming to meet waste reduction goals through reducing waste creation and promoting recycling and repurposing. Cities are critically reviewing the city’s individual waste contribution as well as undertaking marketing campaigns to inform residents of waste reduction and recycling strategies. These education campaigns can support initiatives such as composting and recycling. Some cities require trash haulers operating in the community to provide recycling services. Other communities go as far as to set strict waste reduction goals for specific time intervals. Parkville holds two residential cleanup events annually - one in the Spring and the Fall. At these cleanup events, items such as small limbs, leaves and grass, washers and dryers without motors, tires, furniture and household debris. Electronics recycling is handled through a partnership with the Midwest Recycling Center periodically throughout the year. Glass recycling is collected in a Ripple Glass bin behind the Parkville Mid-Continent Public Library. Parkville currently has four curbside trash services available for residents and two provide recycling: Blackshear Disposal and Waste Management. Waste Management’s recycling subscription does allow for glass bottles and containers whereas Blackshear Disposal recommends users drop off glass at the community-wide glass recycling bin, Ripple Glass. Both providers actively encourage waste reduction, recycling and repurposing on their websites. At a minimum, Parkville should seek to expand the Ripple Glass program with convenient locations strategically placed throughout the community. Parkville should consider requiring all trash haulers to provide recycling services. It may also consider performing an audit of the existing waste generation within the City to identify areas for improvement. Finally, the community could improve their marketing of waste reduction strategies through composting and other activities. STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.7 • Expand the Ripple Glass program to additional convenient locations throughout Parkville to encourage glass recycling. • Consider requiring all trash haulers to provide recycling services. • Perform an audit of the City’s waste generation and recycling efforts to identify specific areas of improvement. • Continue to promote recycling, waste reduction and composting. Promote recycling and waste reduction in Parkville 140 Parkville 2040 Master Plan SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT PARKS IN PARKVILLE Figure 4.14 shows the location of parks and recreation land in Parkville, which includes: • Adams Park • English Landing Park • Gresham Memorial Spirit Fountain Park • Parkville Nature Sanctuary • Platte Landing Park • Downtown Pocket Park • Sullivan Nature Sanctuary • Watkins Park • White Allow Creek Conservation Area In addition to public parks, Parkville has the National Golf Club of Kansas City, a private 18-hole golf course designed by the former professional golfer, Tom Watson. The Riss Lake gated community located south of Tom Watson Parkway and east of Highway 9 has a large private lake and pool house as well as a park. Figure 4.14 Parks Map Parkville City Limits Nearby City Limits County Line Missouri River Parks & Conservation Area Golf Course Park Name Total Acres Adams Park 0.32 English Landing Park 53.60 Gresham Memorial Spirit Fountain Park 0.84 Parkville Nature Sanctuary 38.96 Platte Landing Park 133.58 Pocket Park 0.05 Sullivan Nature Sanctuary 15.52 Watkins Park 1.20 White Alloe Creek Conservation Area 55.39 TOTAL 299.45 Figure 4.13 Existing Land Use, Parkville (2020) NW R i v e r R d 435 NW River Rd Eas t S t 435 9 9 45 45 Tom Watson Pkwy Parkville, Missouri 141 PARKS LEVEL OF SERVICE Park level of service standards (LOS) are based on total park acres available per 1,000 residents. Most cities should aim to have at least 10.5 acres per 1,000 residents. Combined, the parks provide 299.45 acres of parkland for Parkville residents. Based on Parkville’s 2019 population estimate of 6,724, the current LOS for Parkville is 44.53 acres per 1,000 residents, far exceeding the recommended LOS. Parkville will likely continue to meet the minimum LOS for total park acres as it grows. Figure 4.15 shows the park demand estimates based on the average 2030 and 2040 growth projections of 9,299 and 12,277, respectively. However, since must of this park acre total comes from two large community parks on the edge of town and a conservation area, care should still be taken to encourage neighborhood parks as new residential areas are developed over time so new residents are adequately served by parks. The City of Parkville adopted a parks master plan in 2016 to help guide park specific growth and development. It is