Sinaloa Park project gets unanimous approval from planning commission

MAJOR UNDERTAKING—Above is an artist’s rendering of the proposed revamp and expansion of the Sinaloa Golf Course. The controversial $18.8-million project, which will include three 18-hole miniature golf courses, won the approval of the planning commission this week. It will go before the City Council soon. CARISSA MARSH/Acorn Newspapers Seven years of planning and extensive community outreach paid off for the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District this week when the controversial Sinaloa Park project went before the planning commission for review.

After hearing three hours of testimony both for and against, the commissioners threw their support behind the $18.8-million proposal to revamp and expand Sinaloa Golf Course to include three 18-hole miniature golf courses.

When his family first moved to Simi Valley in 1955, commission chair Keith Mashburn said, “Fun . . . was throwing oranges at cars.” He and his fellow commissioners agreed the park project is needed for the community’s youth.

“This city, for far too long, has not had activities for the kids,” Mashburn said. “The park district is doing a wonderful job of providing those activities and I’m certainly in no position to want to slow them down now.”

The commission’s unanimous approval of the park district’s plan will be forwarded to the City Council, which will have the final say on the Sinaloa Park project.

Council chambers at City Hall were near capacity at Wednesday’s meeting, with about 150 in attendance—although half left before the commission gave its decision.

Dozens in the crowd showed their support of the project by donning Sinaloa Park shirts, which were handed out by park district staff. Some parents even brought their children to the late-night discussion. Three young Girl Scouts approached the dais together to address the commission.

“I really want this park to improve because I think it will be a very nice park and will be fun for the kids,” said a 9-year-old Brownie named Kathleen. “And I think we’ll be able to get our family together and have a really great time.”

Project supporter Thomas Herdering made a bold statement in response to Sinaloa Park naysayers.

“I wish this was in my backyard,” he said. “This is one more feather in the cap of our community that makes me proud to say I’m a Simi Valley resident.”

Of the 28 people who spoke on the project, 23 were in favor. Fifty more submitted cards in support of the project, with only four silently stating their opposition.

However, longtime resident Mary Spielman submitted a petition representing 67 Hacienda Estates homes whose owners were against the plan.

The project was met with stiff resistance when it was first unveiled in late 2006, but the plans to transform the golf course have slowly gained more citizen support as the park district made changes and eliminated the most contentious elements—a water park, an arcade and a splash pad.

Still, there are some in the neighborhoods immediately surrounding the course who will never be sold on the project.

At the meeting, those residents brought up the issues that have concerned them since the beginning: traffic, noise, safety, parking, storm water inundation and the sale of alcohol on site.

Simi Valley resident Marti Treese stressed that no matter how beautiful the plans, 980 Madera Road is the wrong setting for a mini golf attraction.

“For the people who maybe reside a little outside of this location, it may sound wonderful,” she said. “I think there are a lot of people behind the project. It sounds like we’re mothers who are terrible and don’t want activities for kids . . . but let’s put this where it needs to be, not smack on Madera.”

Joe Schmidt, a longtime resident who lives near Sinaloa Lake, just east of the project site, agreed, saying it’s “ludicrous” to build such a park so close to homes and that it will negatively impact the area.

Schmidt said the district could better spend its money by upgrading the existing golf course, providing additional lighted sport fields or establishing more “active” recreation facilities geared toward skateboarding and BMX.

Claiming that most of the people wearing the “Yes” shirts are friends and family of the district, Schmidt said the park district isn’t fighting fairly.

Paul Ireland, president of Hogle-Ireland, Inc., the consultant hired by the park district, said each issue brought up by the community was studied and changes were made to minimize the project’s impacts.

But a small, vocal group remains opposed, and Ireland said there comes a point where you have to agree to disagree.

Commissioner Jim Dantona doesn’t believe neighbors’ fears will be realized, saying the benefits outweigh the perceived drawbacks.

“This is going to give (the park district) the ability to be independent and finish the projects they need to finish and maintain the parks they need to maintain,” he said. “So all the things happening here are extremely positive.”

For complete plan details, visit www.sinaloapark.com or www .sinaloapark.info.