The City Council approved a change to the city’s policy on the
use of temporary sewage holding tanks this week, making more
properties eligible to use holding tanks in lieu of hooking up to
Hollister’s sewer system so companies can build and expand during
the sewer moratorium.
Hollister – The City Council approved a change to the city’s policy on the use of temporary sewage holding tanks this week, making more properties eligible to use holding tanks in lieu of hooking up to Hollister’s sewer system so companies can build and expand during the sewer moratorium.
Development in Hollister has nearly come to a standstill since 2002, when the state imposed a moratorium on Hollister that prohibits new sewer hook-ups after 15 million gallons of treated sewage spilled into the San Benito River. In an effort to lessen the effect of the moratorium on the city’s economy, the City Council approved a policy Monday allowing industrial and commercial businesses looking to build to use temporary sewage holding tanks.
Previously, the city allowed the use of holding tanks for projects being built on a lot that is already legally recognized by the city. Under the amendment, projects undertaken on lots that have had a tentative map of a project that has been approved by the city Planning Commission can also use holding tanks.
City Manager Clint Quilter said the amendment approved by council members Monday was a very small change to correct an oversight in the city’s original policy. He said that there are several companies with plans to use holding tanks so that they can build during the moratorium, but he did not have an exact number.
Santos Martinez, owner of Gourmet Veg-Paq, said he has plans to purchase a holding tank so he can move his company headquarters from Gilroy to Hollister. Martinez currently has a cooler facility in Hollister where vegetables are stored and wants to build administrative offices next to the storage facility.
Martinez may get a little help buying a holding tank, which can cost between $12,000 and $20,000. This month the San Benito County Economic Development Corporation received a $4,000 grant from Pacific Gas and Electric to be used to spur economic development in the county and help out people like Martinez.
EDC Executive Director Al Martinez said he plans to split the money into eight $500 grants, which he will pass along to companies wanting to build in the city to defray the cost of buying a holding tank.
Quilter has said that, barring any hang-up during environmental studies of the project, the city will likely have a new sewage treatment plant built by late 2007. The treatment plant is the primary condition to be met before the state will lift the moratorium.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
