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
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.
Copyright NBC Local Media
First Published: May 5, 2009 9:11 AM PST
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