Hollister
– The San Benito County Board of Supervisors is moving ahead
with changes that could have a significant effect on large
developments, including the 6,800-unit El Rancho San Benito.
Hollister – The San Benito County Board of Supervisors is moving ahead with changes that could have a significant effect on large developments, including the 6,800-unit El Rancho San Benito.
The board Tuesday voted to introduce an ordinance revising the county’s Potential Residential Growth Increase program. The new rules would require that developments exceeding 100 units and needing an amendment to the general plan seek approval from county voters at the end of the application process.
Under existing rules, an election is required shortly after an application is submitted. County planner Byron Turner said the change could delay the election by months or even years.
Supervisor Reb Monaco eventually voted for the ordinance but initially was critical of the change. He’s concerned about developers’ bottom lines, he said.
“I don’t think it’s fair to have the developer gamble a tremendous investment,” Monaco said. “We’re asking the developer to kind of come in and tell us everything about a project down to the last detail and then we’re going to vote on it.”
How much money could a developer sink into technical and environmental studies before finding out if the project gets approved by county voters? El Rancho San Benito project manager Ray Becker said the amount varies among developments.
“But for a major project, it would not be unusual to invest several million dollars,” he said.
Despite the cost, Becker said El Rancho San Benito developer DMB actually supports the new rules because they allow the county to negotiate changes and verify the developer’s claims.
“The application process isn’t inexpensive,” Becker said. “But if you have to have a vote, in our opinion, it is better that it be well-informed and have the benefit of negotiated information.”
Hollister resident Marty Richman also spoke in favor of the revision. Even if developers delay environmental analysis, Richman noted, they can sink plenty of money into a project and still have it rejected by voters.
Del Webb, whose ballot initiative, Measure S, was defeated in 2006, is one example, he said.
“They can spend money having barbecues and making nice-looking posters, or they can spend it on making the project better,” Richman said. “I prefer the latter.”
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz asked how the PRGI ordinance will work with the county’s 1 percent growth cap, but Turner said they’re separate issues.
“We will have to work out growth ordinance issues with the developer and with the board long before this ever gets to a vote,” Turner said.
The existing growth ordinance caps construction on all major developments in San Benito County to 35 units per year, Turner said. DMB plans to ask the county for an exception to the growth ordinance, Becker said.
The board expects to take a final vote on July 24.
