The single-most fundamental issue facing the long-term health of
San Benito County is growth.
From the city limits of Hollister and San Juan Bautista
spreading throughout county land, planned and managed growth
encompasses everything from residential homes, business, industry,
attracting well-paying jobs, transportation needs and more.
The single-most fundamental issue facing the long-term health of San Benito County is growth.
From the city limits of Hollister and San Juan Bautista spreading throughout county land, planned and managed growth encompasses everything from residential homes, business, industry, attracting well-paying jobs, transportation needs and more.
As one Washington, D.C. representative for our area said more than a year ago, county residents are in a unique position, unlike our neighbors to the north, to determine the future of San Benito County. But, we must seize the ever-shrinking moment and act before it’s too late.
Development of all types, will occur – east of Hollister, south of the city limits, around the airport and, we mustn’t fool ourselves, between Hollister and U.S. 101.
There’s plans and proposals for development east and west of Fairview Road. There’s ideas for the airport area and there’s the VTA’s Southern Gateway Transportation and Land Use Study, offering six alternatives for regional transportation needs regarding the major corridors in and through San Benito County.
The time to get involved, to speak up, to listen to others’ ideas and to act to preserve and direct San Benito County’s “quality of life” that is always bantered about is upon us.
One fabulous start to lay an avenue of common ground toward growth issues occurred more than a month ago during a two-day consensus building workshop to better relationships and find a desired and workable solution regarding the county’s Slow-Growth Control Initiative that will appear on the March primary ballot.
Organized by San Juan Bautista ranchers Julie and Joe Morris, more workshops are planned. The answers to these complex issues may not be simple, but there are solutions.
Attend. Be heard. By getting involved, it makes things better and direction can be found. Getting involved grabs the attention of city and county officials because First Amendment rights are being exercised.
Direction and answers begin with residents, and involved residents are the solution to these issues.
Residents have the power and hold the seeds for the future. And as Joe Morris said, “We need to cultivate those seeds into a community we can cherish.”
