Developers of the long-dormant East of Fairview project are
hoping the time is right to start moving forward with the project,
which could build more than 1,000 dwellings on county land just
east of Fairview Road near Hillcrest and Sunnyslope roads.
Hollister – Developers of the long-dormant East of Fairview project are hoping the time is right to start moving forward with the project, which could build more than 1,000 dwellings on county land just east of Fairview Road near Hillcrest and Sunnyslope roads.
After being on the shelf for three years, the project showed up on the agenda for a Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this month. The developers hope the county’s ongoing need for housing will make officials and residents receptive to the project.
“I think their continues to be a need for diverse housing in this community,” said David Wade, a Sacramento-based land planner who represents the three landowners who want to build the development. “There still needs to be good, comprehensive planning done.”
While the current incarnation of the East of Fairview project – including up to 1,092 dwellings, parks, retail space and an elementary school – has been discussed since the late 1990s, plans for a large development on the property stretch back nearly two decades, according to Wade.
In the late 1980s, there were plans for a development that extended from the northern border of the current site to Airline Highway. That plan fell apart in the early 1990s when, according to Wade, the faltering economy pushed the landowners to abandon the idea.
“The owners decided to hold-off for a while,” Wade said.
From those who abandoned the project in the early 1990s, a core group of three landowners remained interested in pursuing a development. A few years later they came up with the East of Fairview plan.
“We submitted a plan to the county and, as is common, there’s a lot of issues that need to be worked out,” Wade said. “The whole point is to put a proposal on the table and work things out – affordable housing obligations, where the community wants parks, do they want a large park or several small parks – what the community wants to see.”
In 2001, the county planning commission certified an environmental impact report for the project. But the developers never took the next step of requesting approval from the planing commission because of widespread anti-growth sentiment in the county at that time.
“There was a lot of turmoil, issues relating to growth,” he said.
In addition, Wade said that the county gave the developers inadequate direction for how to best proceed with the project.
“There was just a lack of clear direction. There was a real concern about the project not being given adequate public discussion and ending up being killed,” he said. “We thought maybe it’s better to let things settle.” The following year they put the project on hold, according to Wade.
Then two months ago, Wade approached the county planning department and told interim Planning Department Director Michael Bethke that they were ready to reactivate the East of Fairview project.
During their Sept. 6 board meeting, supervisors were scheduled to vote on hiring an outside planner and environmental consultant for the project, to be paid for by the developer. By law the county planning department must provide a planner for a project and lacks the staff to do so. But the contracts weren’t ready and no action was taken at the time.
Once the county provides a planner and an environmental consultant, the developer will work with the county to develop a plan and an amended environmental impact report. Wade does not have a timeline for the project.
“How long that takes,” he said, “is entirely up to the county.”
Throughout the process, Wade said the developers intend to hold public workshops, and would even make themselves available for meetings with groups of concerned residents.
The appearance of the item on their agenda raised concerns among some board, and drew the ire of Supervisor Pat Loe, who accused Bethke of trying to fast track the project.
“Mr. Bethke is attempting to do a major housing development without data,” she said at the time. “Was this intentionally hidden from the public, or is he just trying to sneak it through before the public can speak out?”
County Management Analyst Susan Lyons said that the county is legally bound to provide a planner for an applicant, lack of staff notwithstanding.
“This isn’t a fast track process,” she said. “An applicant has a right to enter an application.”
Supervisor Don Marcus is concerned about how such a large project can be built, given the county’s 1 percent annual growth cap – a concern shared by Bethke.
“How, realistically, can it be built under the current growth control methods,” Bethke said.
Wade acknowledged that the growth cap was a hurdle, but said it won’t stop them from moving forward on the project.
“It’s a challenge,” he said. “We want to put our case out, then we’ll see what happens.”
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
