Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Plan
July 2024
The Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission recommended adoption of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and approval of the Final Conceptual Design. If the City Council adopts the IS/MND and approves the Final Conceptual Design on July 2, the project team will continue the project by preparing design and engineering drawings. These documents will be used to obtain any required permits, solicit bids for construction, and construct the park and trail. Completion of the project is anticipated in Summer 2027. As we move closer to the implementation of the vision into a built reality, we'd likeContinue reading
July 2024
The Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission recommended adoption of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and approval of the Final Conceptual Design. If the City Council adopts the IS/MND and approves the Final Conceptual Design on July 2, the project team will continue the project by preparing design and engineering drawings. These documents will be used to obtain any required permits, solicit bids for construction, and construct the park and trail. Completion of the project is anticipated in Summer 2027. As we move closer to the implementation of the vision into a built reality, we'd like to thank the Residents, Commission and Council members, and myriads of other contributors, for getting us to this point. The result will be a triumphant enrichment to our community!
Background
Since 2002, the City of Cupertino has worked towards the transformation of Lawrence Mitty site into a park facility. The 7.83-acre site is located west of the Lawrence Expressway and to the east of Saratoga Creek. The property was historically used for agriculture and beginning in the 1970’s the property was used for construction stockpile storage and staging by the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department. The City acquired the Lawrence-Mitty site and annexed the property from San Jose into Cupertino’s jurisdiction.
The City is developing the site as a park facility which will include an extension of the San Tomas Aquino – Saratoga Creek Trail. As a first step in its development, the City produced a master plan that reflects community needs and the goals laid out in the 2020 Parks and Recreation System Master Plan. Throughout the development of the Master Plan the City worked with the public, numerous Commissions, and the City Council to solicit input and ideas on design and amenities to provide at the site.
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Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for Review
Share Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for Review on Facebook Share Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for Review on Twitter Share Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for Review on Linkedin Email Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for Review link01 Jul 2024CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.The City of Cupertino has prepared a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Lawrence Mitty Park and Trail Project which is available beginning on Monday, February 12, 2024 for review and comment by the public and all interested persons, agencies, and organizations for a period of 30 days, ending on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. All comments on the Draft MND must be received by that date.
Project Location: West Side of Lawrence Expressway, between Calvert Drive and Mitty Way.
Project Description: The project consists of the development of a new public park and extension of the existing Saratoga Creek Trail on an approximately 7.8-acre site, located along the west side of Lawrence Expressway, south of Interstate 280 and adjacent to Saratoga Creek in the City of Cupertino.
Potentially Significant Environmental Effects: Potentially significant impacts in the following areas are discussed in the Mitigated Negative Declaration: Biological Resources, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources. Each potentially significant effect is reduced to a less-than-significant level through mitigation.
The document will be available for review at the following locations:
- Cupertino City Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA
- Online at: cupertino.gov/lawrencemitty(External link)
Comments on the Draft MND may be submitted in writing to:
City of Cupertino, Public Works Department
10300 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
ATTN: Susan Michael, Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) manager
(408-777-1328 or susanm@cupertino.gov)
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Previous Design Phases
Share Previous Design Phases on Facebook Share Previous Design Phases on Twitter Share Previous Design Phases on Linkedin Email Previous Design Phases link01 Jul 2024CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.From January 2023
The City has completed Phase 3, Conceptual Design Alternatives, of the work leading up to final design of the park. In this phase the community provided feedback via an online survey, at several pop-up events including a site tour, a virtual community meeting, and Bicycle Pedestrian and Parks & Recreation Commission Meetings.
Next a conceptual design that incorporates the information gathered by the City’s outreach efforts will be developed and that plan presented to City Council for adoption in early 2023.
Phase 3 Park and Trail Concepts: Concept A | Concept B | Concept C
https://youtu.be/_TCl1_6kzmk(External link) (video of the presentation of the 3 Concepts)
BACKGROUND
The City of Cupertino worked for years to acquire the 7.83-acre site known as Lawrence-Mitty, located west of the Lawrence Expressway and to the east of Saratoga Creek. The property has historically been used for agriculture. But beginning in the 1970s the property was used for construction storage and staging by the Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department. The City acquired the Lawrence-Mitty site in 2020. The annexation was approved by the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and will be finalized in 2022.
The City intends to develop this site as a park, which will include an extension of the San Tomas Aquino – Saratoga Creek Trail. The City is excited about this opportunity to plan for and develop a park and trail at the Lawrence-Mitty site. The first steps to developing this park will be to develop a Master Plan that will reflect community needs and strive toward the goals laid out in the 2020 Parks System Master Plan adopted by City Council. This site will offer Cupertino residents, especially those living in the eastern portion of the City, the opportunity to experience a sizable, green space for leisure and play.
In preparation for the development of the Park and Trail Plan, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to qualified landscape design consultants in August 2021. Five RFQ responses were submitted to the City for review. Through the review and scoring process of the submittals, the City selected three firms to interview. Through the written submittals and interview process the City determined that MIG Inc. was the most qualified to assist the City through the Park and Trail Planning process. On December 7, 2021 City Council approved the recommendation to hire MIG Inc. (See "Important Documents at right for RFQ Submittals.)
The product of the Park and Trail Plan will be an adopted Conceptual Design and the completion of several site-specific studies that will outline site conditions and constraints. Throughout the development of the Park and Trail Plan, the City will engage with the public, Planning Commission, Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as City Council, to solicit input and ideas on design and amenities to provide at the site.
Site-Specific Considerations
As the City moves along in the Park and Trail Plan process there are several site-specific factors to consider that may influence the direction of the final conceptual design. These elements include:
- Site Access – Currently the site's primary access is via the Saratoga Creek Trail to the south of the site. Access via Lawrence Expressway will be limited to only emergency and maintenance vehicles. No onsite vehicle parking will be available for the park.
