Notice of Availability / Notice of Intent to Adopt: Marina High School Multi-Use Field Project

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY/NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION MARINA HIGH SCHOOL MULTI-USE FIELD PROJECT
 
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (District), acting as the lead agency, has accepted and coordinated the preparation of a Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (Draft IS/MND), pursuant to the requirements of CEQA Guidelines §15072, for the Marina High School Multi-Use Field Project.

Project Description: The proposed project involves various improvements to the athletic fields at Marina High School, located at 298 Patton Pkwy, Marina, CA 93933. The proposed project includes the installation of up to seven MUSCO-designed light emitting diode ranging from 46,500 to 160,000 lumens in strength and ranging from 70 to 99-feet in height to allow for nighttime sporting events and practices. Use of the field lighting would be limited to the months of August through March, with events and practices scheduled to end at 8pm, with the exception of six football games a year where events would be scheduled to conclude by 10:30pm. The proposed project also includes new 686-seat bleachers (with Public Address system) at the north edge of the athletic fields and 213-seat bleachers on the southern corner of the athletic fields. A pair of scoreboards would be installed; one above one above the sound booth on the northern bleachers for football and soccer, and one at the southeast side of the site for baseball. The proposed project would also include improvements to the existing baseball field, including new olive core in-field (a sustainable alternative to traditional rubber surfaces, primarily consisting of shredded olive pits mixed with sand), installation of artificial turf, moveable outfield fencing, batting cage, and reconfigured dugouts, bullpens, and storage areas. The proposed project also includes installation of moveable field goals for football and goal posts for soccer to replace existing goal posts, new rubber track surfacing along the north and west boundaries of the athletic fields (including four lanes for the 100-yard dash), new sun sails located at the northeastern corner of the existing athletic fields, and dedicated storage units for track and field, lacrosse/field hockey, football, and soccer at the north side of the site, as well as a dedicated storage unit for baseball on the southwestern side of the site. In addition, the proposed project includes the reconfiguration of the existing parking lot and addition of a new parking lot with new ADA and electric vehicle parking to the east of the lower athletic fields, construction of new stormwater treatment facilities, and a new plaza to the east of the existing athletic fields, including a flagpole, wrap around bench, and decorative inlaid lettering, replacing a portion of the existing upper parking lot currently in this area.

The District encourages the public to provide written comments on the environmental document. Written comments on the Draft IS/MND will be accepted during a 30-day review period, from January 3, 2024 to February 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
 
Address all written comments to: Ryan Altemeyer, Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, 700 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93942. E-mail comments may be addressed to: [email protected]. Please provide comments prior to the close of the public review period, by 5 PM on February 1, 2024.
 
Document availability: The Draft IS/MND is available for review online at https://www.mpusd.net and also at the District offices (at 700 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA 93942) during operating hours of the District. For questions on the project, contact: Ryan Altemeyer, Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (831) 645-1269 ex. 203.