Gilroy
– A Gavilan College subcommittee has asked College President
Steve Kinsella to prepare a report detailing alternative sites to
build a new campus in San Benito County, instead of looking at
individual suggestions from community groups.
Gilroy – A Gavilan College subcommittee has asked College President Steve Kinsella to prepare a report detailing alternative sites to build a new campus in San Benito County, instead of looking at individual suggestions from community groups.
“I want to make sure I’m able to look at everything available before we consider making a decision,” said Trustee Elvira Robinson, who sits on the local land acquisition committee.
Tuesday was the first time the subcommittee was presented with a formal proposal requesting that Gavilan re-consider the Hart property as a potential home for a new campus, an 80-acre parcel on the lower north end of Vista Park Hill, which the college had at one time considered but abandoned due to cost and handicap accessibility issues. The college is currently performing due diligence on a parcel near the Hollister airport.
Instead of addressing the proposal Tuesday night, the committee requested that Gavilan President Steve Kinsella compile a report of all site suggestions offered thus far. Committee members will review the report before they hold their first public meeting in Hollister on April 25.
Gavilan officials say that at least four alternative sites have been suggested since the college held a local meeting in late February, but are hesitant to name the parcels for fear that the announcement could affect the college’s ability to secure a fair price on the parcels.
“We didn’t expect the trustees to take any definitive action (Tuesday night),” said Christine Breen of the Independent Smart Growth Research Group, which authored the Hart proposal. “We’re just gratified that they are willing to take a second look at the property and revisit the issue.”
Since the Board of Trustees voted to go ahead with the purchase of an 85 acre parcel of land adjacent to the Hollister Airport in January, many local residents have been vocal in their opposition to the site. Though the land may be flat and cheap, some fear that the location would induce sprawl, rule out the possibility of collaboration between the college and city and county agencies, and prove to have hidden costs should classrooms need to be sound-proofed against airplanes taking off and landing. Others worry it ultimately could impede growth at the airport, an area long considered ripe for future economic growth in the city.
On the other hand, many believe a location closer to the heart of the city would provide a wealth of cultural, economic and social resources to a downtown desperately in need of revitalization, and would be consistent with smart growth principals adopted in Hollister’s newly revamped general plan, all of which would outweigh the cost of purchasing more expensive land.
“We would like to see Gavilan drop pursuit of the airport property as a viable site, because it isn’t and we’re going to find that out sooner or later,” said Breen. “If it’s sooner, we can start looking at alternative sites that will make sense for this community.”
The San Benito County Land Acquisition subcommittee will hold its first local meeting at 6pm on April 25, location to be announced.
