WATSONVILLE — Pajaro Valley High School’s long-awaited athletics field took one step closer to construction Tuesday when the Watsonville Planning Commission unanimously recommended the project.
The project will now head to the city council for consideration, and if approved, Pajaro Valley Unified School District officials estimate construction could begin in the summer.
The plans call for an eight-lane track and football field, bleachers for up to 2,200 people and a concession and restroom building. The facility will replace the school’s current practice field on an eight-acre lot near its entrance.
Tuesday’s meeting marks a milestone for the project that has been a point of contention since the school opened in 2004.
PVUSD originally planned to construct the field on a 10-acre site north of the school’s parking lot, but lawsuits by the Watsonville Pilots Association claimed that the project placed students in the flight path of the Watsonville Municipal Airport.
In September, PVUSD and WPA hashed out a settlement agreement, said Principal Planner Justin Meek. WPA withdrew its objections to the project, while the district redesigned the development to be located within the 33-acre footprint of the school.
In addition, the sports facilities will not include lights, meaning that the school cannot have nighttime games.
Natalie Kirkish, an attorney with Wittwer Parkin LLP representing WPA, reiterated the pilots’ support of the project Tuesday.
PV High Athletic Director Joe Manfre said he never thought he would “see this day.”
“I’m really glad this is going forward,” he said. “I’m on the front lines everyday trying to convince kids to play these sports that we don’t have on campus. It’s an uphill battle.”
PVUSD Board Trustee Kim De Serpa said more than 10 years of students have graduated from Pajaro Valley High School without experiencing “adequate facilities.” She also cited 2012’s Measure L bond, which called for improved playing fields at the school, and said many students were involved with the campaign for the measure.
“That was five years ago, and the kids that helped us have now graduated from high school,” she said. “They did not get to see the outcome of their activism on the issue.”
The sports facility, and the auditorium that is still in the approval stages, are together estimated at $19.3 million. Of that, $18.4 million is covered by Measure L funds, with the remainder covered by one-time funds from Proposition 58.
Noting the sparsely-attended meeting, with no students in attendance, Commissioner Anna Kammer urged PV High educators to encourage students to attend the city council meeting when the field is on the agenda.
“It would be really nice to encourage young people to get involved in the political process, and also to express their views,” she said.
