A large-scale developer of retirement communities is interested
in the Hollister area as a desirable place to build one of its
resort-inspired retreats, which could include up to 5,000 new
homes, according to local officials.
Hollister – A large-scale developer of retirement communities is interested in the Hollister area as a desirable place to build one of its resort-inspired retreats, which could include up to 5,000 new homes, according to local officials.
Del Webb, a developer of active adult communities with facilities nationwide, has been researching the Hollister area for the past six months as a preferred place to build a retirement resort, according to Judy Bennett, the company’s director of public affairs.
“It’s way out of whack for being able to say, ‘Yes, we’re moving forward or no we’re not,'” Bennett said. “We would love to be able to develop in that area, but can we is the next question. A lot depends on the community’s response… and if we don’t find property that’s suitable or the political or economic climate is not conducive, it won’t happen.”
While the idea is in the very preliminary stages, local officials are open to the idea of a retirement community in the area if all the logistical pieces are in place first.
“We would have to make sure the infrastructure and roads are in place and continue to protect our rural character,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho. “It would need to be well thought-out to put growth where it should be and protect agricultural land and open space.”
Del Webb builds two types of retirement communities for people age 55 and older who would like to downgrade from a large home and land to a smaller, more manageable single-family home, Bennett said.
The larger resort, called Sun City, includes a minimum of 1,000 acres of land and must accommodate a golf course, tennis courts, and a fitness and recreational center, she said. The other option is a “boutique city,” which is a community built on less than 1,000 acres of land and would not include a golf course but would include a club house, fitness center and walking trails, she said.
Bennett said the company hasn’t determined what would work in this area, but Hollister Mayor Pauline Valdivia said she met with representatives about a month ago and they showed her a rendering of a Sun City resort they would like to build in San Benito County and later annex into the city. Valdivia said it would include a golf course and all the other amenities, along with 5,000 homes somewhere in the county.
“My heart went to the floor when they said 5,000. We can’t build more than 200 or so homes a year,” she said. “To me, it’s overwhelming. It’s a beautiful project, but I don’t know if we’re ready for that kind of project right now because of our infrastructure.”
Valdivia said she worried if the city was ready for a development of that size with Hollister’s sewer moratorium and the 244-home-per-year growth cap. She also said the city could have to modify its general plan to accommodate the project.
“That (growth) initiative was passed by the voters and we have to honor that,” she said. “It was passed because we need to catch up to make sure all our services are in place.”
Bennett said the company isn’t interested in proceeding with a project if it’s met with negative feedback from the community or local governments. However, through its market research and surveys, the company determined the Hollister area was a desirable location because residents already living in the area indicated they would like to remain here through their retirement, Bennett said.
Bennett said Del Webb has communities all over the nation, and several in California including locations in Placer, Sonoma and soon-to-be in Tehema county.
The price of a single-family home on it’s own lot in the resort depends on the real-estate market of the area where its built. By comparison, however, homes in the developer’s Lincoln Hills project in Placer county range from $300,000 to $500,000. She said the company sells about 1,000 homes a year on average at that project.
While everything is still in the initial stages, Botelho mimicked Valdivia’s surprise with the idea of 5,000 new homes in the county. However, he’s willing to work with the city on future growth plans, he said.
“The county and the city have got to get together and do some joint planning on how we deal with some of these growth pressures that every single other city and county in the state are facing,” Botelho said. “Five thousand homes is another issue, but the concept is very good and needed in this county.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
