Cambria board conducts East Ranch Phase 3 site walk, directs revisions to avoid FEMA floodplain

The Cambria Community Services District Board of Directors held a special meeting and site walk on March 26 to review the Phase 3 conceptual plan for East Ranch Community Park. President Harry Farmer called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. and the board heard staff assessments of siting, floodplain and permitting constraints.

Staff identified that a significant portion of the proposed playground, gazebo and sand volleyball court sit within the FEMA-designated floodplain and said placing permanent structures there would require substantial engineering and floodproofing. The board directed staff to avoid permanent structures in the floodplain where feasible and to obtain additional input from County Planning and Building.

Board members and staff described the plan as conceptual and flexible. Directors prioritized initial-phase, low-impact and permit-feasible features: the playing field, a picnic area with cornhole and horseshoes, and disc golf. The gazebo, a full sand-volleyball court and an expansive playground build-out were listed as lower priorities for later phases or removal. The board instructed staff to revise the draft plan accordingly and to consider partitioning part of the large dog-park area to accommodate relocated features.

The board and staff supported reworking the playground concept toward naturalized, smaller-footprint play elements such as logs, rocks and balance features to reduce site impacts and permitting complexity. Participants also discussed shifting features to higher ground where setbacks and spatial constraints allow; staff were asked to evaluate such relocation options.

On permitting, staff warned that the building-review process will introduce engineering requirements and could raise costs, while planning review might be streamlined if the revised plan aligns with prior approvals. The board directed early engagement with County departments to incorporate permitting realities into the next draft and to ensure the plan remains feasible within regulatory constraints.

For implementation, the board discussed a two-step approach: first, adopt a conceptual plan; second, develop an implementation framework that includes nonprofit formation, a funding strategy and phased work. Staff will solicit feedback from County departments, work with PROS on refinement and nonprofit development, and bring an updated plan back to the board for review.

The meeting included public comments submitted in person and for the record. President Farmer adjourned the meeting at 2:46 p.m.