Negotiations to create a regional soccer complex north of
Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill have hit a stalemate and freed
up almost $1 million the city had allocated toward environmental
studies on the site.
Negotiations to create a regional soccer complex north of Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill have hit a stalemate and freed up almost $1 million the city had allocated toward environmental studies on the site.
The San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation is still looking for a regional soccer complex site. Unfortunately, the Sobrato site at Morgan Hill is no longer on its list of options.
Last month, the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation officially withdrew from the proposed Soccer Complex Project. The proposed site adjacent to Sobrato High School is actually located in San Jose’s greenbelt and the City of San Jose had refused to allow permanent restrooms or concession stands on the fields.
David Morton, president of the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation, said at the Sobrato site the Foundation “would not be able to have a permanent facility, everything would have to be modular, there would be no electricity other than a generator provided, irrigation would be above ground, not below, there was an issue with respect to the water … We just
felt it was in the best interest of the Foundation to look elsewhere.” Morton expressed his appreciation of the city’s support of the proposed Silicon Valley Soccer Complex.
Asked if there was anything Morgan Hill could do to get Foundation officials to change their mind, Morton replied, “Find me a hundred acres at a reasonable price.”
Morton explained the proposed Sobrato site would hold 16 fields on about 50 acres. He indicated the Bay Area is the fourth largest soccer market in the U.S. and the group’s vision is a site “somewhere in the neighborhood of 180 aces, … to create a complex along the lines of a Class A facility, which could hold both regional and local competitions to serve everybody, amateur leagues, adults, men and men, with potentially 24 to 26 fields.” The Foundation also wants the site to have easy access to the highway.
In addition, Morton said the Foundation would like to have “significant control from the standpoint of what kind of buildings to put in the fields, the number of fields, operation and maintenance of the fields.” He did not rule out the possibility of a partnership with another entity.
Morton would not reveal specifically which areas the Foundation is currently considering.
“There are five counties in the District 2 area – San Mateo, Santa Clara , Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito,” he said. “We’re looking at every level of opportunity. My personal goal is to have a decision made within the next six weeks.”
The City of Morgan Hill planned to contribute $980,000 to help develop a relocated and expanded regional soccer complex at the Sobrato site. The soccer fields at Condit Road, are currently being leased on a month-to-month basis by the California Youth Soccer Association (CYSA).
CYSA is a Pleasanton-based organization providing soccer training, games and tournaments for youth and training workshops for coaches and referees. Frank Morotto, general manager of the CYSA, said Monday he could not comment before talking with Morgan Hill city officials about a recent meeting in which the CYSA Board of Directors discussed Morgan Hill’s offer to extend the association’s lease another six months.
Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes said the city originally intended to use the Condit Road site, which comprises about 40 acres, as a community-based outdoor recreational sports facility, to be used throughout the week by Morgan Hill youth and other local groups. He said while CYSA’s use of the Condit facility has had a good economic impact on the city, it is not community-based. It was the hope of the city that a regional soccer complex at the Sobrato site would allow for the relocation of CYSA and that the Condit facility would be a community-based outdoor sports facility, as it was originally intended, “so the city would still receive the economic benefits of soccer (at the Sobrato site)” and continue with its primary intent of using the Condit site for the community.
Since the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation has decided to look at other options, Tewes said it is up to the City of San Jose to decide on a use for the Sobrato site, since San Jose owns the greenbelt. With regard to the nearly $1 million the city offered to contribute toward a regional soccer complex there, Tewes said the city has many options available for its use, like economic development for the downtown area, supplemental appropriations for other existing programs such as the library, the outdoor sports complex, and the indoor recreation center.
He said he expects the council to decide how to reprogram these funds in the next 90 days. Tewes explained since the money comes from the city’s CIP (Capital Improvement Program) funds, it cannot be put into the city’s General Fund in order to reduce the city’s deficit.
