I know and respect people on both sides of this issue. In 2000 I voted against the northern alignment of Prado Road, as did Dave Romero.  We voted for the Industrial Way alignment, but lost. After that, the sports fields were designed specifically to accommodate the northern alignment.  If people wanted to overturn that decision, then a referendum should have been held immediately. Then, the sports fields would have been designed accordingly.

Since 2000, a great deal of planning has taken place, relying on the future existence of East-West connectivity between Higuera and Broad north of Tank Farm Road.  It is  a mitigation for traffic congestion impacts on the South Street “road diet,” the Margarita Area Specific Plan, the Airport annexation area, the  Broad Street corridor and the Orcutt Area Specific Plan. They have all mitigated traffic by planning Prado Road to connect South Higuera to Broad, north of Tank Farm Road.  There has never been an environmental review or traffic study of just cutting off Prado Road, as the initiative would do.

There will be a multitude of unintended consequences if Measure H passes, including the obstruction of  “smart growth,” transit oriented plans for affordable and work force housing in the Margarita Area. Cutting off Prado Road would increase vehicle miles traveled and traffic congestion in existing neighborhoods. If anyone had asked me my opinion before launching this initiative, I would have counseled against it. Please vote No on Measure H.