City hall is looking to spend up to $7.6 million for land to build new baseball and softball fields, and is currently in the process of evaluating some proposals from local property owners who want to sell it to them.
The city’s community services department sent out a letter to area property owners in March notifying them exactly what criteria they are looking for in a 20- to 25-acre (or larger) parcel on which to build new fields.
Proposals were due April 20, and the department received “more than one” response, according to community services director Steve Rymer. He did not want to identify exactly how many proposals were received or which properties are under consideration, as staff might need to use the information to negotiate a deal in the coming weeks.
If any of the properties suits the city’s needs and preferences, and if a deal can be worked out, staff hope to present it to the city council for approval or further direction by next month, Rymer said.
Funding for the property purchase, and construction of the fields, will come from the city’s “park impact fund,” which was set up years ago for that purpose and is funded by developer impact fees. As of July 1, 2011, there was about $6.9 million in the fund. Another nearly $700,000 in revenue was expected to reach the fund by the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.
The city’s five-year capital improvement program estimates a property purchase for baseball and softball fields for the current fiscal year at about $5.6 million, plus about another $2 million for next year.
One property owner who responded to the request is Morgan Hill resident Jim Sergi, who presented two separate sites he owns for the city’s consideration. One of those is a nine-acre undeveloped former orchard at the northwest corner of Murphy and Tennant avenues, with western frontage on Condit Road.
That property by itself might not be big enough for the city’s needs, according to the city’s own criteria, but Sergi said bordering properties which he does not own are also undeveloped and their owners might be willing to sell to the city. Together, Sergi’s site and surrounding properties total about 33 acres.
Another site owned by Sergi, who voluntarily shared his proposal, is the property he lives on with his family a couple miles east of the first site. That 10-acre site and a neighboring 13-acre parcel which Sergi owns might combine for a suitable recreation site for the city, Sergi said. The proposal would require the city cutting out about an acre for his home on the property, he said.
“I don’t mind living next to the baseball fields,” Sergi said.
Both sites proposed by Sergi are in the “southeast quadrant,” a largely agricultural area with some large residential lots east of U.S. 101, which the city has long viewed as a future hub for publicly and privately owned sports, recreation and leisure sites, including some future retail uses.
The southeast quadrant currently houses the Outdoor Sports Center soccer complex and Aquatics Center pool facility on Condit Road – both of which are owned by the city.
The city and property owners in the area commissioned an environmental study of the 1,200-acre area for its potential annexation into the city limits. That study is currently underway.
“In my opinion, it would be a fiscal and political mistake on the city’s part if the ball fields went anywhere except the southeast quadrant,” Sergi’s letter to the city states. The letter noted that “infrastructure” including hotels, restaurants and public services are already in place in the southeast quadrant to accommodate visitors from out of town – many who are already attracted to the OSC to compete in weekend youth soccer tournaments.
Sergi’s letter added that another city-owned sports facility in the quadrant “complements the city’s long-term trail program,” as it could link up existing public properties to develop bicycle and pedestrian paths in the future.
But the city is not looking solely in the southeast quadrant for future baseball and softball fields. In 2010, the council approved the purchase of a site on Monterey Road south of town, which houses Uesugi Farms’ Pumpkin Patch, as a ball field site for about $4.45 million.
However, after learning the additional costs of relocating the current tenants of the 43-acre property would be prohibitive, the city withdrew the offer and still has not purchased property for baseball and softball fields.
City staff sent the owner of the property a copy of the March letter asking for proposals and outlining the criteria, according to City Manager Ed Tewes. He did not know if the owner responded with a proposal.
The city’s letter includes a list of requirements and preferences for a baseball and softball fields site.
The property has to be able to accommodate at least six youth and adult-sized fields, plus restrooms, concession buildings and parking, according to the letter.
The site should be in the city limits, or within one mile of the city limits, according to the city. There should be “minimal” impact on existing residential areas, among other requirements.
Preferred is a property with “good access” from U.S. 101 or Monterey Road, or both, and a property that complements existing parks, recreation or trail facilities.
Local youth baseball and softball teams use fields owned by the Morgan Hill Unified School District for games and practice. Pony Baseball uses fields at Britton Middle School, El Toro Elementary School and Burnett Elementary School.
About 700 local children play in Morgan Hill Pony Baseball, which relies on volunteers to help keep fields maintained, the organization’s president John Bennett said last summer.
Rymer also said last summer that once the city purchases property and develops the fields, it would likely contract with a private operator to schedule and maintain the facility.
The city has a similar arrangement with the Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance at the OSC.
MHYSA president Jeff Dixon said he has not talked with the city about operating a future baseball and softball complex, but his organization would consider it when the time is right.
“It’s way early for us,” Dixon said. “It’s great they city is moving forward with it.”
