San Juan Bautista
– Mission City residents could get a chance to vote on Tod
duBois’ proposed Artisans’ Plaza development in August.
San Juan Bautista – Mission City residents could get a chance to vote on Tod duBois’ proposed Artisans’ Plaza development in August.
According to duBois, the project is unworkable under the city’s 1 percent growth cap, so he wants voters to exempt the Artisans’ Plaza from the cap. The City Council voted in favor of the election in March and will consider giving its final approval tonight.
DuBois said he’s heard nothing but praise for the project, but he still acknowledged that an election is a risky proposition.
“A lot of people still need to learn about the project,” he said.
Ruben Lopez is one of those San Juan Bautista residents who hasn’t heard about the project. When the Artisans’ Plaza was described to Lopez on Monday, he wasn’t impressed.
“Without looking at it, I’m totally opposed,” he said.
Lopez, a former city planning commissioner, said San Juan Bautista needs to look at new development very closely, so Mission San Juan Bautista doesn’t follow the fate of other California missions.
“(With other missions,) you can only see a little cross surrounded by housing tracts,” he said. “San Juan is unique. We have to keep the character intact.”
The proposed Artisans’ Plaza, located on Muckelemi Street, includes 10 live-work condominiums, a bed-and-breakfast inn, an art gallery, a regional visitor center and between 20 and 25 units of senior “co-housing,” which allows residents to participate in the design and operation of their neighborhood.
City Councilman Ed Laverone said it makes sense to send the project to the voters.
“It’s not costing the city anything,” he said.
City Manager Jan McClintock has previously said developments like the Artisans’ Plaza could help lift the cash-strapped Mission City out of its financial doldrums, and Laverone offered a similarly positive take on Monday.
“From what I’ve seen of it, it could be very good for San Juan Bautista,” he said.
Under the proposal being considered by the City Council tonight, San Juan Bautista would hold a special mail-in election in August to consider duBois’ project; the election would end on August 28.
McClintock said she’s already received some proposals from private firms interested in running the election. She previously told the Free Lance that a city-run election would cost around $10,000. DuBois has agreed to cover the city’s costs.
If voters approve an exemption for the Artisans’ Plaza, duBois said he will submit a formal project application shortly afterward. A lot of the preliminary work has already been done, he said, but not all of it.
“I hate to spend a lot of money on the complete application before I know if the voters will approve it,” duBois said.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