recommended that the city update this master plan within the next 10 years to account for population growth and other changes that will occur. Neighborhood parks are important community building facilities. Neighborhood parks help increase quality of life and provide opportunities for interaction between residents. Often communities will work with neighborhood residents to determine the look, feel and amenities included within a park to help there be a sense of pride and ownership of the park space. Park Name Existing Acres Needed Acres Existing Park Acres 299.45 - Existing LOS 44.53 0.0 Recommended LOS 10.5 - 2030 Demand Acres 97.6 0.0 2040 Demand Acres 128.9 0.0 Figure 4.15 Existing Land Use, Parkville (2020) 2019 Population Estimate 6,724 Average 2030 Population Projection 9,299 Average 2040 Population Projection 12,277 Figure 4.16 Parkville Existing + Future Population Estimates STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.8 • Continue to far exceed the overall park level of service for total park acres in Parkville. • Expand neighborhood parks in residential areas as Parkville grows. • Strive to have all residents live within a reasonable 5- to 15-minute walk from a park. • Adopt new parks master plan within the next 10 years. Maintain a high level of park service for parks and recreation in Parkville 142 Parkville 2040 Master Plan FUTURE PARK SERVICE AREAS Neighborhood park expansion in Parkville should follow the areas of residential growth expansion within the community. Additionally, mixed-use development should aim to have some sort of public or semi-public outdoor space attached for the residents and visitors to recreate and gather. Figure 4.17 shows possible future park service areas based on the proposed locations of residential land during the planning period. The exact location of the park will be determined as the areas development, likely in coordination with the developer constructing the neighborhood. Neighborhood Park Expansion While Parkville meets demand for parks in terms of total acres, one key initiative will be expanding access to neighborhood parks as the community grows, especially in residential land. Neighborhood parks serve approximately a half-mile radius and should be scattered throughout the residential areas of Parkville. The images to the right depict examples of neighborhood park and the type of amenities typically found in those facilities. SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Parkville, Missouri 143 Figure 4.17 Possible Future Park Service Areas, Parkville 2020-2040 Parkville City Limits Low-Density Residential Medium-Density Residential High-Density Residential Parks & Recreation Land Half-Mile Service Area 144 Parkville 2040 Master Plan SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT PARKVILLE PARK WALK TIME ANALYSIS Figure 4.18 Walk-Time Analysis for Parks, Parkville, Missouri (2020)A 5-, 10- and 15-minute walk time analysis for park access in Parkville is shown in Figure 4.18. A walk time analysis for public facilities only did reveal some deficits within the residential areas of Parkville. To account for the effective park walkability access for residents living in gated communities or around the National Golf Course of Kansas City neighborhood, the walk time analysis included both public and private recreation facilities. Most of the residential areas of Parkville have walkable park access. Commercial areas along Highway 45 are not currently walkable to parks so any redevelopment should include some sort of green space component and sidewalk / trail expansion to provide access to park and green space. As Parkville continues to grow, it should aim to maintain a reasonable walk time of 5-, 10- or 15-minutes for most residential properties in the community. Parkville City Limits Parks 5 - Minute Walk-time 10 - Minute Walk-Time 15 - Minute Walk-Time Private Park Facilities Parkville, Missouri 145 FUTURE PARK CONSIDERATIONS In addition to neighborhood park expansion and walk time focus, there are other park considerations. Park Trends Even though Parkville meets the acre demand estimate needs for parks, it should continue to evaluate how well the park system meets the needs and desires of residents. Routine surveying of community desires as it relates to parks as well as a continued understanding of industry-wide trends can help Parkville’s parks continue to adequately serve Parkville residents. Some recent trends to keep in mind include: • Inclusive Playgrounds • Technology integration • Tall Playgrounds Life Cycle Evaluation As Parkville grows, life cycle evaluation of its park and recreation facilities will be needed to ensure park facilities remain relevant to residents. Part of this process will mean phasing