HOLLISTER
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors is set to continue its discussion Tuesday on the appeal process for allocations to the Santana Ranch project, previously discussed at the Jan. 13 meeting.
The proposed project is a 1,100-unit development slated off of Fairview Road between John Smith and Santa Ana Valley roads. The development is planned for 292 acres and would feature the 1,092 dwellings, including single-family homes, multiple-family homes, apartments, a school and parks.
The board may make a decision on the proposal or send it back to staff for more direction on Tuesday. The discussion is set for the board’s 1:30 p.m. afternoon session Tuesday.
Much of the recent debate over this project is whether to allow partial allocations. The county’s growth management ordinance allows for no more than 50 percent of the available allotments to go to a single, major project. By allowing partial allocations, the project could be completed in segments. The only other project in San Benito County to have done this was the San Juan Oaks development, while the developers have contended there is precedent to allow it.
The growth ordinance also allows major developments to have 75 percent of the allotments, with the other 25 percent going to minor projects.
If the project is to receive any partial allotments for this year, the maximum it could receive would be 50.
Santana Ranch, meanwhile, had the best score on the county’s ranking system for housing projects, but due to the high volume of allocations requested, the request was denied at the Dec. 3 planning commission meeting.
Also on the agenda:
– The supervisors will decide whether to approve a purchase from the Fish and Game Advisory Commission’s budget for a Digital Eye RF Camera.
“This is camera for us to use with fish and game related calls,” Sheriff Curtis Hill said. “Some have different triggers that set them off. We use them in conjunction with the fish and game folks to catch poachers.”
This type of camera has been used in the county for quite some time and will cost $580.
“I really appreciate the fish and game commission getting one for us,” Hill said. “We’ll put it to good use.”
– The board will also consider whether to send Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz to Washington D.C. representing the county at the National Association of Counties meeting. All together, County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson said the estimated cost of the trip will be $2,000. De La Cruz was recently selected by Chairman Anthony Botelho as the county’s representative for NACO. This is the third year that San Benito County has been involved with the association.
– The board will revisit solid waste regulations for the county introduced at Tuesday’s meeting. The ordinance would expand non-exclusive solid waste collection franchises to include 10- to 50-yard roll-off Dumpsters and demolition diversion.
“This is basically a clean-up item,” said Integrated Waste Management Director Mandy Rose. This item will allow for interested parties to have the ability to compete for business regarding roll-off Dumpsters and commercial and construction recycling. Rose gave the example of a business that uses a lot of lumber and she said someone could now approach that business and give it a better rate to take away that lumber.
“This is giving people a choice – they have the option,” Rose said. She added that there are other businesses in the county that can offer these services as well.
