County supervisors have more questions than answers about a
project that could potentially build more than 1,000 dwellings on
county property just east of Fairview Road near Hill Crest and
Sunnyslope roads.
Hollister – County supervisors have more questions than answers about a project that could potentially build more than 1,000 dwellings on county property just east of Fairview Road near Hill Crest and Sunnyslope roads.
The proposed project – including up to 1,092 dwellings, parks and an elementary school – has been around for years. In 2001, it moved forward when the county planning commission certified environmental reports for the project. The following year, however, the multiple owners of the 291-acre project site withdrew their application from the planning department.
Former Supervisor Richard Scagliotti, who was on the board in 2002, said he remembers hearing that the environmental report for the project had gone ‘stale’, and that there was talk that the county planning commission was set to reject the application.
But after several years on of being on hold, the project popped-up on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda this week. Supervisors were to vote on whether to approve contracts to approve hiring an outside planner and environmental consultant for the project, which would both be paid for by the developer. The contracts, however, were not ready, and the issue was tabled.
Though they took no action on the issue Tuesday, it’s appearance on the agenda raised questions and concerns amongst the board members.
“My knowledge of the project is very limited. It’s the first time that we as a board of supervisors have heard of the project in a formal fashion” Supervisor Don Marcus said. “We need to take a good hard look at it.”
Both Marcus and Interim Planning Department Director Michael Bethke also have questions about how the project will be built given the county’s 1 percent annual growth cap.
“How, realistically, can it be built out under the current growth control methods,” Bethke asked.
Though state law requires a county to hire outside help if it does not have the staff to process an application, Marcus said he is also concerned that the outside planner and consultant chosen for the project might have a relationship with the developer.
“I have no opposition to hiring outside contract sources,” he said. “My concern is if the developer has some sort of ownership in that group.”
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz shared Marcus’ feeling that the people hired to work on the project on the county’s behalf should not have a relationship with the developer.
“I want a neutral person,” he said. “I’m not saying I’m against the project or for the project.’
According to Bethke, Hamilton Swift Land Use & Development Consultants – the firm he chose as to serve as planner for the project – has no previous experience with the project, but is a good pick because it is familiar with the area where the project would be built.
However, Bert Verrips, the choice for environmental consultant for the project, has done environmental consulting for the project in the past.
“It raises concerns amongst the board, and I can understand those concerns,” Board Chair Reb Monaco said. But, he added, the fact that often there is a limited choice of firms to undertake certain specialized tasks must be weighed with those concerns.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho is reluctant to proceed on such a potentially-large project until the planning department is fully staffed and headed by a permanent director.
“I’m hesitant to move forward with so many question marks in the planning department,” he said. “It’s a big project – I just feel we should have someone overseeing the process.”
Regardless of that concern, though, inadequate staff is not a legal reason to delay an application to the planning department, County Counsel Claude Biddle told the board.
Supervisor Pat Loe said she wants to make sure that a new environmental review for the project is performed.
“Mr. Bethke is attempting to do a major housing development without data,” she said during Tuesday’s meeting. “Was this intentionally hidden from the public, or is he just trying to sneak it through before they can speak out?”
“They can’t pick up where they left off in 2002,” she said after the meeting. “That would expedite the project by years.”
David Wade, who represents the property owners, could not be reached Friday.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
