New construction in Hollister
– banned due to the 15-million gallon sewer spill in May 2002 –
will be allowed once the city’s building moratorium expires. The
Hollister City Council on Monday approved a
”
project rating scale
”
for applicants pursuing residential allocations.
HOLLISTER
Hollister officials are preparing to start the application process for those interested in constructing residential development after the state-imposed building moratorium ends.
The Hollister City Council on Monday approved a “project rating scale” for applicants pursuing residential allocations. New construction in Hollister – banned due to the 15-million gallon sewer spill in May 2002 – will be allowed once the city’s building moratorium expires.
That’s expected by the end of this year, but City Manager Clint Quilter said today that officials plan to approach the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board – which imposed the moratorium – about lifting the ban after awarding the last contract in the expansive construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. Quilter expects to make a request to the state this summer, he said.
The project rating scale for building applications will score the proposals using a set of criteria under the following categories: land use, transportation/circulation, green development concepts, housing density mix and design elements.
Developers who apply under the guidelines, though, will have to stand in line for a while. They’re already behind about 1,100 units previously allocated under a previous, similar rating process. Quilter expects the city to receive applications under the new guidelines around the start of 2009.
