The proposal is intended to help boost economic development in
the district and promote housing expansion so more locals,
ultimately, are doing their shopping and other activities
downtown.
HOLLISTER
Supporters of the Measure Y ballot initiative to exempt downtown Hollister from a citywide growth cap say they haven’t heard any opposition to the idea.
Voters on the Nov. 4 ballot have a choice whether to exempt properties from the city’s 1 percent growth cap – allowing a maximum of 244 units yearly – between North and Hawkins streets, and between Monterey and McCray streets. The proposal is intended to help boost economic development in the district and promote housing expansion so more locals, ultimately, are doing their shopping and other activities downtown.
“I know no one person or organization who is opposed to it,” said Mayor Doug Emerson, a measure supporter.
Emerson said although he expects the move would help those interested in developing downtown, he said he “wouldn’t anticipate there would be huge growth from this measure.”
Voters approved the growth cap as Measure U on a November 2002 ballot measure in light of the major sewer spill many blamed on rapid growth at the time. The state that year also enacted the sewer-connection moratorium that’s set to end in December, after which the Measure U growth cap is set to take effect.
Tony Ruiz, part of the local New Urbanism Committee pushing the ballot measure, also said he hasn’t come across anyone “who thought it was a bad idea.”
Ruiz explained how the measure, when enacted in 2002, made sense under the conditions.
“At the time that they put in Measure U, the growth rate was out of control, and something had to be done,” said Ruiz.
But he said the downtown exemption is “almost mandatory” if the city is “going to move forward.”
“We want walkability,” said Ruiz. “We want high density (downtown) to provide for new businesses, and we want affordable housing, and so on.
“More important than anything is the economic sustainability it would bring to the downtown.”
Ruiz pointed to the cannery property as an example and said if San Benito Foods closes one day, leaders must have the ability to redevelop that area without a developer having to compete for the 244 units allowed under the cap.
Emerson made the same contention and noted how the city should promote more affordable housing opportunities, such as condominiums.
“If someone owns a building (downtown) and wants to open up some condos upstairs, they won’t have to compete with builders for the 244 units,” Emerson said.
Ruiz also noted how the exemption is necessary to comply with the general plan and the Hollister Downtown Association’s outlook for future growth in the district.
Editor Kollin Kosmicki contributed to this report.
