From the Email Inbox: Planning Folly

It is my understanding that the new high school cannot be built anywhere in Colton because the State of California will not help fund schools that are built on top of earthquake faults. In fact the first property purchased for the high school was rejected as defective for just that reason. In the private business world, that kind of due diligence for the land purchase would have discovered these problems during escrow, not after the purchase was completed. Planners take note.

The new Grand Terrace site chosen for the high school was probably chosen specifically because the land was cheap because of all the problems associated with it as mentioned in the various reports. The city and school board should consider instead the property adjacent to the Planned LaLoma Hills Development.. or property adjacent to the Barton Road freeway off ramps.

A world class high school and library here surrounded by higher density housing could lead to a revitalization of this industrial area and also this end of town. Folks traveling from Colton to bring their students would not have to travel far into town, and thus mitigate the traffic effects to the higher traveled roads.

Instead the high school site currently chosen or identified will funnel massive amounts of traffic through residential neighborhoods and creating problems that will cost staff salaries to police for traffic, parking issues, noise, circulation, stoplights and the like.

City planners are hired to anticipate growth and PLAN for the future. Instead it appears that they are planning to create more problems, and then “solve” them with city jobs. Surely our city planners or school board members know of other cities that have been held liable for toxic problems at school sites causing health problems for students. Wake up everyone; don’t be embarrassed to take a second look at the facts. This school site is really highly unsuitable in the long run. If we value our youth, we should do this school site selection right, not cheap.

The same problems could be cited for the site selection of the low-income senior housing project. A 120 unit apartment buildings of ultra high density housing will by its nature create massive amounts of traffic into the residential neighborhood directly next to the elementary school. Residents already site traffic and safety issues for the roads and intersections in this area.

Most seniors I know would like to live near retail services, medical offices, restaurants, the post office, the bank, the cleaners and the bus stop. Senior trips for these services FAR outnumber the “mentoring” car trips that will be saved by seniors that want to associate with elementary students after school hours. Very few seniors are into this kind of mentoring, especially low income seniors who may still need some earned income.

Again, most seniors I know like peace and quite when they are home. Many seniors are unenthusiastic about associating with youngsters except for their own grandchildren. Furthermore, Colton’s experience with low income housing should serve as a clear example in what NOT to do in Grand Terrace, and planners should heed that factual information, and PLAN accordingly.

Planning, planning, planning, -- can you say ADVANCE planning; -- when will they do this?