out facilities or recreation programs that no longer best serve the community. For example, facilities such as horseshoe pits have seen a decline over time while other activities such as pickleball have seen widespread growth. Routine surveying of residents can also assist with this determination. Trail Expansion As Parkville grows, connecting the park system with an adequate trail and sidewalk system between parks should be a priority. This will assist in meeting walk time service area goals. STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.9 • Continue to regularly evaluate parks and recreation trends when facility planning. • Regularly perform life cycle evaluations as well as community surveying to ensure programs and facilities continue to meet the desires of Parkville residents. • Connect new and older parks with trail or sidewalk connections. Keep Parkville’s parks and recreation system current and responsive to residents 146 Parkville 2040 Master Plan SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Parkville has a well-established system of trails within large park spaces and nature preserves but very few trails that connect to different locations throughout the community, the exception being the Missouri Riverfront Trail. This public amenity extends northward from Riverside, MO into English Landing Park and with the recent completion of a segment at the just outside the Parkville city limits, recreational users can now travel from Parkville to the Argosy Casino, with future southern extensions planned. The City of Parkville has a great opportunity to expand the current trail network to better connect far reaches of the city and provide a network of recreational opportunities. The recent 45 Highway expansion includes a shared use path, providing a critical east / west connection along that main corridor. The map on the following page captures various opportunities the City of Parkville should consider for trail expansion. Streamways and their associated floodplains are an ideal location for future trails as they provide a scenic route for trail users, is land that is not well suited for many other uses, connects different parts of the city and neighborhoods with other neighborhoods, and is a tool to preserve the streamway corridors from pressures of future development. The Line Creek Trail, to the east of Parkville is a good example of this approach. Another important east / west trail connection important for consideration exists within the overhead utility ROW that traverses through the Thousand Oaks neighborhood. Some stretches of trail exist in this location in that neighborhood and an extension both east and west could connect with other potential future streamway trails. Parkville has been considering establishing the Brush Creek Greenway up the western half of the city from the Missouri Riverfront north to Tiffany Springs Park. The city should continue to pursue this effort as it will provide an important north / south recreational amenity on that side of the city. This effort will require collaboration with Platte County for implementation of this greenway. Additional trail extensions that should be prioritized include the riverfront trail, west from Platte Landing Park into Platte County. TRAILS & CONNECTIVITY STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY 2.10 • Continue to expand Parkville’s trail system, especially an east-west connection, relying on streetscapes, stream corridors and utility ROW areas. • Adopt a stream buffer ordinance to help protect sensitive ecological land as well as secure locations for future trails. Enhance Parkville’s connectivity through trail expansion Parkville, Missouri 147 9 45 9 45 45 152 152 29 435 Future Trail Connections Existing Trails Existing Parks / Open Space Legend Future Parks / Open Space Opportunities Riverfront Trail extension Partner with Platte County to extend Riverfront Trail to the west Partner with Platte County to extend Greenway north to Tiﬀany Springs Park Explore opportunities for additional park space English Landing Park Platte Landing Park Pocket Park Watkins Park Adams Park Parkville Nature Sanctuary Riss Lake Miss o u r i R i v e r Weatherby Lake Lake Waukomis Wyandotte County Lake Sullivan Nature Sanctuary Tiﬀany Springs Park Brush Cree k Explore additional annexation opportunities adjacent to future trail connections Study feasibility of additional streamway trail facilities Address gap in shared-use path Extend shared-use path to future greenway Establish Brush Creek Greenway Future oﬀ-street trail Future trail Extension Future park / open space opportunities Utilize utility ROW for future trail connection TRAILS & CONNECTIVITY Figure 4.19 Trails and Connectivity Strategic Opportunities