Poway’s Field of Dreams: The Next Inning

A mixed message emerges on the fate of a baseball field built on private property.

By RON DONOHO
Updated 10:10 AM PST, Tue, May 5, 2009

TWITTER FACEBOOK

The city had said the field is a "recreational facility." Weisz's lawyer called it an "accessory use" of private property.
Getty Images

 A Poway man who built a baseball field on his property and drew the ire of local politicians believes elected officials want to tear down the field. A City Council member confirms that notion, even as one Poway city staffer said the ball field could very well stay in place -- for a fee.

Jonathan Weisz built the regulation-size Little League field near a pasture on his land, primarily for his baseball-loving 12-year-old triplet sons. The kids hope to one day play for perennial baseball powerhouse Poway High School. Weisz lets neighborhood kids play on the field -- including the sons of former major leaguers Phil Nevin and David Justice.

The city had said the field is a "recreational facility." Weisz's lawyer called it an "accessory use" of private property.

Poway City Councilwoman Merrilee Boyack believes the field "is not an appropriate use of a residential area. He didn’t have permission to do what he did. Despite Mr. Weisz's statement, we have received complaints.  And it's not just friends and associates that use the field."

Should politicians get involved regulating where kids play baseball games?

"Play all the ball you want," Boyack said. "This is about protecting neighborhoods. If [Weisz] cares about kids and baseball, he should set up a public facility."

According to Poway's director of development services, Bob Manis, a planned "predevelopment conference" with the City Council and Weisz will focus on how to keep the ballfield.

"It was built without permits," Manis said. "The City Council doesn't have a final position on this. We have approved recreational facilities in the past, though a ball field is not the norm."

Manis said the application is free and that a minor development review permit costs $479.

Manis said it may be true that the City Council is concerned about noise and traffic affecting a residential area but feels that a neighborhood petition in favor of the field will weigh heavily in the decision.

The predevelopment conference will likely take place this summer.

Ron Donoho, formerly executive editor of "San Diego Magazine," is a regular contributor to NBCSandiego.com who covers local news, sports, culture and happy hours.

Send Ron a Tip or Invite Here

First Published: May 5, 2009 9:11 AM PST

TWITTER FACEBOOK

  • 0% furious 0
  • 0% sad 0
  • 0% bored 0
  • 0% thrilled 0
  • 0% intrigued 0
  • 0% laughing 0
processing
          No comments have been posted yet.

          You have 2000 characters left

          processing
          So My City

          You are posting in (change)

          550/550 characters

          (jpg, pngs, or gifs allowed)

          (jpg, pngs, or gifs allowed)
          *Tip: You can also post moments via email or Twitter.

          processing

          View Your Moment in

          Posted by | 1 second ago

          Don't Miss

          local_beat

          Nov 21, 2009

          In Case You Missed It This Week ...

          Tuesday's U-T was showing its slip -- it's one of the week's most talked about stories.

          Read It

          local_beat

          Nov 20, 2009

          Local Businesses Checked for Illegal Workers

          Sixty local employers will be inspected by to see if they're employing illegal immigrants.

          Read It

          politics

          Nov 20, 2009

          The Browning of California

          Brown sure looks like he's running for governor, but he won't come out and say it.

          Read It
          Loading...
          Birthdate:
          You must be at least 13 to sign up.
          Gender:
          invalid

          By clicking the button below, I accept the terms of use and privacy policy

          Already Signed Up? Login Below.

          processing
          Here's what we're posting:

          *Only used for verification. We do not store your password.
          processing