FW: Soccer Complex Action Alert! - April 15th - Rec &Park Commission Meeting

April 15, 2010

If you have an opinion on whether or not Golden Gate Park should get this soccer complex (with HUGE lights and plastic turf) WITHOUT an environmental impact report, you might consider going to the Rec & Park Commission meeting today at 4/4:30 (see below for details). This came up at the Animal Welfare Commission and the AWC decided to send a letter asking for an EIR. Seems to me that's the least that should be done, considering the impact on the park and its non-human inhabitants, not to mention the surrounding neighborhoods and migrating birds.

Nadine May.

Nadine May [nmaysf] Thursday, April 15, 2010 12:24 PMMay, NadineFwd: Soccer Complex Action Alert! - April 15th - Rec & Park Commission Meeting

---------- Forwarded message ----------Suzanne Dumont <zangsf1Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 9:38 AMSoccer Complex Action Alert! - April 15th - Rec & Park Commission Meeting

Dear Stow Lake Boathouse Supporter,

This massive soccer complex proposal with TEN 60 foot high stadium light standards and plastic turf is a horrible precedent for our beautiful parks. Even though the Audubon Society filed a lawsuit the city is not going to do an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)!

If you want to learn more about this issue, please go to: http://home.earthlink.net/~sfoceanedge/

If Rec & Parks can do this with no EIR, then they can do pretty much anything they want at Stow Lake without one too...please attend the meeting if you can!

Thank you!

Suzanne R. Dumont

SF Ocean Edge <sfoceanedge'SF Ocean Edge' <sfoceanedgeMon, Apr 12, 2010 6:28 pmAction Alert! - April 15th - Rec and Park Commission Meeting (10)

SAVE, DON’T PAVE, GOLDEN GATE PARK

1. Planning Department decision = NO EIR for the soccer complex

2. Rec and Park Commission meeting for project approval - Thursday, April 15th, City Hall, Room 416, 4:00 meeting, approx. 4:30 for our item (It has been moved up on the agenda.)

3. Forward this email to your friends!

1. A Categorical Exemption under CEQA has been issued for this project. This means that the Planning Department feels that this project will have NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT on Golden Gate Park or Ocean Beach or on your neighborhood either in terms of historic context, aesthetics, traffic, lighting, habitat, or environmental damage. There will be NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. A copy of the exemption is attached.

This is an outrageous decision in the face of what will be done to Golden Gate Park.

We can and will get this decision reversed. But it will require mass participation from everyone who loves Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach. Our understanding is that if the residents turn out in force to oppose the project, some of the Commissioners will not approve it.

2. Attend the Rec and Park Commission meeting

Plan to stay as long as necessary. (Bring a snack.) . For us to make an impression on the Commissioners, everyone who cares about Golden Gate Park must attend. . Arrange carpools; bring the old and the young. Make it a party. This cannot be handled by one representative.

If the Commission approves the project, then we will appeal to the Board of Supervisors. Your testimony at the Rec and Park Commission meeting will become part of that appeal – it is vital that you attend and speak! LET US KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE THERE! We need to coordinate everyone’s testimony. sfoceanedge or 415-566-1860.

Plan on having only one minute to speak. Pick one or two points and state them clearly. State clearly your opposition to the project. Other points to cover might be:

Most important statements:

· I live in SF / I live near the project area

· I do not want this project

· There must be an Environmental Impact Report for a project of this scope, which will has a significant adverse impact on the environment of Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach.

Possible Sub-topics:

· The lights, 16 foot fencing, paving, expanded parking, loss of trees and shrubs, and artificial turf will destroy the natural feeling of the western end of Golden Gate Park.

· Your personal concerns – your current use of the area and how you, as a park user, will be impacted by this major change to the parkland

· You support youth recreation and want to see the grass fields renovated as natural grass not artificial turf

· You live in the neighborhood – you were never asked to participate in any decision-making process. You want a public process.

· The lights, fencing, paving, expanded parking, loss of trees and shrubs, and artificial turf will destroy the natural feeling of the western end of Golden Gate Park.

· This is a major change to the landscape of Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach.

· The 60 ft. stadium lighting will have an aesthetic impact on your homes, on Ocean Beach, and on Golden Gate Park.

· This project is not mainly for the kids; the night lighting is for the adult soccer leagues.

· This project DOES NOT BELONG IN GOLDEN GATE PARK

Look for our representative outside the meeting room door – we will have labels for you and up-to-date information.

Email us if you are not sure what to say. Or call us: 415-566-1860 (415-710-2402 the day of the meeting.)

LET US KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE COMING SO THAT WE CAN COORDINATE TESTIMONY.

3. Forward this email to your friends. THURSDAY’S MEETING IS A NUMBERS GAME!