By Christine Breen
The Hollister City Council has just adopted its new General
Plan. It is the first of many steps that our community must take in
order to improve the quality of life for all of its residents.
The Hollister City Council has just adopted its new General Plan. It is the first of many steps that our community must take in order to improve the quality of life for all of its residents.
The primary objectives of the General Plan are based on principles of Smart Growth and are intended to address some of the critical problems that currently plague the community. By encouraging local job creation, smart transportation choices, infill development and diverse housing options, the Smart Growth principles incorporated within the proposed General Plan will foster a vibrant, revitalized downtown, economic sustainability within the community, conserve our natural resources and improve the quality of life of residents.
Of course, the new General Plan will only work to the community’s benefit if local stakeholders incorporate the plan’s principles into their own projects. Smart Growth principles encourage healthy communities by placing an emphasis on pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly downtowns and neighborhoods. Accordingly, it is imperative that public buildings and services – including the new courthouse, city hall, and district attorney’s office – remain within the city center, within walking distance of downtown businesses and residents.
The City of Hollister can aid in this objective by designating specific parcels within the city center for public facilities. Such designation would provide direction to private development interests and local businesses, and foster a cooperative design dynamic between the public and private sectors.
Among the public facilities that should remain within walking distance of the city center is the Gavilan College Hollister campus. Two years ago, county residents approved a bond to finance the expansion of Gavilan Community College in this community. The college now has approximately $12.7 million to purchase land here. State funding will provide for construction of facilities. The price of a parcel near city center sufficient to accommodate the campus expansion is well below the $12.7 million Gavilan has to spend.
Locating the new campus as an anchor tenant of downtown Hollister would benefit the college and the community by presenting unique opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. The college could pool resources with San Benito County to develop one library to serve the college and local residents, as well as a performing arts center. Cooperative ventures like these are becoming more common as budget cuts force educators and local governments to think outside the box, in order to stay competitive.
Growth may be inevitable; sprawl is not. For many of us, this is a good community in which to live and raise a family. With a coordinated effort by local government and community leaders to grow smart, this could be a great community for all to live.
Our community is moving in the right direction, with a new General Plan for the city that inhibits sprawl, and focuses instead upon infill and revitalization of the downtown corridor. In taking the necessary next steps, we must make decisions that will further our long-term health and social vitality, remaining consistent with Smart Growth principles as incorporated into the General Plan.
Chrisine Breen is a Hollister resident who holds a B.A. in architecture. If you would like to write a guest editorial contact Editor Conan Knoll at 637-5566 or ck****@fr***********.com.
