AYA Sports Complex delays fuel community frustrations

By Kymberli W. Brady

Staff Writer

In direct contrast to the popular Field of Dreams quote, “If you build it, they will come,” they (the kids) are already here—and they are still waiting for their fields.

For more than 10 years, plans have been underway to construct a youth sports complex that would accommodate the growing population in Almaden Valley. And just when it seemed as though the Almaden Youth Association had cleared its final hurdle, problems arose with the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) released last June, sending the entire project into limbo. Today, delays are fueling the fires of frustration, as residents grow increasingly impatient with its progress—or lack thereof.

Two weeks ago, Almaden Valley hosted a soccer tournament for hundreds of kids, but due to a lack of accommodations, they had to hold it in Morgan Hill. “It's pretty embarrassing in that we can't host a tournament in our own neighborhood, as we don't have the fields,” says Almaden resident Steve Bianchi. “This seems to be all about bureaucracy and politics and we need to cut through it. I really hope we can get people to start thinking more about the kids.”

Bianchi has coached little league and basketball for several years. He also enjoys watching his son play soccer and is one of many who are frustrated with delays that are expected to last at least another year. “This situation seems to be more complex than it needs to be,” he says. “We spend so much money in taxes—we see huge buildings going up downtown and new expressways being constructed throughout the city, yet all we're looking for is some grass for kids to play ball on. The Almaden Valley has been growing and you can't have all this development without providing kids with adequate recreational areas for youth sports.”

“I can understand their frustration,” says Vice Mayor Pat Dando. “The amount of time and energy used on this project simply to have grass for the kids is probably the most frustrating issue that I've had in my 15 years working with the city. This project spans two elected officials and hundreds of community members who have worked very hard to develop this sports field for their children.”

“This is a painfully slow process,” admits AYA volunteer Dan Hall. “The need for the fields is growing much faster and exceeding the project timeline. However this is the process that's required to get a project like this completed. I have full confidence that Dando will get the job done.”

Although most feel the fields are a necessity, several residents in the area of the proposed site don't share the same passion. They have retained a law firm and filed a formal letter of comment in response to the EIR document. Because of the level of detail in that letter, the city has elected to be very prudent in preparing for all possible scenarios that may result in protests or lawsuits that would further delay the project. They have hired RBF Consulting to rewrite and resubmit the plan for circulation. Included will be additional studies not addressed in the original EIR, studies that are expected to take several months to complete. “This is a challenging project,” admits Planning Director Stephen Haase. “It's as much a question of where as it is what in this case.”

The city's agreement with the school district regarding use of the land for the complex was due to expire at the end of this year. As new studies will take the process past that deadline, the school board voted last month to extend it another year in an effort to allow for the continuation of the current EIR revisions.

Haase expects the EIR to be submitted for public review after the middle of next year and hopes to take it to the city for the general plan change by the end of next year. Two issues that centered on potential problems with water use and excessive traffic triggered another EIR—a costly and time-consuming process. “I know it feels like a holding pattern,” Haase says. “But there's actually a lot going on. The letters we received in opposition were such that the document we complete must satisfy the quality of the law.”

While Dando continues to remain 100 percent committed to the project, she explains that this is still a land use issue. Even if only a few people oppose it, the democratic process requires the city to perform due diligence with regard to addressing all issues of concern.

With water use taking the top spot on the list of concerns, many question why an existing city pipeline that goes directly through the property can't be tapped into to alleviate the problem. Dando confirms the possibility is being examined. “I've personally met with the water board on this,” she says. “I also have our city staff working with them to determine if there is the possibility of using those pipelines. We have six or eight specific individuals in close proximity to the project who have filed a formal opposition against it. But in order to move this along, we will go ahead and do the EIR.”

“It's not a feasible answer and won't be allowed,” says Nancy Lascola with the South Almaden Valley Rural Alliance. “It's the water district's raw water line. If it were a city line, all the people on wells would be on it. We looked at that initially and it would be nice if that were the answer, but the water district is saying it's not a possibility. Maybe Dando doesn't have a good understanding of what it really is.”

“There were some discussions about whether or not that could be used,” admits Guadalupe Watershed Manager David Chesterman. “In general the district tries to avoid any connections to our major pipelines that are not essential. That line is to convey water across the valley for our treatment plants. It's still up to discussion but our recommendation will be to find some other solution for the water at that site.”

As the debate rages on, delays will not allow the fields to be constructed before Dando is forced out of her City Council seat due to term limits and many are concerned about the project's future. Dando hopes to complete the general plan change necessary to allow the project to go forward before she leaves office, but recommends that the community vote accordingly in the upcoming election. “If safe places for children to play sports is important,” she adds, “then they should be careful whom they vote for and where the candidates stand on this issue.”

Rich De La Rosa has put his hat in the ring for the District 10 City Council seat and agrees that a youth sports facility is badly needed in Almaden. Although not intimately involved at this stage, he agrees the project still has problems that need to be addressed.

“I know how important youth sports are, not just in Almaden, but in all of District 10,” he says. “These areas need good fields and we need to pursue that to provide the best for our kids. There is so much competition from other groups in need of good quality fields and there's not enough to go around. The problem with this project is that there are important issues that need to be mitigated. Traffic is something I am looking into now. Another is the water situation. If that can be mitigated without using the well water, then it will go a long way toward eliminating a lot of the opposition at this point.”

Nancy Pyle is also running for the District 10 seat and places this among her top five priorities if elected. In talking with school principals, she realizes that even if existing fields were to be repaired, there would still not be enough to accommodate the plethora of youth sports in Almaden. “I fully embrace this and feel that we should continue to work on the project,” she says. “I'm willing to do whatever it takes to find a field for these kids to play on. We have to be flexible and think in terms of other sites as well. I do have some in mind but would like to have more time to investigate the possibilities. We need to be looking anywhere we can to make this happen—and the sooner the better.”

“This is a very emotional issue for a lot of people, but not me,” says Supervisor Don Gage. “It's really a no-win situation because you have residents who are opposed to it and soccer moms who are for it. There's such a diverse group out there both for and against it that they're trying to grasp at anything they can to make their side the winner.”

Gage adds that he is neither for nor against the project, and remains neutral until he sees the EIR results. “The project has to stand on its own merits,” he says. “If it's legally permitted, then I don't have a problem with it. If they can mitigate all these issues, then the law will allow them to proceed.”