San Juan Capistrano Planners OK 1st Phase of Sports Park

The Planning Commission has approved the first phase of a $3.8-million city sports park.

The facility, which includes a community center, a swimming pool and fields for baseball, softball and soccer, will be built next to Marco Forster Middle School, near Camino del Avion and Del Obispo Street.

The project is being funded by a 1990 local bond measure.

Commissioners had only a few concerns last week when reviewing proposed zoning changes and other permits to allow construction of the ball fields, bleachers, snack bar, a roadway and parking lot.

Some said they were worried that the planned roadway through the sports park might be used as a shortcut by motorists. The roadway will have a speed limit of 25 m.p.h.

But city staff assured the commission that the road would be gently winding and not attractive as a shortcut for cars.

The roadway straddles a proposed site for an elementary school.

The sports park, when finished, will end a long wait by residents who approved bonds for the project.

Plans for the community center and swimming pool are to be considered later by the commission.

“I’d like to get moving on the project,” said commission member Wyatt Hart. “It’s been four years. It’s been long enough.”