A newly formed committee to guide a process to update
Hollister’s General Plan met for the first time Tuesday and mapped
its strategy for the next year.
A newly formed committee to guide a process to update Hollister’s General Plan met for the first time Tuesday and mapped its strategy for the next year.
As Hollister embarks on rewriting its “blueprint for the future,” the Steering Committee, which is made up of planning commissioners and members of the public, got off to a “really good” start on the process, according to Community Development Director Bill Card.
The General Plan, which was last updated in 1995, is a community’s shared vision for future development and orderly growth, according to the State of California General Plan Guidelines 2002.
It includes seven main elements, including housing, land use and a city design element – the latter of which has people in each neighborhood choosing a distinct personality for their sector of town.
Card said there was a “moderate” public turnout, which he attributed to the meeting being the first one. He said he expects more attendance at an upcoming “community workshop,” which he likened to a town hall-type meeting, to discuss the General Plan. That meeting is scheduled for April 26.
“It was a kick-off to the visioning process,” Card said, and added that the “visioning process” is the first of several phases between now and May 2004.
Representatives from Moore, Iacofano, Goltsman, Inc., the planning consultant firm hired by the city, guided the discussion among committee members. Card has said the reason for choosing the firm was its emphasis on public involvement, including the Steering Committee and the workshops.
Daniel Iacofano made a presentation and “went around the table with each Steering Committee member,” according to Card.
“He asked what the good things are about Hollister and what needs improvement,” Card said.
The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for May 13.
