Planning commission approves Chico Area Recreation District aquatic facility with conditions

The Chico Planning Commission on Thursday approved a use permit and architectural review for a proposed outdoor Chico Aquatic and Recreation Facility at the northern corner of Esplanade and Garner Lane, voting 4–0 to adopt Resolution 25-08 and approve Use Permit 25-01 and Architectural Review 25-01 with recommended conditions.

The project, proposed by the Chico Area Recreation and Park District (CARD), would replace a former golf course site with an outdoor aquatics complex that the applicant and staff say would include two main pools (a competition-size 50-meter pool and a warm-up pool), a third play pool, a water slide tower with multiple slides, a concession building, party rooms and support facilities. CARD estimates operations would be “from 05:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. during peak seasons,” and the site plan shows 87 vehicle parking spaces, five maintenance/delivery spaces and 20 bicycle parking spaces.

Madison Driscoll, Associate Planner, told the commission the site is zoned community commercial and designated “community mixed use” on the general plan. Driscoll said the project site borders a green line established in 1982 that separates Chico’s urban area from prime agricultural land and that the “active area of…