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Existing Site Conditions (1988)

Note:   The following excerpt describes the existing site conditions in 1988 and is republished from the Master Plan for Fowler Creek Park, City of San Jose, October 1988.  This document may be obtained from the City of San Jose Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department.

Vegetation

A majority of the site is open, gently sloping grassland.  Native live oaks, eldeberry and eucalyptus trees are the dominant trees along Fowler Creek.  A portion of a declining walnut orchard sits in the northeast corner of the site.  The existing vegetation does not prohibit site development and enhances the overall quality of the site.

Topography & Flood Potential

The gently sloping topography of the site can accommodate park development with minimal grading.  Portions of the site could become inundated in the event of a one percent flood, as indicated by the one percent flood line on the site analysis.  A one percent flood is the largest flood likely to occur with a one percent probability in any given year.

Flood control improvement for Fowler Creek will be implemented with the development of adjacent private property as dictated by the Evergreen Development Policy.  However until such time as these improvements are completed, portions of the project site are subject to inundation in the event of a hundred year flood.  For this reason, buildings must be located outside of the hundred year flood zone.

Geology

A fault zone runs in a north-south direction along the west property line.  It is recommended that no building occur in a hundred foot wide zone just off the site and that special foundation construction be used another hundred feet on either side of this zone.  This zone does prohibit building construction in a small area of the site.

Existing Structures

A small wooden shed sits roughly in the center of the site and houses horses boarded on the site.  The site is currently leased for this interim use.  A dilapidated quonset hut adjacent to Fowler Road, is the only other existing site structure.  It is not a historically significant structure and will not be retained for future park or community center uses.

Views

In addition to the existing rural atmosphere, the views to downtown San Jose and the Evergreen Hills are the most important features of this site.  These views should be preserved and offer opportunities for improving the overall quality and image of the park and community center.

Other off site views include a small hill topped by a water tank just west of the property line.  Located within the fault zone, this area may not be developed and provides the possible opportunity of additional open space being dedicated adjacent to the park.  Views from the top of this hill are even more spectacular than from within the site.  The Diablo Range rises significantly to the east, and can be seen from all parts of the site.

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