Officials keep quiet over reason for Feb. 5 public hearing
HOLLISTER
Although county officials have released few details about a Feb. 5 hearing to consider repealing a key approval for the Spur Hotel project, Supervisor Reb Monaco today referred to the move as a procedural “glitch” on a proposal that he still supports.
Monaco, like other county officials, declined to provide details today about the scheduled hearing – set for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St.
Monaco, however, did say he expects that developers John and Jae Eade would be “discouraged” by the latest development.
The supervisor also expressed frustration at the government process, saying he’s “disheartened” by the many obstacles holding up the Spur Hotel project, proposed for the corner of Southside Road and Highway 25 in Tres Pinos.
“I still believe it’s a good project,” he said.
After months of heated debate over the proposal, supervisors approved a zoning change for the 44-unit hotel project Oct. 24 on a 3-2 vote. They did so while allowing the Eades to move ahead without conducting the full environmental examination.
A group calling itself Friends of Tres Pinos then filed a lawsuit in December challenging the project because supervisors allowed hotel developers to move head without the full EIR.
It’s unclear whether the Feb. 4 hearing to consider repealing the zoning change from a residential to commercial designation – a crucial step toward final approval – has anything to do with the lawsuit. That’s because county officials won’t provide details about the hearing because, they say, the litigation with the Friends of Tres Pinos group prevents them from doing so.
John Eade also declined to comment today on the issue, citing the litigation over the proposal.
County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson said a report will be compiled by staff and made available to the public Feb. 1.
