More than 150 people attended a forum to discuss a proposed
mini-city on the northern edge of San Benito County raised concerns
about affordable housing and increased traffic on Highway 25, but
many also expressed an interest in seeing the project move
forward.
Hollister – More than 150 people attended a forum to discuss a proposed mini-city on the northern edge of San Benito County raised concerns about affordable housing and increased traffic on Highway 25, but many also expressed an interest in seeing the project move forward.
“We were gratified with the response and delighted with the number of people to turnout,” said Ray Becker, the local representative for Arizona-based developer DMB. “We were happy with their open-mindedness.”
The event, held Saturday in Veterans Memorial Building, was aimed at collecting community input about the prospect of having a new town built on 4,500 acres just south of the Santa Clara County line along the Pajaro River. The company has built similar planned communities in Arizona, Utah and Hawaii, as well as elsewhere in California.
Hollister resident Ken Smith, who was attending with his wife and four-month-old son Benjamin, said that a lack of affordable housing deters people from moving into San Benito County.
“They can’t start this soon enough,” he said.
The only concern Laura Smith had was that the project might not happen.
“Especially with the little one, we really want this to happen,” she said. “He (Benjamin) really wants a house, too.”
Casa de Fruta owner Joseph A. Zanger said that El Rancho San Benito would be good for his and other businesses, which in turn would benefit the entire county.
“This is an excellent opportunity for a community to develop into a very fine, progressive town,” he said.
During the open house, DMB staff members answered questions and recorded comments from attendees. Before proposing concrete details for the project, DMB representatives are asking what county residents want to see on the land. They idea is to listen to their ideas and build a planned community based on the results, Becker said.
“We expect to be held accountable to the issues that they raise and the solutions they require. It’s a formula we use again and again,” he said. “It’s very much a listening project.”
The comments from Saturday’s open house will be compiled into a report along with other input DMB has received. The report will then be made available to the public.
There is no set plan for El Rancho San Benito, and Becker said that DMB has looked at several possibilities. Typically, a DMB project includes commercial space and other amenities. The company rejected a prior proposal to develop the land that called for 10,000 homes, as well as plans calling for one house per five acres. DMB will likely leave more than half of the land undeveloped for open space and agricultural use, Becker said.
“We look at the property and try to determine the best use of the property,” he said.
Construction on a project won’t start until late 2009 or early 2010, according to Becker.
Since January, when the latest interest for a new town in San Benito County arose, some supervisors have been holding off on developing opinions about El Rancho San Benito.
“I think that anything is possible,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho. “But we haven’t seen any plans yet.”
Like Botelho, Supervisor Pat Loe wants to see some details.
“It’s pretty difficult to support or oppose something when you don’t know what it is,” she said.
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, however, said that if El Rancho San Benito can create jobs for county residents and produce housing that locals can afford he will support the development. Also, he said he would like DMB to put up the money to pay for Hollister’s new sewer plant.
“What are they going to give to the community?” he said.
Some 20 years after it built Forest Highland in Coconino County, Ariz. near Flagstaff, DMB remains philanthropically involved with the community, according to Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson.
“They have been fantastic,” Donaldson said. “DMB supports activities within the county, Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University. They are a great community partner.”
DMB has scheduled two more meetings. A Sept. 13 meeting will focus on transportation, and on Oct. 6 the subject will be housing. Each meeting will be held upstairs in Veterans Memorial Building from 7 to 9pm.
Staff Writer Brett Rowland contributed to this story.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
