The Hollister City Council on Monday directed staff to send out
a request for proposal on projects that would either take up the
whole 20.5-acre plot or just the land not included in CalFire’s
long-negotiated plan to build an air-attack base at the
airport.
HOLLISTER
A plan to build a CalFire base at the Hollister Municipal Airport could dissolve if a private developer comes up with a proposal that’s appeasing to city officials for the entire 20.5 acres open for building there.
The Hollister City Council on Monday directed staff to send out a request for proposal on projects that would either take up the whole 20.5-acre plot or just the land not included in CalFire’s long-negotiated plan to build an air-attack base at the airport. That air-attack base would be on 12 acres, leaving about 8 acres left for private development if the state fire agency builds a base.
City Manager Clint Quilter said the council’s decision, as recommended by its airport advisory commission, puts CalFire “on hold a little bit” until the city can review developers’ proposals.
CalFire’s unhappy about the move, Quilter acknowledged.
“But I think it still has the opportunity to work out for them,” he said.
Quilter noted how some developers had told officials they would need the entire plot to make a project feasible.
Requesting proposals for the 20.5 acres lets the council see what the “whole piece is really worth,” he said.
The city should be ready to consider any proposals around April, he said.
