Supes set to wrap up consideration on the 1,100-unit project
In one of the final steps before a potential full approval of
the Santana Ranch housing project, the San Benito County Board of
Supervisors this week unanimously adopted the project’s final
environmental impact report and its mitigation measures.
The 1,092-unit development will be built across 292 acres near
the intersections of Fairview, Hillcrest and Sunnyslope roads. The
development’s plan also includes a commercial center, elementary
school and more than 18 acres of parks.
Supes set to wrap up consideration on the 1,100-unit project
In one of the final steps before a potential full approval of the Santana Ranch housing project, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors this week unanimously adopted the project’s final environmental impact report and its mitigation measures.
The 1,092-unit development will be built across 292 acres near the intersections of Fairview, Hillcrest and Sunnyslope roads. The development’s plan also includes a commercial center, elementary school and more than 18 acres of parks.
Homes would be divided out in two types, single and multi-family, according to its plans. Out of the 1,092 homes, 774 would be single family and 318 multi-family – while 10 percent of the homes would be for low-income housing.
The project plans detail a build-out of between 10 to 12 years. Michael Anderson, who is a partner in the project, said the developers hope to begin construction sometime next year – depending how long it takes to finalize the projects maps.
The next step for the project will be a public hearing during the Oct. 26 supervisors’ meeting that will go over the project’s general plan amendment, specific plan, zone change and development agreement.
Anderson didn’t give an exact date when the project could break ground.
The EIR, which spans two volumes, was up for deliberation from the board and the public during the Tuesday meeting. Previously, the San Benito County Planning Commission recommended the board to move forward with the document and the project’s timeline.
More supporters than detractors of the project spoke in front of the board Tuesday, but some questions did arise during the meeting, mostly regarding the development’s impact on local roads and schools. In the development’s plans, an elementary school, which could span from kindergarten to eighth grade, would be large enough for 700 students.
Supervisor Pat Loe questioned the impact on the roads near San Benito High School, while the project listed the impact as low.
“I live by the area, and when school gets out the street is backed up for five to six blocks,” she said. “There will be an impact with 200 more cars.”
San Benito High School English Teacher Tom Rooth offered his concern that the additional students would break the tipping point for the already overcrowded school, he said.
“The district owns the land to build but no funds to build,” he said. “You cannot certify a short-sighted document.”
Rooth said he believes in order for the county to absorb the new kids, a new high school needs to be built.
Others felt the need to build a new high school shouldn’t have to be the responsibility of the Santana Ranch project.
“It’s not their fault,” Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz said.
De La Cruz and the other supervisors said they realized that asking the developers to build a new high school would be too much.
“When is enough enough?” De La Cruz said. “They are not responsible to come here and meet all the needs in our community … It’s time to take a little risk.”
Despite supporting the project, Loe worried about the wear and tear on the road, she said.
“We can’t allow those streets to go backward,” she said.
Under the EIR, a newly redesigned traffic impact fee will fund maintenance and projects on the roads, Public Works Director Steve Wittry said. A new traffic impact fee is being researched by the county and should be implemented soon.
The board as a whole supported the project, believing it needed be moved forward.
“It has been around for a long time,” Supervisor Reb Monaco said. “It’s time to do something.”
Most of the members in the audience agreed, including some of the community’s business leaders.
“If not this project, what project?” said Bob Tiffany, owner of Tiffany Ford.
