Despite increased interest in building large residential
developments in San Benito County, many supervisors say they
continue to support the county’s 1 percent annual growth cap
– even though there may be reason to tweak it in the future.
Hollister – Despite increased interest in building large residential developments in San Benito County, many supervisors say they continue to support the county’s 1 percent annual growth cap – even though there may be reason to tweak it in the future.
Passed by the Board of Supervisors in 2000, the growth cap was aimed at slowing the rapid residential growth the county experienced during the 1990s and preventing the area from further becoming a just another bedroom community for Silicon Valley.
At least two developers wanting to build in the county will have to contend with the growth cap as they move their plans forward. Projects that bust the cap require a vote of the people.
Ray Becker, a representative of DMB, the Arizona-based developer looking to build a mini-city called El Rancho San Benito near the county’s northern border, has said that his company anticipates having to go to the voters to get its project approved. DMB will likely have a formal plan for its 4,500 acres on Highway 25 near the Pajaro River by the end of 2006, according to Becker.
A second development dubbed the East of Fairview project foresees up to 1,092 dwellings, along with parks, retail space and an elementary school, to be built near Hillcrest and Sunnyslope streets. David Wade, a Sacramento-based land planner who represents three land owners who want to develop the project, has said that he believes the East of Fairview project will be exempt from the growth cap.
Wade could not be reached Friday to elaborate on that belief. Supervisors have asked county counsel to look into the claim.
Regardless of the increased interest in residential development, however, many county supervisors said they think the growth cap is needed to encourage smart growth and ensure that the county retains its open spaces and rural character.
“I support the 1 percent growth control ordinance in place,” Supervisor Don Marcus said.
Marcus said that his concern is that the cost of residential development, such as increased traffic and use of county services, may out weigh the benefit of a larger tax base made up of people who commute to Santa Clara County for work.
“We really need to look at a house and how much impact it has on the county,” he said.
But the growth cap might have room for modification, Marcus said, so it can accommodate certain programs.
For example, the cap might be increased by a half-percent to accommodate the Transfer of Development Credits program, which would allow people with agricultural land to sell their right – in the form of credits – to develop the land to another party, who would use those credits for developments in other areas, thereby retaining open space in the county.
“The idea is that we create density where density is more likely to occur,” Marcus said.
A TDC program is currently being developed by the county.
Supervisor Pat Loe, who also said that she supports the growth cap, said she would be open to looking into increasing the cap for specific programs, such as TDC. She also said that the county should only allow development that it can provide with services.
“We can’t afford to be a bedroom community,” she said.
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz agreed that the county can’t afford to be a bedroom community. He added that he would be willing to increase the growth cap only if it were done in conjunction with attempts by the county to bring more businesses and jobs into San Benito County.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho said that the growth cap is needed at this time to control development.
“Until we have a review of the general plan for land use policies, transportation policies – how were going to protect our rural character and have an idea of how to move in the future – we need this cap for the time being.”
Botelho said he doesn’t expect the Board of Supervisors to review the county’s general plan until after the first of the year.
Luke Roney covers local politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
