By Linda Lou
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
6:57 p.m. March 5, 2008
SAN MARCOS – Plans for a private sports club with tennis courts and swimming pools in San Elijo Hills have been approved by the Planning Commission.
Changes will be made to one tennis court to appease nearby homeowners, whose back yards and balconies will face the courts and pools. The courts will be about 24 feet from some property lines.
After about two hours of public comment and discussion Monday night, the commission unanimously approved Andy and Paige Farmer’s request to build the San Elijo Sports Club.
A handful of residents living on elevated properties west of the vacant 4.9-acre parcel at Wild Canyon Drive and San Elijo Road had concerns about noise, parking, landscaping and undesirable views.
The San Marcos City Council does not need to approve the club, unless there is an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision. The club will have a two-story fitness center; seven tennis courts; a general sports court that can be used as a half-basketball court; a three-lane lap pool; a 2,000-square-foot family pool with a depth up to 5 feet; a spa; a coach’s office; an outdoor fireplace; and 75 parking spots, which exceeds the 48 spaces required by the city for the project.
The gym will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the pools and spa from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and the courts from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE UT ARTICLE
After reading this article about the sports complex at San Elijo Hills, I felt like more was needed to the article such as how long this sports complex and its location have been planned. I am going on my 5th year residing at San Elijo Hills and have waiting for this planned development to take shape. Waiting & waiting while I continue to pay the areas’ higher taxes (much to support the overall plan) & the association fees. Yet, nothing of this is mentioned in the article as well as how frustrated most in San Elijo Hills have been with the slow development for store and recreational facilities like this sports complex. Now, after reading the article, I am more frustrated that these complaining owners of homes that were built within the last year are upset because of the sports complex. How much disclosure is enough? There details about the overall plan are everywhere. The website, the visitor center, the builders, etc. How could these homeowners not be able to project for themselves what this was going to be like when they decided on their home site? A plan for tennis courts including lights! A plan for a swimming pool including bathing suits! A plan for a gym including parking spots! Unbelievable! Well, we bought a home near a street that is more busy then we thought. Are we going to ask for the street to be moved or shut down because we were not told how busy the street would be? No, we are responsible for our decision and have adapted. What about the homes next to the softball fields, their lights are on every night and I am sure there is some discomfort, but they knew what they were getting into. It is just amazing how much pub some squeaky wheels can get when we all should be sending them a message, take responsibility for your decision & use some common sense before making a long term decision like this one. A lot of us made our decisions to live here because of plans for the community, yet our voices get unnoticed.