Board unanimous in approving site near Ridgemark for future
campus
The Gavilan College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the
purchase of an 80-acre site for the future San Benito County
Gavilan campus at the corner of Fairview Road and Airline Hwy.
Tuesday, May 8.
Board unanimous in approving site near Ridgemark for future campus
The Gavilan College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of an 80-acre site for the future San Benito County Gavilan campus at the corner of Fairview Road and Airline Hwy. Tuesday, May 8.
Steve Kinsella, the president of Gavilan College, made it clear when the item was first opened for discussion that the site will need to go through a due diligence process that will take at least six months.
“We need to look at habitat, water and sewer,” Kinsella said. “We have to consider a number of factors.”
Land purchased in Coyote Valley has been in the due diligence process for 16 months, Kinsella said.
“At any point, there could be something to indicate that this property is not viable,” Kinsella said.
Before taking any comments from the public about the site, Chairman Mark Dover made a motion to approve the site and received a second.
A parade of residents – some of whom serve as government officials – voiced their reservations about the site. A handful also said they approve of the location.
Doug Emerson, a Hollister city councilman, and Pat Loe, a county supervisor, expressed concerns over traffic flow when the campus is built out.
Emerson pointed out that 20 of 35 intersections in the city operate at a “c” level, the lowest level allowed.
“Where will students be coming from?” he asked. “They will come from the other end of town, adding thousands of commutes to each intersection.”
Emerson suggested it would cost millions of dollars to mitigate the traffic impacts of a campus south of the city.
Loe urged the trustees to do a full environmental impact report before voting to approve the purchase of the property.
“No matter where you locate, it is important to look at the environment,” she said. “Mitigation must be in place. Locate in a place where mitigation is not needed or mitigate it.”
One of the big issues Loe has with the site is that it is a location where slow-moving farm equipment will meet with fast-moving commuters.
“The sight has definite problems with traffic and water,” she said.
Others had concerns about the location because it is far from the city center, including Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz.
“I envisioned it being built on the west [side of town],” De La Cruz said. “The campus serves the most needy and most [needy] residents live there.”
Though he said he would support any location the trustees approved, De La Cruz said a western site would have benefits to the surrounding community.
“It would enhance the value of the property,” he said.
Several others expressed a desire to see a campus located closer to downtown Hollister so that students could walk or bike to campus.
One person who spoke out in favor of the decision was Tim Foley, San Benito County superintendent of schools
“I have had the opportunity to be involved in similar processes,” Foley said. “And I have to say I have sympathy.”
He emphasized that the location might allow a partnership between the college and local school districts since the San Benito High School district owns nearby land.
“There is an opportunity to look at an educational center – a new model,” Foley said. “The site offers some unique opportunities.”
In searching for a site, college trustees initially selected a location north of town near the Hollister Airport. But immense public outcry and other concerns prompted the trustees to take another look around the county. After researching 16 sites, trustees said the Fairview site is one of few that met the high standards set by the state.
In order to receive public funding for the community college, six standards had to be considered, including access to transportation and proximity to fault lines.
“Everything we’ve heard [tonight] are issues we’ve been aware of,” said Kent Child, one of the trustees. “Don’t assume we ignored issues brought up here.”
He pointed out how limiting the state requirements were in allowing them to choose a property.
“That makes it a different situation than if we were a private college,” he said. “We need to deal with the situation we have.”
Child reminded those at the meeting that the buildout of the campus could be over several decades.
“Don’t think a full-service campus will pop up in a few years,” he said. “There is really no ideal site.”
At the end of the discussion, the trustees all voted in favor of the property purchase.
“I wish to get a piece of property established as soon as possible, to look to the future of the next 40 or 50 years,” said Tom Breen, a trustee and longtime San Benito resident.
California legislation requires the following items to be considered when a new community college site is purchased:
– Size of the parcel – 80 acres minimum
– Location
– Access to transportation corridors
– Environmental and seismic factors
– Topography and factors that affect the construction costs
– Access to infrastructure
