Mitigating traffic generated by hundreds of people who would
flock each weekend to a proposed soccer complex in San Benito
County is the final hurdle needed to be cleared to see the
large-scale project become a reality, an official with the San Jose
Soccer Complex Foundation said Wednesday.
Hollister – Mitigating traffic generated by hundreds of people who would flock each weekend to a proposed soccer complex in San Benito County is the final hurdle needed to be cleared to see the large-scale project become a reality, an official with the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation said Wednesday.
“We’re still trying to move forward,” said Dave Morton, the foundation’s president.
In September, the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation made a successful offer to purchase 170 acres on Highway 25 near Shore Road. Since then the foundation has been going through feasibility studies – looking at issues such as water, sewage and environmental impacts – on the property. While the bulk of the studies have gone fairly well, Morton said traffic, namely how to make sure traffic generated by the complex does not burden Highway 25, was the last major issue to be dealt with.
The foundation wants to build 24 to 26 soccer fields on the land, as well as some permanent buildings. The complex would draw people for youth league soccer games from throughout the region, and even the nation, 45 weekends per year, according to Morton.
Initially, the hope was to make the complex accessible from Shore and Frazier Lake roads, rather than Highway 25. The foundation, however, has not been able to contact nearby property owners to talk about getting easements through private land, according to Morton.
“We’re trying to get access to the site,” he said. “We’re looking at various alternatives.”
Morton declined to reveal the other alternatives being pursued.
With the traffic issue delaying the foundation’s plans, Morton said it was much too early to know when, or if, construction of the complex might begin.
“We need to deal with this issue first before we do anything,” he said.
Local leaders have been enthusiastic about the idea of a soccer complex moving into San Benito County. Both Supervisor Don Marcus, whose district includes the proposed site, and Sheriff Curtis Hill say that the complex would offer a new recreation option for local kids.
Marcus also said the complex, which would draw hundreds of people to San Benito each weekend, would bring revenue to local businesses and pad county coffers.
“I continue to support the soccer complex,” Marcus said. “I still believe it’s a good thing for the county.”
Hill also had some concern about increased traffic on Highway 25, but said that could be mitigated if the foundation is able to make the complex accessible from Shore and Frazier Lake roads.
Marcus said that he has talked to Morton about the traffic problem and offered his assistance to the foundation for resolving the issue.
Last year, the SJSCF had been trying to come to an agreement to build a soccer complex in Morgan Hill, but Morton said the foundation was unsuccessful and a deal fell apart in June.
At the time, Morton said that problems with the Morgan Hill site, specifically a lack of utilities and inability to erect permanent buildings, prompted the foundation to look elsewhere for the complex.
The foundation, an offshoot of the California Youth Soccer Association North, was formed in 2003 to find a new place for the soccer association to hold games and tournaments. Currently, tournaments are held at a soccer complex in Morgan Hill, but that city plans to convert the facility into an outdoor sports complex that would include baseball, softball and football.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
