Commentary: Boulder Creek Rec planning is lacking

On Saturday, April 10, members of the community for and against construction of a proposed new recreation center in a residential neighborhood in Boulder Creek showed up in the largest gathering yet — maybe 90 people — for the latest round of discussions with the Boulder Creek Recreation and Park board at the current Boulder Creek Recreation Hall.
The one thing that was evident, and has been all along, is that all others in attendance were in favor of a new facility. Many citizens were willing to participate in the question-and-answer period. I and others have several observations about our BCRPD board, as well as some meeting highlights worth noting.
No. 1: It seems obvious the board has not comprehensively read the County of Santa Cruz Boulder Creek Specific Plan, which is on file with the county. This should be a requirement for any board member who prides himself or herself on knowledge of local issues, shouldn’t it?
This plan is the roadmap that provides guidance to leaders and citizens when there are issues of development or growth. It is a plan that the foresighted leaders of our community have agreed should be the touchstone of development since 1992. This is standard operating procedure in any developing community.
This plan specifically speaks to the Highway 9 corridor leading into the town core and basically says that residential areas should not be changed. It reads: “Preserve the scale and character of the South Villages residential areas.”
No. 2: When asked if the district has the right of eminent domain, the board admitted that none of the directors was certain what powers they actually have, in regard to simply grabbing the property of choice. Board member Eric Hammer stated that he believed that they do, although he and the others would not look to use this power to obtain property. Another citizen clarified that they actually do not have this right. This is something that our BCRPD board needs to know.
Other points of interest:
*Board members said they are now looking at other sites for a new rec hall: a site behind the Laundromat and recycling center off Highway 9, and a second site they did not disclose.
*One citizen made a valid point about building in the residential neighborhood. It would, without a doubt, set a dangerous precedent for future commercial developments in Boulder Creek. What would be next? Noah’s Bagels and Cold Stone Creamery across the street, perhaps? Thus would begin Boulder Creek’s long journey into night, joining a long line of towns that, in my estimation, have lost their uniqueness by succumbing to this kind of cookie-cutter development.
*Citizens asked many questions regarding the Proposition 84 $5 million grant application and the documentation to back up claims that this development would have zero impact on the local environment. The checked boxes on the application made these rather large claims. Despite claiming otherwise, the board has exercised no due diligence, nor has any been scheduled to support these claims made to the state regarding this proposed site.
Sean Woodward is a member of the Boulder Creek-Brookdale Coalition of Concerned Citizens, which opposes the location of the proposed BCRPD center. To contact the group and join its mailing list, e-mail bc**********@ya***.com.