Enloe Park update
On May 19, the City of Chico Map Committee approved a lot line modification for the block that includes Enloe Park, located across the street from the hospital. The park was always a part of the neighborhood and hospital plans and was meant to provide a buffer between the “busy” hospital and the “quieter” neighborhood to the west.
Building Enloe Park has been a long process that isn’t over yet. and involves a series of steps that include:
1. Request that the City abandon the alley. This abandonment required a public meeting before the City Council which occurred on March 6, 2018.
2. Modify the lot line of the five existing parcels that include the park into four, one each for the Sierra & Arcadian Houses, one for Enloe Park and one for a proposed parking lot (see attached Enloe Park Plan) This required a public meeting of the City Map Committee which occurred on March 19, 2018.
3. Submit plans for and apply for a permit for the parking lot. This step is an administrative process yet to be completed.
4. Submit plans for the Enloe Park. The City requires a building permit for the electrical and the pergola that needs to be obtained.
Hopefully, the remaining tasks and permits will be completed soon so building can begin in the near future.
Enloe Hospital plans to build new medical offices on W. East Ave.
In an effort to ease congestion at its Esplanade location as well as consolidate scattered physicians and services, Enloe Medical Center is looking to build a new 120,000-square-foot medical office on West East Avenue. According to a March 24, 2018 Chico Enterprise Record article, Enloe has purchased seven open acres between its current rehabilitation hospital, 340 W. East Ave., and the Town and Country Shopping Center at East Avenue and The Esplanade.
Enloe has been sensitive to the high traffic around its Esplanade facility, which bothers many in the CANA residential area. Additionally, according to the article, Enloe physicians and services are scattered throughout town, in about 15 locations. Through the consolidation, it would be more convenient for patients to access their doctors, along with services like X-ray and lab work, at one location.
CANA has always complained that additional expansion of Enloe was only a matter of time. We opposed the Esplanade Tower project over relocating to a former east Chico site. With city growth over the past decade, it was not a matter of whether, but when additional facilities and services would be needed. That said, we applaud the hospital’s decision to move forward with this plan.
A construction start date is targeted for spring, 2019 but State permits and City approvals are needed. For more information, see linked Enterprise-Record article.
County supervisor candidates forum on May 1st at Citrus School
The Chico Avenues Neighborhood Association has extended an invitation to all the candidates for Butte County Supervisor, in Districts 2 and 3, to attend a Candidates Forum at Citrus Elementary School on the evening of May 1st, 2018 at 6:30 pm.All of the candidates have indicated they plan to attend.
Larry Wahl and Debra Lucero Candidates for 2ndDistrict County Supervisor
Norm Rosene, Tammy Ritter & Bob Evans for 3rdDistrict County Supervisor
The purpose of the Forum is to introduce all the candidates to the voters residing in the Avenues Neighborhoods of Chico. Questions will represent issues of importance to the neighborhoods and will be sent to participants prior to the Forum.
The Forum is open to all members of the community.
Molly, we will miss you.
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of one of our Board members, Molly Amick, on March 31. Molly spent 22 years as a primary care and psychiatric nurse practitioner before retiring 2.5 years ago. She was active on the CANA board since the very beginning, over 15 years, and continued to be involved in Avenues issues to the end. Her input and lively comments will be sorely missed.
Discussion with City on changes to accessory dwelling unit building codes
Leo DePaola, the City of Chico’s Community Development Director will be attending the April 18th CANA meeting at the Enloe Conference Center at 6:30pm. He will be discussing the changes to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) building codes mandated by the State of California and adopted by the City of Chico.
The CANA Board has also asked him for help in understanding the code enforcement process as it impacts the Avenues Neighborhood.
Below is a link to a summary of the changes and to the SD-4 overlay zone in the West Avenues. The SD-4 overlay requires an ADU receive a use permit.
Invitation from the CANA President
Avenue Neighbors,
Through the years Avenue residents have become involved in CANA for a variety of reasons. Initially, and probably most importantly, it was because of the Enloe Hospital Expansion, which, by the way, is still not finished. The CANA website hasan article and rough timeline on the park. Click here.
That said, there many other reasons to stay engaged with CANA…issues that include 2nd dwelling unit problems, parking and traffic, and infill development in the E. Avenues between the Esplanade & Mangrove. The greater the participation of the Avenue’s residents, the greater the impact that you will have on your neighborhood and its quality of life. As a recognized neighborhood organization, the City of Chico has given CANA a voice so we should use it.
With the goal of improving the Avenues neighborhood, the CANA Board of Directors is seeking additional board members who are interested in shaping our future. If you are interested, you can submit your contact information our website or email me at president@chicoavenues.org. John Whitehead, CANA Board President
Enloe applying for a use permit for off-site parking lot next to Enloe Park site
As required by the Development Agreement between the City of Chico and Enloe Medical Center (EMC) for the Enloe Medical Center Master Plan, EMC is constructing a passive park on the block between West 5th and West 6th Avenues and Magnolia and Arcadian Avenues. Park design consultation has taken place between EMC, the neighborhood, and the City of Chico.
To proceed with construction of the park and parking lot, and to clean-up parcel lines that contain existing structures within the block, EMC is pursuing a boundary line modification (BLM) under a separate application. Completion of the BLM is a required condition of approval for the parking lot use permit.
Part of this process also involves a securing a use permit on property at at 226 W, 5th Avenue (west of the Esplanade, between West 5th Avenue and West 6th Avenue) to develop a parking lot that would address a parking demand related to Enloe Medical Center operations and alleviate demand on on-street parking in the neighborhood. A hearing on the parking lot use permit is scheduled for July 11, 2017 at the City of Chico Municipal Center, 411 Main Street, in the Engineering Conference Room, 2nd Floor at 3:00 P.M.
For more information, contact Shannon Costa, Assistant Planner, 879-6506, shannon.costa@chicoca.gov. A copy of the agenda item, including maps and diagrams of the parking and adjacent park, can be obtained at the City’s web site: http://www.ci.chico.ca.us/government/minutes_agendas/documents/07-11-17ZAItem2-1.pdf
MONCA is open for business
MONCA, the Museum of Northern California Art, is open Thursday – Sunday from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. 4,000 of the 17,00 square feet building that comprise the 90-year-old former Veterans Memorial Hall building has been renovated in the first stage. For more information on MONCA including exhibits and events, see their website at www.monca.org.
While we don’t plan to announce or link to future reviews, the Chico News and Review review of a recent MONCA show speaks well to the work that went into transforming the old Veterans Hall into a fine art museum. This is a great addition to the Avenues Neighborhood and will hopefully be supported by Chico and other Northern California communities. See review at: https://www.newsreview.com/chico/breakthrough-at-monca/content?oid=25329386
Tracking the Enloe Project
Read Enloe’s Construction Updates online
Read Enloe’s Neighborhood Updates