The development company with plans to build a large active adult
community in Hollister will be in town this week to solicit local
input on the project
Hollister – The development company that recently unveiled plans to build a large active adult community in Hollister that will include up to 4,200 homes will kick-off its public outreach campaign this week with two community meetings.
Earlier this month, Michigan-based development company Del Webb announced that it had made a successful offer to buy about 1,300 acres just north of Highway 156 near the Hollister Municipal Airport.
The development proposed for Hollister, which will provide homes for people 55-years old and older, will include hiking trails, recreation facilities for residents, a public golf course and 3,600 to 4,200 homes. The company has no construction date set.
The meetings, at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St., today and Thursday, will consist of a short presentation about Del Webb and its plan to build a senior community in Hollister, according to Wendy Elliott, who works in land acquisitions and entitlements for the Del Webb.
During the meetings, Del Webb employees will also seek input from residents about what they think about the proposed development, she said.
The development company is now in the preliminary stages of conducting feasibility studies on the land, Elliott said. “The more we know about the community, the better partner we can be,” Elliott said. “Hollister is a wonderful city and we believe that an active adult community will benefit its current and future residents.”
Del Webb builds two types of retirement communities for people age 55 and older who would like to downgrade from a large home and land to a smaller, more manageable single-family home.
The larger resort being considered for Hollister, called Sun City, includes a minimum of 1,000 acres of land and must accommodate a golf course, tennis courts, and a fitness and recreational center. The other option is a “boutique city,” which is a community built on less than 1,000 acres of land and would not include a golf course but a club house, fitness center and walking trails.
At first glance, some local leaders are enthusiastic about the project.
Hollister City Councilman Brad Pike and San Benito County Supervisor Don Marcus said that, given the scant details they have at this time, the development appears to hold potential benefits for Hollister and the county. It will provide active senior housing – of which there is none in Hollister – and also tax revenue and impact fees for the city, they said.
Despite their initial enthusiasm, however, Marcus and Pike said they will wait for more details to make a final decision on the development.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
