Sports Foundation Not to Pursue Property Along Santa Rosa Road.
A hearing at the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission left little hope for the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Sports Foundation to develop a 12 to 16 field sports complex along Santa Rosa Road. They announced this week that they will not continue with plans to develop the complex on the controversial land. With an attendance of approximately 100 people, who came to support or contest the proposal, about 80 percent were in opposition to it. The hearing room was filled to it’s fullest with members from the sports foundation, opposing agricultural groups, concerned members of the community, and neighbors who live along Santa Rosa Rd.
Commissioners listened to the effects the proposed project would inflict on the environment, neighboring ranchers, wineries, crop growers, and homeowners that exist along Santa Rosa Rd. The proposed land is situated approximately .7 miles west of Ave of Flags in Buellton and rests along the Santa Ynez River, which is home to state and federally listed endangered species. The 238-acre property is of prime agricultural land and is zoned AG II, 100. The proposed development is not only adjacent to productive agricultural properties; the property itself is currently being cropped and is satisfying its agricultural purpose.
Plea for Approval
Commissioners listened intently as the Sports Foundation members made a passionate plea for approval saying that the development is needed in lieu of the current shortage of sports fields in the Valley. They said that if the planning department were to deny this proposal that the commissioners would be saying “no”, to the children in the Valley and not just to the foundation. The foundation’s president Stuart Gildred, alleged that an approval was needed for the children, not only for the obvious benefits that participating in sports provides our adolescence, but that it was needed to prevent them from being involved in crimes and drugs.
Mr. Gildred had acknowledged that it would be a difficult situation for the Icelandic Horse rancher adjacent to the proposed property, but insisted that providing a sports complex for the children would be more beneficial to the community, that it should be approved, and that those along Santa Rosa road would need to accept it. Mr. Gildred did not elaborate on the effects it may have on other nearby properties and agricultural businesses.
Principal, Norm Clevenger of the Santa Ynez Valley High School briefly attended the hearing. Mr. Clevenger did not elaborate on the location that the Foundation had chosen. He told the commissioners he was there to represent the school district in and effort to convey the shortage of fields available to the youth in our community. He said that the schools have been working with the sports community by providing playing fields to the best of their ability. He said the schools are no longer equipped to handle the growing need for playing fields in the district.
Local horse trainer and mother of four, Tammy Golden countered claims that there are not available fields. She said that the school in Buellton one block from her residence has a soccer field that is almost never utilized. The school she later told the Journal, is Jonata elementary school located on Second St. in Buellton.
Mr. Gildred asserted that the foundation has been looking for a location for the past 15 years, and that every property they have ever chosen had been denied the use for this particular project. He said this is the first time that they have gotten this far in purchasing a property that the foundation feels would appropriately house the project. He and other members of the foundation expressed their desires to develop a much needed sports field complex and their frustrations in trying to purchase land that will allow them the opportunity to do so in order to benefit the community as a whole.
Opposition in Numbers
Agricultural Groups and committees voiced their concerns alongside neighbors. Opposition included (COLAB) member Andy Caldwell who gave statistics on the impacts the project would have on this particular property including, local farming, wildlife, endangered species, neighboring agricultural properties as well as the Santa Ynez River.
Neighbors gave powerful presentations using MS Power Point, images, and charts in regards to the impacts the project may have on issues such as, safety for children, flooding, mudslides, and agricultural impacts. Almost all who opposed the proposal expressed their concerns for the safety of children riding their bikes, walking, or skate boarding to the location.
Susan Todd who lives in close proximity to the proposed property gave a very telling presentation on safety concerns for the commissioners to consider. Santa Rosa Road is narrow and curvy in its nature and is frequented with large farming machinery and trucks that travel along the road. Susan’s presentation gave an entertaining slide show of the abundance of warning signs posted along the road by Santa Barbara County in an effort to protect the community of possible dangers. Her presentation showed approximately 15 different safety warning signs including those of large tractors, trucks, and rockslides.
