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Proposed project in wrong location
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Anonymous user Mon Aug 20, 2007 15:36:28 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments I was amused by the editorial/fairy tale in The Bakersfield Californian Opinion section on July 24 titled “Park can be a good neighbor.”  Where should I start?
After asking the mandatory 10 questions every prospective homeowner should have asked, including, “What’s that big, empty lot across the street going to become?” we were told “a park” by developer representatives. They also stated that they had seen a layout of soccer fields but no one knew what for sure was planned.
Any reasonable person expects to be notified of a public hearing when a plan is proposed. Unless the old “shell game” applies! That is, heck with the neighborhood, just do it because we can! Then we’re scolded by an editorial that we have no one to blame but ourselves? For what, not being clairvoyant? We aren’t lied to by the developers, they had no clue baseball diamonds were proposed to be built! Now we are told only that: “The plan has been modified slightly. Now it will be youth baseball fields.”
Another interesting comment was, “The Bakersfield Planning Commission approved the Brighton Parks tentative map in January of 2004, noting in the accompanying staff report that the 40 acres across the street were designated as a recreational park.”
Whose due diligence is it to pick up an obscure planning commission staff report to determine that this “big, empty lot across the street” is to be an 11-diamond baseball park, complete with 70-foot tall lights, concession stands, stadium seating, restrooms, a single point of access, and only 144 parking stalls, etc.?
Another brilliant opinion: “Perhaps the people who eventually bought homes in Brighton Parks thought the open space across the street would remain an alfalfa field into perpetuity, even as the city continues to grow everywhere else around them.”
It sounds to me that this quote is nothing more than someone interjecting a personal opinion. No one I’ve talked to has ever expected, envisioned or considered this property to remain an alfalfa field. We expected a park.
A step in the right direction? If you believe the editorial you would think so.
The writer tells us, “The city is having trouble keeping up with the recreational needs of this growing community,” etc.
Probably true, but would you allow an outdoor shooting range 150 feet from the nearest home in your neighborhood, or, for that matter, 11 baseball diamonds? If so, let’s put those needed recreational parks across from your house.
“Come on, Brighton Parks. This sports park was on the books years ago. The city shouldn’t have to move an entire park because you failed to do your due diligence.”
Oh dear editor, how condescending.  As previously stated, our due diligence was done properly. As opposed to the city’s due diligence, in relying on a few newspaper articles to properly inform the general public and the residents of the Brighton Parks community of their intentions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the city did what they were “required” to do. If you doubt that just ask the city’s development service or planning director.
The real issue here is that this proposed project is clearly in the wrong location and incompatible with the surrounding residential area. Period!
Quote: “We’re looking forward to the first pitch of the baseball season.”
As a Brighton Parks resident I’m looking forward to the same thing, hopefully it will be at Taft Highway and Ashe Road next to the city of Bakersfield sewer farm or perhaps in your neighborhood.

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