berkeley tuolumne camp master development plan update · berkeley tuolumne camp master development...

BBeerrkkeelleeyy TTuuoolluummnnee CCaammppMaster Development Plan

WHAT’S INSIDE• After the Rim Fire• Master Development Plan Framework• Planning Ahead - Community Workshops

UPDATE

Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Master Development Plan

A PARTNERSHIP OF THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST AND THE CITY OF BERKELEY

This is an update about progress being made on the Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Master Development Plan. Over the next three months, the public will have opportunities to share feedback and comments on this plan through surveys, public workshops, and meetings. Additional information can be found on the City of Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Website:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Recreation/Tuolumne_Camp.aspx.

BACKGROUND Berkeley Tuolumne Camp (BTC), in operation since 1922, has been a highly regarded summer tradition for generations of campers. More than 4,000 individuals annually enjoyed fun-‐filled activities and heartfelt traditions at BTC.

On August 25, 2013, BTC was largely destroyed by the Rim Fire, one of the largest and most damaging wildfires in California’s history. This was a devastating setback for the City of Berkeley and generations of campers. Of the 138 total structures at BTC, only 18 tent cabins and the restroom near Sun City remain. (See Figure 1)

AFTER THE RIM FIRE

§ During the six months following the fire, the City and its contractor, American Integrated Services, Inc., carefully assessed and remediated the approximately 15-‐acre site while protecting the many natural resources.

§ On October 13, 2013, Governor Brown signed an Executive Order that provides state financial assistance to the City to help rebuild the Camp.

§ On December 13, 2013, President Obama signed a Major Disaster Declaration allowing federal aid to be available to the City for the reconstruction of the Camp.

§ During the spring and summer of 2014 the City worked with the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the California Office of Emergency Services, and the City’s insurance representatives to document all the losses at the Camp.

§ In April 2014, the Stanislaus National Forest (STF) completed the Rim Hazard Tree Environmental Assessment for portions of the burned area which included the BTC site and subsequently removed many of the hazardous trees throughout the burned area.

§ During the past year, City staff has worked with STF officials to determine the guidelines for a new Master Development Plan.

MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK On March 2, 2015, the City received approval of a conceptual plan that both the City and the STF believe will be a road map for the successful redevelopment of Camp.

The Master Development Plan guidelines will allow the City to keep many of the existing elements of the Camp, but also include some changes to the physical nature of BTC that will protect both the environment and the historic nature of the site moving forward.

Much of the heart of BTC, including the Dining Hall, Recreation Hall, green chair circle, store, sport courts, amphitheater, Kiddie Kamp, playground, and many of the family tent cabins and related facilities may be rebuilt essentially in place.

There’s no place like Camp Tuolumne There’s no spot that I would rather be.

Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Song



However, current laws, policies, and regulations will result in three additional parameters that will change some of the physical nature of the Camp:

§ No overnight accommodations are to be considered within the 100-‐year floodplain of the South Fork Tuolumne River. This affects both reconstructing new tent cabins and re-‐purposing some of the tent cabins that did not burn.

§ Use of the north section of BTC, commonly known as Sun City, will be limited.

§ Parking areas will be developed off of Hardin Flat Road.

CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS The City is now ready to move forward with the Master Development Plan public process with the hope that we can complete a draft design for BTC by the end of July, 2015. This draft design will be used by the City and STF for both Federal (NEPA) and State (CEQA) Environmental Analyses and decision making processes.

Initial concept drawings have been developed for the Camp. Figure 1, below, shows pre-‐Rim Fire conditions and the Camp, and Figure 2 shows a conceptual reorganization of the Camp. This drawing shows several significant facility changes:

§ Two new parking areas constructed off Hardin Flat Road. § All staff housing and maintenance facilities will be relocated north

of Hardin Flat Road (Zone A). § Family tent cabins that need to be relocated will be developed in a

new area (Zone B), uphill from the Main Camp area. This area was previously occupied by portions of the girls staff tent cabins and is slightly uphill from the Thimbleberry Creek drainage.

Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Master Development Plan A PARTNERSHIP OF THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST AND THE CITY OF BERKELEY

FIGURE 1: PRE-RIM FIRE CAMP CONDITIONS

Berkeley Tuolumne Camp Master Development Plan A PARTNERSHIP OF THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST AND THE CITY OF BERKELEY

FIGURE 2: CONCEPTUAL CAMP USE AREAS



THE OVERALL SCHEDULE There is still much work to be done. Along with the public’s involvement, the City will continue to work with the STF, FEMA, California Office of Emergency Services, the State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tuolumne County, and the City’s insurance representatives.

Figure 3 below shows an overview of the anticipated Work Program and Master Development Plan schedule. As you can see, we are at the beginning of a lengthy process and have a goal to reopen Camp in 2018. The success of this process hinges on several variables, including an open and concise public process. FIGURE 3: WORK PROGRAM

Year

2015

2016

2017

2018

1 . Master Development Plan

POSSIB

LE CAMP

REOPENIN

G

2 . Basel ine Resource Documentation

3 . Architectural Guidel ines / Design

4 . NEPA / CEQA

5 . Construction Documentation / Permitt ing

6 . Construction Bidding

7 . Construction

8 . Post Construction Monitoring



PLANNING AHEAD We encourage the public to participate in the Master Development Plan process. There are several ways you can contribute:

Online Survey: You can share your thoughts on the BTC Master Development Plan by completing a brief, online survey found here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TuolumneCampSurvey

You will be asked a few questions about facility changes you think are worth considering as we move forward with the Master Development Plan and rethink how to make BTC even better than it was. This survey will be available April 10, 2015 – May 15, 2015.

Community Workshops: The following workshops will provide: § An overview of the planning to date § A perspective about the timing and work needed to reopen the

Camp § A presentation of initial facility concept locations § An opportunity for the public to make suggestions about the

Master Development Plan.

Please mark the following dates:

You can find more information about the Master Development Plan process on the City’s Berkeley Tuolumne Camp website. Further Information: To ask questions, make comments, or obtain further information, please contact Craig Veramay at 510.981.6717 or [email protected]

Thank you for your interest!

Community Workshops: § Community Workshop #1

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2015 Time: 7pm – 9pm

Location: James Kenney Community Center 1720 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA

§ Community Workshop #2 Date: Saturday, May 9, 2015 Time: 10am - 12pm Location: Frances Albrier Community Center 2800 Park Street, Berkeley, CA

§ Community Workshop #3 Date: TBD Time: TBD

Location: TBD, Groveland, CA.

Additional Meetings:

§ Parks & Waterfront Commission Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 Time: 7pm

Location: Frances Albrier Community Center 2800 Park Street, Berkeley, CA

§ Echo Lake Camp Meetings: Date: Week of June 20 – 28 Time: TBD

Location: Berkeley Echo Lake Camp, Echo Lake, CA

berkeley tuolumne camp master development plan update · berkeley tuolumne camp master development...

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