Letters to the Editor

Planning’s misplaced priorities
Two stories in last week’s Pinnacle illustrate the biggest
reason I seek to represent voters in District 4. The new planning
department, as dismantled and reassembled by the current Board of
Supervisors, makes it difficult for local ranchers to earn a living
on their property (Paicines Ranch slaughterhouse story), yet
removes all obstacles when it comes to their beloved developers
(San Juan Vista Estates).
Ranchers trying to make a living on their land in San Benito
County = hard. Developers siphoning maximum profits out of the
county = easy.
I’m officially protesting the newly enlarged San Juan Vista
Estates project because the planning staff and commission,
appointed by current Supervisors, removed the previous reasonable
restrictions on home size, ridge-top placement and wastewater
treatment quality placed by the previous board. They also ignored
the pole-test studies performed by the previous board to determine
the proper size for structures on the hillside at the gateway to
San Juan Bautista. Out-of-town developers can’t be blamed for
sensing a newer, friendlier environment for their projects.
(Protest hearing Aug. 22)
Yet when Sallie Calhoun asks to build an organic, humane
slaughterhouse in the midst of her 7,500 acres, the hoops through
which planning makes her jump seemingly are endless.
The logic defies anyone paying attention. I guess current
Supervisors answer only to those who bought their seats.
Tracie L. Cone
Paicines
Planning’s misplaced priorities

Two stories in last week’s Pinnacle illustrate the biggest reason I seek to represent voters in District 4. The new planning department, as dismantled and reassembled by the current Board of Supervisors, makes it difficult for local ranchers to earn a living on their property (Paicines Ranch slaughterhouse story), yet removes all obstacles when it comes to their beloved developers (San Juan Vista Estates).

Ranchers trying to make a living on their land in San Benito County = hard. Developers siphoning maximum profits out of the county = easy.

I’m officially protesting the newly enlarged San Juan Vista Estates project because the planning staff and commission, appointed by current Supervisors, removed the previous reasonable restrictions on home size, ridge-top placement and wastewater treatment quality placed by the previous board. They also ignored the pole-test studies performed by the previous board to determine the proper size for structures on the hillside at the gateway to San Juan Bautista. Out-of-town developers can’t be blamed for sensing a newer, friendlier environment for their projects. (Protest hearing Aug. 22)

Yet when Sallie Calhoun asks to build an organic, humane slaughterhouse in the midst of her 7,500 acres, the hoops through which planning makes her jump seemingly are endless.

The logic defies anyone paying attention. I guess current Supervisors answer only to those who bought their seats.

Tracie L. Cone

Paicines

More care needed with notices

The city of Hollister has dutifully sent out, so far, two notices to property owners of public hearings on proposed increases in sewer charges.

The first notification was sent out for a March 5 meeting. Only about 50 percent was translated into Spanish and the time was incorrectly shown as 7 p.m. though it should have stated 6:30 p.m.

The latest notice is for a Sept. 5 meeting and this time it had all been translated into Spanish showing the details in both English and Spanish. This time, however, the date is confusing! It announces Monday, Sept. 5. Is it supposed to read Monday, Sept. 4 or Tuesday, Sept. 5?

Official city notices sent out to thousands of homeowners always need to be correct to show professionalism and for legal reasons.

Let’s get it right next time.

Ruth Erickson

Hollister

DMB is a prize development

It is time for San Benito County to get serious about its future. Our people need jobs, our businesses need customers and our county needs revenue – in short, we need development. While it is gratifying to see proposals from reputable developers like DMB and Del Webb, not all developers operate to the same standard.

As residents of San Benito County, we need to make sure that any developments we approve honor both our heritage and our future. In this regard, DMB’s El Rancho San Benito project sets a very high standard. Their preliminary ideas include parks, open spaces, a library, a civic center and walkable neighborhoods. DMB has also shown a keen interest in addressing broader community issues, including supporting local nonprofits through the Community Foundation. These are not just promises easily made and easily broken. They are a proven part of DMB’s track record. DMB has raised the bar. I sincerely hope Del Webb, and other developers looking to set up shop in San Benito County, follow their lead.

Steve Merrell

Hollister 

Happy the rally was shut down

I would again like to thank our law enforcement for the great job it did at the rally. We really don’t need an event that loses money every year and puts the community at risk. I still wonder why our mayor, who can’t even chair a meeting, continues to pursue an event that is a loser – not only for the city, but for the community.

As for being 79 and still wanting a rally, it is living proof that sometimes age does not bring wisdom.

John Lemos

Hollister

Reader has an issue with Macy’s

Your reporting of the proposed Westfield Shopping Center for Gilroy was alarming to me, in that this will mean another Macy’s. Can’t these developers be a little more creative in their choices of retail stores? When you drive across middle America, as we do to visit friends and relatives, we see the same Macy’s in every shopping center. When there are other excellent choices for retail, it is beyond me why we have to have another Macy’s. It appears that the time is approaching when we will have a Macy and a Wal-Mart on every corner.

Why oh why can’t these developers understand that there are other choices out there for retail. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a Dillard’s or a Gottschalk’s in our area instead of the same Macy and Nordstrom? I would even look forward to another K-Mart.

As I mentioned we have been driving back and forth through Middle America for many years visiting relatives and friends. I love going to shopping centers when we travel. For years our route took us through Amarillo, Texas and we always stopped at their huge, lovely shopping complex anchored by a fabulous Dillard’s. No Macy’s for the longest time. We were told that management did not want Macy’s. We were thrilled. Then, after an absence of a few years, we drove there again and what do you know, Macy’s finally made it and was at the opposite end of the mall from Dillard’s. Hopefully we can have not only Dillard’s and Gottschalk’s in this new proposed center, but Stein-Mart as well. The nearest Dillard’s is located in Stockton and the nearest Stein-Mart is in Fresno.

Joanne Anderson

Morgan Hill