Attempt to Block High School Complex Fails

A group attempting to block a $75-million athletic and arts complex at Junipero Serra High School failed to gather enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot, clearing the way for construction to begin as early as next week.

The Orange County registrar of voters’ announcement Wednesday that two petitions failed to meet the threshold of 1,752 signatures ends a prolonged feud over a vacant 29-acre plot on the north side of town.

The petition drive began shortly after the San Juan Capistrano City Council approved the complex in late August over the objections of Native Americans, environmentalists and neighbors.

Some members of the Juaneno band of Mission Indians believe that as many as 200 of their ancestors are buried on the parcel.

The petitioners, who call themselves the Spirit of Capistrano, circulated referendums that opposed the development agreement and the architectural component. The signature-gathering process was marred by several arguments and an allegation that a petitioner assaulted a school supporter.

Through mailers and a campaign urging people to revoke their signatures, J. Serra boosters raised the possibility that the Juanenos ultimately wanted to build a casino on the land.

Spirit of Capistrano includes a group of residents of a nearby condominium complex, a few Juanenos and Seal Beach environmentalist Doug Korthof. The group gathered just over 2,000 signatures for each petition, but fewer than 1,600 were valid, according to the registrar.

“The paid petitioners just couldn’t match the passion of our kids, parents and community members,” said Marc Spizziri, co-founder of the Roman Catholic school. “I think [Spirit of Capistrano] was just a very outspoken, pretty well-organized minority.”

Pending final city approvals, school officials said, construction could begin next week on the sports fields across the street from the 1-year-old school.

“The Lord has provided evidence that he is working for us and will provide to us the promised land of our completed athletic campus,” said J. Serra Chief Executive Officer Tim Busch said in a written statement.