Football Stadium Improvements Could Cost Millions

Installing new bleachers and lighting on the El Toro High School football field would cost roughly $4.5 million to $5 million, according to an estimate from the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.

The project, expected to come before the school board in September, would allow Charger teams, including football, lacrosse, soccer, marching band, color guard and track and field, to practice and compete on a home field, instead of traveling to other campuses.

At a , some lauded the district's proposal, calling the revamp of the field long overdue.

But residents who live in neighborhoods near the field spoke up in opposition to the proposed overhaul, voicing concerns about an increase in noise and light coming from the field, and traffic.

Under the current proposal, 18 rows of new home-side bleachers, able to fit 2,500 visitors, would be installed. On the visitor side, the proposal suggests 11 rows of bleachers to hold approximately 1,729 people. 

Four new lighting poles, each to stand 80 feet high, would illuminate the field. The school would also get a new scoreboard, concessions building with ticket booths and restrooms, and wheelchair-accessible ramps and parking. 

If the project is approved, the district would pay for it with Redevelopment Agency money—funds available only for capital improvement projects such as planning, design, financing, constructing, installing and inspecting facilities.

The Saddleback Valley Unified School District accepted  through June 12. Starting June 29, the public will have a 15-day period to comment on a draft report summarizing the environmental impacts of the project, commonly referred to as an EIR.

On Thursday, SVUSD posted on its website this list of questions and answers about the project, which includes previously unreleased details such as the estimated cost.

Q & A

Q: What is the rationale for this project?

A: Several Lake Forest community members have requested this project in order to provide the children of Lake Forest with an equal high school experience; to reduce time out of the classroom (winter season field sports miss more class time than students at the other high schools due to early game starts); to allow working parents to attend their children’sgames; to reduce or eliminate travel (students have to haul large amounts of equipmentto other sites); to reduce conflicts (THHS has outgrown the shared agreement betweenschools) and to increase ASB and program revenue, to name a few.

Q: How does the District propose to address light spillover and glare into nearby homes?

A: The proposed state of the art lighting system is specifically designed to control spilloverand glare. Technology has significantly advanced over the years thereby reducing lamp quantities (60 lamps v. 95 lamps with previous technology) and light fixtures quantities (40% less fixtures than previous technology). In addition, the mounting heights being proposed will achieve a downward, steep fixture aiming that will specifically maximize control of spillover and glare.  Each fixture will have 14” visors that will shield glare.   

Q: How does the District propose to address the level of traffic generated by events?

A: A thorough parking/traffic study will be conducted as part of the CEQA process. Traffic and parking will be addressed in the EIR.   

Q: What are the proposed hours of use for the facility?

A: All events will conclude by 10 p.m. or earlier. Saturday events will only be during the daylight hours. There will be no school events on Sunday.

Q: How does the District propose to address excess trash after events?

A: The site will follow the current protocol that is in place at the other three high school facilities. A custodial crew begins clean‐up immediately after the event. Lights are dimmed to a clean‐up mode.

Q: How will the District prevent people from parking on nearby residential streets?

A: Parking in nearby residential streets is by Permit Only. Those who fail to adhere to this will be towed.

Q: How much is this project going to cost?

A: The Schematic Design phase for the ETHS Lighting & Bleacher Project has been completed. The Architect has provided a conceptual statement of probable cost based on the preliminary schematic drawings. It is estimated that that project will cost roughly $4.5  ‐ $5 million. However, please note that this cost is subject to change and will likely change given that the drawings are not fully developed. At this preliminary stage of the design process cost estimates are conservative and are typically higher. The District will obtain cost estimates following all design phases to control costs.

Q: How is the District funding this project?

A: The proposed project will be funded using Redevelopment Agency Funds.

Q: Can these funds be used to prevent teacher layoffs or other budget cuts?

A: No, these funds CANNOT be used to offset the District’s budget shortfalls or prevent staff layoffs. These funds are restricted funds that can ONLY be expended on capital improvement projects such as planning, design, financing, constructing, installing, and inspecting facilities.

Q: How does the District propose to address noise?

A: A thorough noise impact study will be conducted as part of the CEQA process. This will be addressed in the EIR.

Q: Why not build an off‐site stadium?

A: The Facilities Master Plan was developed in 2003. It identified 18 projects at ETHS including the off‐site stadium. A Preliminary Cost Estimate of the costs to implement these and all other projects identified at the 36 schools was prepared based on the 2003 bidding climate. Unfortunately, the bidding climate has significantly increased since 2003. As a result, the District has undertaken all modernization, fire, life and safety projects asoutlined in the Bond measure as their number one priority. These categories includedrefurbishing classrooms and student support facilities, refurbishing staff and studentrestrooms, upgrading fire alarm systems, upgrading old HVAC systems, upgrading of old or faulty electrical systems, repair or replacement of leaky roofs, technology upgrades,telephone upgrades, security improvements, field renovations, new playgroundequipment, and shade structures. The next phase of construction required each schoolsite to prioritize Measure B projects based on availability of funds and construction scheduling. This caused some projects to be deferred due to availability of funds. After the passage of Measure B the District determined that the cost to build an off‐site stadium would be prohibitive.  

Q: What will happen to property values of nearby homes?  

A: Real Estate data from Mission Viejo High School and Trabuco Hills High Schoolneighborhoods reflect that the average price per square foot is higher compared to those neighborhoods without a high school.