City Apparently Lacked Property Line Survey Prior to Approval of Sports Field
Piedmonters were divided when the Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization (PRFO) Blair Park sports field proposal on Moraga Avenue in Moraga Canyon gained Council approval. The project was subsequently withdrawn by PRFO when the cost of the project escalated and a lawsuit ensued. During the consideration of the project, no concern was raised about a lack of a property line survey.
In January 2014, working on steps to improve Blair Park using proper plantings and correcting deferred maintenance, the Park Commission recommended to the City Council a survey of Blair Park be obtained to identify the property line on the southern boundary. This recommendation suggests that despite the numerous plans, drawings, meetings, and landscape specifications for the PRFO proposal, the City had no verification of exact property lines when the Blair Park project was approved.
“4. Survey south property line so the City has a clear understanding of private and public property lines (boundary survey); “(Park Commission recommendation)
“• survey the park’s southern property line to ensure City property is properly defined; ” (Mr. Bob Birkeland, Blair Park Principal Landscape Architect of Restoration Design Group)
Major planning projects, such as the estimated over $10 million PRFO sports field project, typically start with a certified property survey prior to the expenditure of $100,000’s on plans and planning processes. It is estimated that costs of the failed project exceeded $1 million.
Without legally defined property lines in building projects, the result can be costly property line lawsuits, significant monetary settlements, and even demolition of new construction. Given that many of the property owners surrounding Blair Park objected to the project, settling property line disputes could have proven to be an unanticipated expense and delayed implementation of the plan.
PRFO was genuine in their attempts to find an at-home grass play space for youngsters, and there is no information to indicate PRFO suspected at the time property lines may not have been verified through a survey.
The lack of information on Blair Park property lines raises a question: Over the years, how did the City know what property to maintain as a part of Blair Park?
Re the question “Over the years, how did the City know what property to maintain as a part of Blair Park?” :
The answer is simple: They simply did not maintain Blair Park.