Others in the community showed maps of the area and expressed safety concerns from a lack of sidewalks and bicycle lanes needed for children to safely travel to the location. In concluding statements Commission Chairman Mike Cooney express the same concerns of children traveling that route, and dually noted the short, knee-high guardrail across the bridge on Ave of Flags, which some children would travel across. Members of the Sports foundation contested safety issues saying that children would not ride their bikes or walk to events. Mr. Gildred insisted that parents would drive their children to the complex and that for others to say children would travel to the events on their own was not reasonable.
Nancy Schmalz, co-owner of the adjacent Icelandic Horse Farm, presented maps to Brian Tetley, who formally distributed them to each member of the planning commission, before the hearing started, and later showed the audience on the overhead screen, the locations of mudslides and flooding on Santa Rosa Road during 2002, making it impassable for several days.
The Planning Commissioner’s Share their thoughts
The commissioners agreed that more sports fields are needed in the community; however, three of the five commissioners were not in support of the project moving forward in this location due to the sensitivity of the land and the implicated impacts on agriculture, environment, endangered species, safety issues and neighbors.
Prior to commissioners giving their final conclusion to the hearing, Commissioner Dave Smyser who represents the Santa Ynez district intervened when Chairman Cooney wished to hear from the appointed architectural member on the structural developments that would be included in the plan along with any buffers that may be required to protect adjoining agricultural land.
Commissioner Smyser told Chairman Cooney that he felt that since he is part of the community and represents the district that is directly involved, that he should be allowed to speak prior to the architect. The architect was scheduled to give the commissioners a broader perspective of what the development would entail in order for them to reach a complete conclusion.
Commissioner Smyser then gave a full statement of approximately 10 minutes, in favor of the Foundation and told the room the history of the foundation’s frustrations in purchasing a property that would allow this development. He expressed that there is a need for more fields and that almost any land the foundation chooses will be agricultural land and that the project should be approved. Once Commissioner Smyser was finished with his statement the hearing was allowed to continue and each commissioner gave his or her own conclusions to the hearing.
Chairman Mike Cooney said he has been he had driven by the property and did go across the bridge that the children would have to cross, and shares the safety concerns that were brought forth by members of the community along with the concerns of the sensitive agriculture the land beholds.
Commissioners Mike Cooney and Cecelia Brown, opposed the project and encouraged the Foundation and agricultural communities to work together to find a more suitable property for the complex.
Commissioner David Smyser disagreed with fellow commissioners in a passionate statement for which he publicly and fervently apologized to the Foundation for the other commissioner’s conclusions and advise they had offered the Foundation. He surprised attendees when he leaned forward in what appeared to be frustration, saying that the other commissioners were out of line for advising the sports foundation on how to move forward with the project in the future when choosing a location, by encouraging them to work with agricultural communities and seeking land that is not as environmentally sensitive.
Offers of Assistance
The majority present to oppose the project, some soccer parents themselves, agreed with the foundation agreed that additional fields are needed in the Valley. Many in opposition said they would be happy to work with the foundation in an effort to find a more suitable property.
Several of the foundations members came forward in response to the offers of help and said they did not believe that the agricultural community or those in opposition would be diligent in working with them to find a location they could all agree on. They expressed their feelings that no matter what location they choose, there would be a dispute and that this location should be approved regardless of the offers for assistance in finding another a more suitable property.
The agricultural community insists they are prepared to work together with the Sports Foundation now and in the future to locate a more appropriate location. Those offering assistance claimed the Foundation has not approached them in the past or given them a chance to lend a hand in their efforts of finding an appropriate site. In a previous interview with Joannie Jamison, the Santa Ynez Valley Sports Foundation’s designated spokes person, she said that the Foundation “Would gladly welcome the help of the community” in locating an appropriate property.
Since there is currently not a mailing address or phone number for the Foundation, the Santa Ynez Valley Journal will be happy to volunteer as a depot for recommended locations from members of the community, in an effort to help find a location that would not have such drastic impacts on agriculture and the environment. Please submit possible locations, via e-mail to: info@syvjournal.com.