- Saratoga Creek - Roughly 1.9 acres of the gross area has limited improvement potential due to Saratoga Creek, which is managed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District. While the Creek will be a wonderful aspect of the park there will likely be limits on alterations within the drainage corridor.
- Lawrence Expressway- The site’s proximity to Lawrence Expressway and associated noise pollution will be a consideration throughout the design. The City will be charged with finding a balance between noise reduction and site safety.
- Permits and permissions - Permitting agencies may place limitations or restrictions on park design or use. Findings from Environmental Studies conducted for the site may influence feasible options for the design of the park.
- Site Access – Currently the site's primary access is via the Saratoga Creek Trail to the south of the site. Access via Lawrence Expressway will be limited to only emergency and maintenance vehicles. No onsite vehicle parking will be available for the park.
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Upcoming Public Comment Opportunities
Share Upcoming Public Comment Opportunities on Facebook Share Upcoming Public Comment Opportunities on Twitter Share Upcoming Public Comment Opportunities on Linkedin Email Upcoming Public Comment Opportunities link09 Feb 2024CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.Phase 3: Conceptual Design Alternatives
The design process will include outreach throughout Cupertino to ensure community members have multiple opportunities to comment and provide feedback on the Lawernce-Mitty Park and Trail Plan project during the conceptual design phase. Upcoming phase 3 public comment opportunities include:
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Community Survey
- Available October 3 to October 31
- Provide input on three design options based on community input from the community vision survey.
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Community Input Pop-up Event at the Cupertino Library
- Saturday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to noon
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Lawrence-Mitty Drop-In Site Visit
- Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to noon
- Visit the Lawerence-Mitty Park and Trail site, learn about the three design options, and ask City staff questions. Meet at Sterling Barnhart Park, 10486 Sterling Boulevard, Cupertino, CA 95014
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Community Meeting, Virtual
- Monday, October 17 from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Register Here(External link)
As the project progresses, additional public comment opportunities will be posted on this webpage. -
Community Survey
Follow Project
Project Schedule
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Phase 1: Existing Conditions and Technical Analysis
Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Plan has finished this stage -
Phase 2: Community Vision
Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Plan has finished this stageOnline Survey
March 31 to May 23Pop-Up Event #1 at the Big Bunny 5k Run
April 16 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.Virtual Community Meeting #1
April 27 at 6 p.m.Lawrence-Mitty Site Tour
April 30 from 10 a.m. to noonPop-Up Event #2 at Creekside Park
May 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Joint Commission Meeting
June 13 at 6:30 p.m.City Council Meeting
Present findings of Phase 1 and 2 findings
July 19 at 6:45 p.m. -
Phase 3: Conceptual Design Alternatives
Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Plan has finished this stageCommunity Survey
Available October 3 to October 31 (2022)
Provide input on three design options based on community input from the community vision survey.Community Input Pop-up at the Cupertino Library
Saturday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to noon (2022)Lawrence-Mitty Drop-In Site Visit
Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to noon (2022)
Visit the Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail site, learn about the three design options, and ask City staff questions. Meet at Sterling Barnhart Park, 10486 Sterling Boulevard.Virtual Community Meeting
Monday, October 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. (2022)Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Meeting
November 16 at 7 p.m. (2022)
The Bicycle Pedestrian Commission will be presented with an overview of the project, a report outlining the survey feedback received, and discuss the plans for the Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail.Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
November 17 at 6 p.m. (2022)
The Parks and Recreation Commission will be presented with an overview of the project, a report outlining the survey feedback received, and discuss the plans for the Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail.City Council Meeting (January 17, 2023)
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Phase 4: CEQA and Final Conceptual Park and Trail Plan
Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Plan is currently at this stage- February 12 - March 13, 2024: draft CEQA report was available for public review and comment
- May 28, 2024: Planning Commission meeting: CEQA report considered for recommendation to City Council for adoption, and the final conceptual design was reviewed for conformance to the General Plan
- June 11, 2024: Parks and Recreation Commission meeting: CEQA report and final conceptual design considered for recommendation to City Council for adoption and approval.
- July 2, 2024: City Council meeting: CEQA report considered for adoption, and final conceptual design considered for approval
Important Documents
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RFQs (Request for Qualifications)_Sept2021
- Final Lawrence-Mitty Master Plan RFQ.pdf (724 KB) (pdf)
- Addendum 1 - Lawrence-Mitty Master Plan RFQ.pdf (691 KB) (pdf)
- Addendum 2 - Lawrence-Mitty Master Plan RFQ.pdf (190 KB) (pdf)
- Callander - RFQ- Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Master Plan.pdf (17.9 MB) (pdf)
- MIG - Cupertino Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail MP.pdf (3.81 MB) (pdf)
- Gates - RFQ - Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Master Plan.pdf (9.2 MB) (pdf)
- Verde - Lawrence Mitty Park and Trail Master Plan.pdf (2.07 MB) (pdf)
- RHAA - RFQ – Lawrence-Mitty Park and Trail Master Plan.pdf (16 MB) (pdf)
- LMP_Environmental Summary Report 06-30-22.pdf (7.25 MB) (pdf)
- LMP_Community Outreach Summary_June 2022.pdf (3.9 MB) (pdf)
- Parks and Trail Concepts_Jan 2023
- Phase 3 Survey Results_Nov 2023 (2.37 MB) (pdf)
- draft CEQA documents Feb 2024
- LMP_draft final conceptual plan report_Feb2024 (8.64 MB) (pdf)
Project Contact
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Phone (408) 777-1328 Email susanm@cupertino.gov (External link)