Hollister
– San Benito County recently opened the door for more affordable
housing, according to County Planning Director Art Henriques.
Hollister – San Benito County recently opened the door for more affordable housing, according to County Planning Director Art Henriques.
Henriques said the recent rezoning – which the Board of Supervisors approved on Tuesday – was required for the state to approve an update to the housing element of the county’s general plan.
“Since I came on board in January, we’ve been trying to keep moving on this,” he said.
The county is required to periodically update its housing element; the revision in 2004 was conditionally approved by the state government, with the stipulation that the county rezone more land for affordable housing. Henriques said the county hoped to make the changes in 2005 but was delayed by staffing problems; his department now plans to send a letter to the state asking for full approval.
“On the moral level, it’s good to be on the list of agencies whose housing elements are complete,” Henriques said. “And then there’s the practical level, where we have more access to state grants.”
The general plan’s land use designation of 58 acres located off North Street has been changed from “agricultural productive and sphere of influence rural/urban” to “rural/urban.” Sixty-eight acres of “agricultural productive” land near Enterprise Road have been rezoned as “single family residential.” In addition, 37 acres off Southside Road and 58 acres off North Street were rezoned from “agricultural productive” to “residential multiple.”
Henriques said one reason the land was selected for rezoning is because it’s near Hollister.
“In the long-term, it’s not likely to remain rural,” he said.
He added that the property owners have expressed interest building housing on the land, including – but not exclusively – affordable housing. Henriques noted that although “it’s up to the individual property owners,” he hopes to see housing available on the property in a little more than five years.
In July, City Associate Planner Mary Paxton wrote a letter to the county expressing reservations about some of the land included in the rezoning. She told the Free Lance that the city plans to include that land when it expands its “sphere of influence.”
“Ultimately, the county elected to follow a course different from what the city wanted,” Paxton said.
Henriques said the County Planning Commission decided to proceed with the rezoning because “the owners told us that it would be seven to 10 years before Hollister looks at that area.”
He added, “Eventually, the project can be annexed into the city of Hollister.”
Even as the county planning department tries to get the housing element approved, plans are moving ahead for a an overhaul of the entire general plan.
“There are likely to be further tweaks with the broader update to the general plan, but that should be fairly straightforward,” Henriques said. “At least we won’t have to look for space for additional housing.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
