City Needs to Consider All Impacts of New Development
City Needs to Consider All Impacts of New Development
Editor,
As the city prepares for the lifting of the state’s ban on new sewer connections, it is imperative that the City Council, and those who work with them, cautiously consider all ramifications of new development.
It might be tempting to approve Award Homes’ subdivision as soon as the sewer moratorium is lifted, but there is more to consider than flushing toilets – specifically, the traffic problems that will ensue.
According to the environmental impact report presented to the City Council, the subdivision could lead to increased delays at the intersection of San Benito and Nash streets, San Benito and Fourth streets and along San Benito Street/San Felipe Road between Hillcrest Road and Highway 25.
The new development project with its 677 dwelling units equates to many more cars trying to get out of town to the workplace.
Because of all the delays at the above-mentioned intersections, I would venture to guess many cars would opt to take Fairview Road. With Spring Grove School and the many bus stops along the way, along with the tractors that are frequently working along that corridor, Fairview Road would be impacted as well. I don’t want to even think of stoplights along Fairview.
The city had to learn its lesson the hard way from the development boom of the early 1990s that hurt local infrastructure. If there is going to be new development, the city leaders have an obligation and a responsibility to the people they represent to at least get the maximum from the developers at the outset that will pay for the heavy toll taken on our roads, schools, sewer, emergency services, etc., now and projected into the future.
How far do you really think the $1 million will go that Award Homes has promised to give to the city’s general fund?
The city is at another crossroads now as it considers all the impacts of more development that affect our city and county.
Are we really ready to literally pay the price of the Award Homes proposed development?
Let there be no hasty decisions that create new problems.
Lisa Nicolaysen
Hollister
Science Fair Wouldn’t Have Happened Without Volunteers
Editor,
A mighty thank you from the students, science teachers and administrators at Marguerite Maze Middle School goes out to the six members of our community who volunteered recently as science fair judges: William C. Johnson, Julian Flores, Doug Drogemuller, Peter Serracino, C.R. Rogers, and C. Dwayne Ogzewalla.
Nearly 600 sixth- and seventh-graders submitted projects to the fair, of which approximately 140 qualified for judging.
Those six men spent a day at the school critiquing the students’ work. Without their willingness to volunteer, this annual competition could not take place.
Winners of the various science categories move on to compete at the San Benito County Science Fair in April.
Debbie Boothe
Hollister
