Hollister
– The San Benito County Board of Supervisors will be taking a
close look at the area’s affordable housing situation on
Tuesday.
Hollister – The San Benito County Board of Supervisors will be taking a close look at the area’s affordable housing situation on Tuesday.
At the study session, the supervisors, county staff and community members will have a chance to learn about San Benito’s current affordable housing programs, to weigh in on their effectiveness and to set goals for the future.
Supervisor Pat Loe said she hopes to see many county residents at the meeting.
“I just wanted to give the community a chance to weigh in on affordability,” Loe said. “There’s definitely an unmet need.”
According to County Planning Director Art Henriques, the county currently has a number of affordable housing developments, such as Riverview Estates at the corner of Hospital and Southside roads. Anyone building a subdivision of between three and 20 units in unincorporated San Benito County must pay a fee that helps such projects. Under this inclusionary housing ordinance, developments with more than 20 units must make 30 percent of them available at less-than-market rates.
Henriques said the ordinance has yet to bring in much money, because there haven’t been many developments of the necessary size.
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz doesn’t believe the county’s current policies are working.
“I believe we need to throw away all the tools on the shelf,” he said. “It does not solve the real needs of people in the community.”
De La Cruz argued that the inclusionary housing ordinance, in addition to county’s other building and growth regulations, creates a difficult environment for anyone trying to build homes in San Benito.
“Government should not be in the business of building low-income affordable housing,” he said.
The county government only has authority over affordable housing in unincorporated San Benito, but Henriques said county staff will also be discussing cooperation with the city of Hollister. State law allows counties to shift some of their affordable units into cities, which Henriques said are a better location for high-density housing, such as apartments.
Henriques added that he’s interested in partnering with businesses and nonprofit organizations to build affordable homes.
“In the final analysis, most counties don’t produce the housing themselves,” he said.
The supervisors will also hold a hearing on proposed garbage rate increases. Rates are expected to go up 3.95 percent on Feb. 1, which will amount to about 61 cents per month for most county residents.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
