DEL MAR — Residents and council members got their first public look at three conceptual plans to develop the Shores property, a 5.3-acre site along Camino del Mar at Ninth Street the city bought from the Del Mar Union School District for $8.5 million in 2008 for open space and recreational uses.
The “bubble diagrams,” as landscape architect Glen Schmidt from Schmidt Design Group called them, were presented at the Jan. 19 council meeting.
Each includes input garnered from residents via a survey, meetings and workshops, one of which allowed attendees to create and design a park using templates, yarn, scissors, markers and other materials.
All three concepts feature tier-one and tier-two amenities residents indicated they wanted included in the design, such as benches, gardens, off-leash grassy areas for dogs, children’s play areas, walking paths, flexible turf space, restrooms, a multipurpose sports court and fitness stations.
Two of the bubble plans — called so because they are preliminary sketches showing approximate size and placement rather than precise locations or size — separated the off-leash dog area from the flexible turf space.
A third had it divided by a “ha-ha” fence, a recessed landscape design element that creates a vertical barrier.
With cost not yet an object, a third design included underground parking and moving the existing community building.
Schmidt called that the most grand scheme that is a “very expensive way to go” that frees up a “tremendous amount of space” for additional amenities.
The concepts were presented to the members of the Shores Advisory Committee during their Dec. 9 meeting. The five members present unanimously agreed that all three reflect the community input received to date.
Resident Joel Holliday, one of only three speakers at the January meeting, said the focus should be on creating a separate off-leash dog park.
Mike Peterson, headmaster of the private Winston School that occupies a corner of the site, said the concepts represent the needs of the school.
According to an agreement between the school and the city, certain amenities such as an athletic field must be included.
Before the plans become any more refined residents will have their first opportunity to weigh in on them during a March 13 workshop.
“Let’s not jump ahead of the community and make decisions for them,” Councilman Terry Sinnott said.
Councilman Dwight Worden agreed, saying residents should have a chance to digest the information “before we spend a ton of money on 3-D plans.”
Schmidt said he expects the final plans to be a blend of all three concepts.
“This is where creativity and the wish lists come together,” Sinnott said. “I for one think you were right on target.”
Cut line
Residents and council members got their first public look at three conceptual plans to develop
the Shores property, a 5.3-acre site along Camino del Mar at Ninth Street the city bought from the Del Mar Union School District for $8.5 million in 2008 for open space and recreational uses.