City and county officials sat among a group of concerned
citizens Saturday as Hollister’s planning consultant addressed
citywide assets and downfalls to open the first of four Community
Workshops throughout the year.
City and county officials sat among a group of concerned citizens Saturday as Hollister’s planning consultant addressed citywide assets and downfalls to open the first of four Community Workshops throughout the year.
By the end of 2003, and for the first time since 1995, the city hopes to update its General Plan – the top policy document on growth that includes seven main elements laying out future development for the city. The consultant, hired in late 2002, is Moore, Iacofano, Goltsman, Inc.
“Where do you see your future?” said Daniel Iacofano of MIG.
Hollister resident Richard Ferreira moved to Hollister when jobs were scarce, he said, and when there was no available housing.
“It was cheaper to buy a house in San Jose,” he said, adding a warning that if something wasn’t done soon history would repeat itself: “The city will be like it was 45 years ago.”
Hired by the city to prepare the Community Visioning Workshop, Iacofano said updating the General Plan was important to maintain the novel-sized guidance tool as effective and viable for the future.
He asked the audience: Why do people come to Hollister?
“The one thing I like is the easy access to places I want to go,” resident James De La Cruz said.
One resident said she liked the city’s physical isolation from surrounding communities. Iacofano agreed and said many communities that run together often become a blur as they seem to roll into one big city.
Under those circumstances, he said, “You don’t know where one community begins and the other ends.”
Another said the San Benito River was an asset that shouldn’t be ignored. But the biggest asset of the community, according to one resident, was the people – the human component.
“The people here are truly wonderful,” Mary Damn said.
Aside from the lack of infrastructure services, negatives within the city were traffic congestion and a lack of services.
“Especially for the kids,” said Lisa Berg.
She said sections of the city have no pedestrian sidewalks, which affects children who walk to school.
“We would like to see more bike paths, too,” Berg said.
The General Plan is updated regularly to reflect changes in the law and to incorporate major changes within the city. As the surrounding political climate, physical characteristics and economic factors change, Iacofano said the General Plan must adapt.
The next step is to develop alternatives that take into account the positive and negative conditions in the city. The next workshop is scheduled for June 21.
The General Plan Steering Committee, made up of planning commissioners and residents, will meet at 7 p.m. May 13 at City Hall.
