WATSONVILLE _ Having overcome the biggest obstacle to allow construction of a school in the Coastal Zone, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District still has a lot of work ahead.
Yesterday's decision by the California Coastal Commission to allow the construction of a high school in an environmentally sensitive area west of Highway 1 may not be the last word on the long running dispute.
With the local chapter of the Sierra Club unwilling to accept conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding, and numerous local and state organizations on record as opposing the development, appeals and litigation aimed at derailing the project seem likely.
According to Sierra Club attorney Mark Masarra, a decision on legal action would probably not come until after an aeronautics evaluation of the new site by the Department of Transportation.
``We're going to fall back, re-group and see what happens,'' he said. ``Future action will depend on decisions of the Sierra Club's local chapter.''
A positive evaluation from the DOT regarding potential safety and noise issues at the site is the next big hurdle for those seeking a third high school . Aeronautics experts refused to authorize construction of a school there in 1987, but acquiesced in 1992 when the district proposed a smaller site located close to Harkins Slough Rd.
The work of the Department of Transportation in that 1992 evaluation has come under intense scrutiny recently as irregularities in procedures and lack of documentation have come to light.
Additional concern surrounding delays necessitated by changes in design elements has been expressed by school superintendent John Casey. Those changes need approval from the State Department of Architect.
The district has made a strong case that delays will affect the ability to secure much needed hardship funding to construct the $40 million plus facility. Districts all across the state are waiting in line for these funds and delays may cause the PVUSD to fall out of line, according to Casey.
And the purchase of the entire Edwards property still must be negotiated. The owners have indicated through their attorney that they are willing to sell the property and thus avoid a jury trial to determine fair market value in eminent domain proceedings.
The road widening needed to support access to the new school will require that a bridge be constructed where Harkins Slough Rd. crosses Struve Slough. Funding sources have yet to be identified for that project.
The MOU which helped move the school through the Coastal Commission hearing and which appears to be supported by all the parties, still has some detractors and will take time to ratify.
With yesterday's Coastal Commission action, the new high school the district has sought to build since 1987 has moved a step closer to reality. But that reality is still somewhere in the future.