$90 Million Plan Unveiled to Improve Del Mar Track

The Race Track Leasing Commission got its first look Friday at a proposal calling for nearly $90 million in improvements to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, including a new grandstand, improved freeway access and further development of the infield area.

The commission, an organization that holds the purse strings for spending at the fairgrounds, approved a $120,000 study for planning the grandstand, which could more than double the Del Mar Race Track’s seating capacity of 9,500. Commissioners also approved $180,000 for condemnation and acquisition of land southeast of the fairgrounds and $70,000 for completion and preparation of the fairgrounds master plan, of which the grandstand is a part.

Fair Board Director Raymond Saatjian, who sits on the leasing commission, said the commission’s approval of the planning study was a key step toward the grandstand’s eventual development.

“The boat is out of the drydock,” Saatjian said. “Now all we have to determine is what course to take and at what speed.”

Other projects listed in the master plan, which was accepted by the commission but not formally approved, include:

- A second tunnel to the race track infield so that the area can be used for events such as flower shows, exhibits and equestrian events in addition to serving as overflow seating during racing.

- Development of the infield and improvement of the infield lakes.

- Complete development of the backstretch area, including 1,318 new stalls, a new cafeteria-recreational building and a Del Mar Thoroughbred Club maintenance building.

- New fairgrounds administration building.

- Expansion of the horse show arena both in size and seating capacity.

- Replacement of three Mission buildings located at the front of the grandstand.

- Replacement of three multiuse barns and construction of an equine hospital.

The plan also calls for major renovation of exhibit buildings to conform to the original fairgrounds architectural style of Spanish colonial design and a $5.5 million landscaping project to beautify the grounds and parking lots.

But the new grandstand, which with 20,000 seats would cost about $35 million, is the fairgrounds’ priority.

Growth projections for the San Diego and Los Angeles areas--where 90% of the Del Mar race fans come from--indicate that by the year 2000, track attendance will increase enough to warrant doubling the size of the grandstand.

With average daily race attendance at 19,000, 10,000 fans either stand or use temporary bleachers. By the year 2000, peak attendance could increase to 39,000 people if larger facilities are available, a preliminary study showed.

Architect Hal Sadler, who worked on the master plan, confirmed earlier reports by John Puisha, a state architect, that the grandstand is in violation of state safety and health laws, is “far beyond repair” and needs to be demolished.

Fair board and commission members have agreed that any construction plan for a grandstand will have to be scheduled to avoid conflict with a racing season or county fair.

The most controversial item in the master plan is a direct access route between Interstate 5 and the fairgrounds’ parking lots. The $2.5 million project is designed to relieve the perennial traffic jams during the Del Mar Fair and the races from June through September.

The master plan proposes a new on-ramp to southbound lanes of I-5 immediately south of the San Dieguito River, between the Via de la Valle and Del Mar Heights Road interchanges. A matching off-ramp from northbound I-5 lanes is planned for the east side of the freeway.

Del Mar Fair Board directors are condemning land to enlarge the parking lots to a 59,000-car capacity. Between 90 and 100 acres are needed at an estimated cost of about $4 million, according to the plan.

State Coastal Commission members and Del Mar city officials are the chief opponents of the proposed freeway interchange. They cite the intrusion of the fairgrounds into the sensitive San Dieguito River valley coastal wetlands areas and the nesting grounds of the least tern, an endangered species.

Del Mar city officials also oppose the interstate linkage, fearing that it will become part of a major east-west highway (Route 728) between Interstate 15 at Rancho Bernardo and I-5 at Del Mar. They fear the new highway would increase traffic congestion and parking problems in the small seaside community.

The commission took no stand on a proposal by the Del Mar Fair Board that the $89 million in fairgrounds’ improvements be financed in one package--possibly through a revenue bond issue--except to restate its powers over any spending on capital projects at the fairgrounds.

The bond issue, which would not require a public vote of approval, would allow fair officials to move ahead immediately with the nearly $90 million in projects proposed in the master plan for the fairgrounds and Del Mar Race Track.

Roger Vitaich, fairgrounds general manager, is in Sacramento to meet with state financial officers and other state fairgrounds representatives about the means of raising money to improve the state facilities.