Residents hear options for new Corona del Mar High sports field at Speak Up Newport forum
Information on a proposed sports field at Corona del Mar High School was met with less angst and frustration from nearby residents than it had at previous public discussions on the project when presented at a Speak Up Newport forum Wednesday night.
Staff members of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District gave the audience of about 40 people a general overview of what’s to be included in the field’s draft environmental impact report, a document that will analyze the facility’s potential effects on light, traffic, air quality and noise.
The event at the Newport Beach Civic Center featured district Director of Facilities Development Ara Zareczny, trustee Karen Yelsey, Director of Secondary Education Kirk Bauermeister, CdM High Principal Kathy Scott and two members of Newport Citizens for Responsible Growth.
The draft EIR will study the project as it is currently defined, plus two alternative plans.
The current plan would give the school’s existing track and grass field 1,000 bleacher seats, restrooms, concessions, a public address system and synthetic turf. It also would add six 80-foot-tall light poles. Currently there are no lights.
One alternative concept would give the campus two synthetic-turf fields with options for permanent lights, temporary lights or no lights.
The two-field plan — proposed by Newport Citizens for Responsible Growth — would have one field replace the existing one while the other would occupy a nearby space on campus. Seating would remain at its current capacity, about 600.
The second alternative would replace the existing field with a synthetic field with options for permanent, temporary or no lights. Seating would be kept at around 600.
The district expects the school board to adopt the draft EIR sometime in January. The board can decide to adopt the report with the project as currently defined, with one of the alternatives or with a combination of options.
Many Corona del Mar residents expressed appreciation for the clear options, but some questioned whether lights are necessary and if clubs outside the school district could use the facility.
Zareczny said the district has a use-of-facilities permit application process for outside groups.
“The request would come in first and it would go to the school site and the school site will say whether they support it,” she said. “Then the district will review it to see what type of group it is.”
Scott assured residents that varsity football would not be played at the new field.
The current field hosts practices for soccer, lacrosse, football and track and field and games for all those sports, except varsity football.
The new facility would have the same game and practice arrangements, officials say.
“We have two major needs because of our athletic program ... safe fields … and some extra space [for practice] that could be created by one lit field,” Scott said. “What we need and what we hope to have will not generate more traffic.”
Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
