Hollister
– San Benito County officials are heading to court to get a
local ranch owner to comply with county ordinances after numerous
complaints from neighbors about loud noise, bright lights and
illegal rodeos that have brought police to his property dozens
times in the last year.
Hollister – San Benito County officials are heading to court to get a local ranch owner to comply with county ordinances after numerous complaints from neighbors about loud noise, bright lights and illegal rodeos that have brought police to his property dozens times in the last year.
The San Benito County Counsel’s office filed suit against Riverside Road resident Francisco Vasquez and his wife Olga on June 7 in San Benito County Superior Court. The lawsuit, which seeks to abate a public nuisance, alleges that Vasquez has refused to clean up his “deplorable” property despite repeated requests from county code enforcement officers. It accuses Vasquez of operating a riding club in violation of county laws.
“The riding club is more appropriately described as a rodeo with large gatherings of persons on the property; such gatherings have resulted in innumerable complaints of loud noise sometimes as late as midnight,” the lawsuit states. “(The San Benito County) Sheriff’s Department has responded to numerous complaints from citizens … such as loud noise, trespassing, gun shots fired and bright lights.”
San Benito County Sheriff’s Lt. Roy Iler said 911 dispatchers have received 72 calls from residents complaining about Vasquez’s property during the last two years. Iler said 40 of the calls were noise complaints. Sheriff’s deputies also have cited and arrested Vasquez several times for disturbing the peace, he said.
Resident Miguel Vasquez, who lives at the property targeted by the county’s suit, previously told the Free Lance that the “alleged rodeo has been a gathering of friends, not a rodeo.” He also said the property has been “unfairly” singled out for criticism.
The public nuisance lawsuit further alleges that Vasquez operates several businesses on the property without proper permits.
The suit details the county’s attempts to get Vasquez to comply with county ordinances, but claims that the ranch owner has refused to obtain the necessary permits for his buildings and businesses, remove abandoned vehicles, keep down the noise and clean up his property.
In its suit, the county alleges that Vasquez’s actions are “injurious to the public health, safety and general welfare of the residents of Riverside Road and neighboring streets; interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of the adjacent properties; reduce property values and give the appearance of blighted conditions and a deteriorated environment.”
The lawsuit asks that the court grant the county a lien against Vasquez’s property to recover the costs of the suit and other civil penalties. In addition, the suit requests that the court order Vasquez to stop the rodeos and businesses and clean up the property.
County Supervisor Anthony Botelho said the lawsuit was filed as a last resort.
“We’ve been trying to encourage the property owner to apply for use permits and set conditions favorable to everyone,” he said. “However, the process just hasn’t worked, so we had to take the next step.”
Riverside Road resident Ava Morgan said the lawsuit has been a long time in coming.
“(Vasquez) has no respect for the law or his neighbors. He just doesn’t care,” she said. “We bought this place because it was quiet and peaceful, but now it’s turned into a stinking circus.”
Vasquez has 60 days to respond to the lawsuit.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
