WATSONVILLE — If the Watsonville Planning Commission on Tuesday approves changes to a coastal development permit for Pajaro Valley High School, it would be a critical step forward for the school’s long-awaited playing field project.
If approved, the issue will go for approval to the Watsonville City Council. A 10-day period will follow, during which the public can appeal to the California Coastal Commission. If nobody objects, the project can move forward.
The project on an eight-acre portion of the campus includes an eight-lane track and football field, bleachers for up to 2,200 people and a concession and restroom building.
The PVHS playing field and auditorium have been sore subjects within the PVHS community since the school was built in 2002.
The projects have been delayed by lawsuits by the Watsonville Pilots Association, which claimed that the project dangerously placed students in the flight path of the city’s airport.
In September, WPA withdrew its long-held objections to the construction, while the school district agreed to a modified version of the plans.
This included the district redesigning and locating the development within the existing 33-acre footprint of the school. That means that construction will not occur on the undeveloped nine-acre tract of land adjacent to the school.
In addition, the sports facilities will not include lights, meaning that the school cannot have nighttime games.
The California Coastal Commission and the Caltrans Division of Aeronautics have since approved the project.
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. The remainder will be covered by one-time funds from Proposition 58.
If the city approves the project, construction could start as soon as the summer, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Director of Maintenance, Operations & Facilities Victor Sandoval said.
“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
Sandoval praised the entities that worked together to help move the project forward.
“It’s been a team effort,” he said. “The pilots, PVUSD and the city. We’re all working to get this done.”
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The Watsonville Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers in the fourth floor of the Civic Plaza building at 275 Main St. For information, visit www.cityofwatsonville.org.
