EIR shows significant impact, but offers mitigation plan for
most
Gavilan College staff have released a draft of the environmental
impact report for their San Benito County full campus. Members of
the public have until Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. to comment on the project
in writing, and they may voice their opinions at a Sept. 25 public
hearing.
EIR shows significant impact, but offers mitigation plan for most
Gavilan College staff have released a draft of the environmental impact report for their San Benito County full campus. Members of the public have until Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. to comment on the project in writing, and they may voice their opinions at a Sept. 25 public hearing.
Gavilan College trustees have entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Fairview Corners, LLC. for the 137-acre property. Their preferred project would include 80 acres for residential development with 57 acres for a full-size campus, though their report outlines the impact and mitigations for various alternatives to the plan.
Staff from Gavilan College worked with dozens of consultants from several firms to complete a 222-page report on the environmental impacts of the project and proposed mitigations for those impacts.
The report looks at impacts in a variety of arenas from traffic to air quality to wildlife. The additional traffic from students traveling to a full campus and residents would require developers to upgrade existing traffic signals, and in some cases add them to intersections that now have stop signs. Most of the improvements to roadways and intersections would be along Airline Hwy., and Union, Hillcrest and Fairview roads.
In addition, consultants were concerned about the impact construction could have on the air quality for nearby residents because of dust particles and diesel exhaust. To lower the impact, Gavilan college staff will require the construction project manager to submit a plan for dust control. The report had a long list of steps that can be taken to keep dust down in and around the project site.
Before construction can begin, however, biologists will need to check on several wildlife species suspected of using the now empty acreage for habitat. The California tiger salamander may use the site for its summer dormancy period, when the animal sleeps out the dry season. Other animals that may use the site include burrowing owls, San Joaquin kit foxes, American badgers and nesting raptors. According to the report, staff will monitor the site to see the extent of wildlife on the property, and will work with the United States Fish and Wildlife Services and the California Department of Fish and Game. Some of the animals may be passively relocated. Off-site conservation of animal habitat is also a possibility.
Other impacts include higher noise levels, visual impacts and lower surface water quality. The full text of the 222-page EIR document can be reviewed online at www.gavilan.edu/bond.
A public hearing will be held Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building in Room 218 at 649 San Benito St. in Hollister. Written comments will also be accepted through Oct. 17 at 5 p.m., and can be submitted by fax to 408-847-5102 or by mail:
Gavilan College
5055 Santa Teresa Blvd.
Gilroy, CA 95020
ATTN: Dr. Steven M. Kinsella, superintendent/president
