Suggestions by Council Member to have Citizens of Grand Terrace attend Colton Planning Commission with the intent to stop the building of Lighted Soccer Fields off of Barton Road in the Valley at the easterly base of the Barton Road strike me a ODD.
This area has in the past been used for training horses, a large parking area/ drive way. Now it and the area around it is slated for development.
I am not against development. It appears the developer has negotiated a plan with the neighbors for half acre lots, and now the City of Colton wants to have that flat land at the base to be a sports facility.
Well, why not should be the answer. The City has an obligation to provide all its citizens with parks and open spaces including a function such as a soccer field is generally a welcome idea. Well, why not. Well, it will be lighted. That means after dark practices and traffic. Well, why not. The children and parents will be from COLTON… ? Well why not? There will be noise, and Light Pollution. Well why not.
Now trade the idea of a soccer field with the location of a High School next to your house. Or a Big Box Store, or A bar and Grill. This city council asks for support for the High School and the other developmens. This city council has not said don't build it... as a matter of fact they have been of great assistance to the promotion of development as the RDA is in need of paying off debt bonds.
A soccer field with or without lights is used by children and their parents. During the School year, most children are in bed by 9:00, or should be. Games and noise will be minimal during the day as children are in school. HOWEVER the High School will be operational during the day, and after school, and of course there will be foot ball games, school busses, and all sorts of traffic. Senior housing and the new center will increase the after 4:00 traffic, and use of the infrastructure adjacent to that development. Town Center well that has so many concerns I won't list them.
The traffic pattern of the New High School should be a much higher priority than a Soccer Field in Colton. The Roads needed to move students in and out and around the community and to make the "Shared" facilities usable by the community should be a City Council Issue. INCLUDING the Parking for PICO Park.
OR is it just the fact that it will be people and children from the apartments in Colton using the facilities that cause such alarm. There is a word for this, it is Elitism, and yes Prejudice. Don't people in big houses on big lots have kids who play soccer?
There may be real reasons to be against the development of that bottom land, included should be a plan to widen Barton Road, limiting the speed on Barton Road, to 35mph. Soccer fields like golf courses use pesticides and fertilizers, so there may be water quality problems. Perhaps there is a need to protect the Blue Belly Lizards known to be found in that area.
However Reasons given at the Council Meeting were of the Elitist and I have to be concerned about the promotion of such a concept, and social behavior.
Our City Council will tell you, Your not guaranteed your “View”, Our City Council GIVES City Property or leases it to others in ways that “bother” the Neighbors of the property. I just find the inconsistency ODD.
