Hollister
– Two local community groups are joining forces and inviting the
public to help solidify important goals for San Benito County
tonight.
Hollister – Two local community groups are joining forces and inviting the public to help solidify important goals for San Benito County tonight.
The meeting is designed to get community feedback and participation on plans for development created by Vision San Benito.
Vision San Benito, a group of around 45 community members, was formed in 2004 to discuss the shaping of the county. The group will be hosting the community meeting along with Leadership San Benito, a countywide leadership development program.
The group has developed a broad strategy for the county, called a vision plan.
“The vision statement (has) three integral aspects: It treats the economic, ecological and social aspects of the community’s life,” Vision San Benito member Joe Morris said.
At the meeting, community members will be discussing the ways in which they want the county to grow, and what they want to preserve. They will be looking at what kind of economic development they want: If they want more chain stores, more local stores or a combination. There will also be some discussion on the placement of the community college.
“We want the community to develop that common ground. If we have an idea of what we want to become it becomes an easier conversation to have,” Morris said.
The meeting will be the first public forum to discuss the goals identified by the vision statement, as well as the best way to pursue them. The document will help shape the future of the county by identifying which direction growth will take.
Morris said he is hoping for at least 100 people to attend the meeting tonight, as well as the one on May 3, which will be in Spanish.
“We want people to participate in this so it’s not only a document on a shelf, but it’s a vision that is shared by diverse parts of the community,” Morris said.
