It’s good news that word is getting out about the new Gavilan
College campus site in San Benito County. The bad news is that some
of the information that is out is not correct. In this column I
hope to correct some of the misinformation and show why a college
campus located near the airport is a good decision for the City of
Hollister and the residents of San Benito County.
It’s good news that word is getting out about the new Gavilan College campus site in San Benito County. The bad news is that some of the information that is out is not correct. In this column I hope to correct some of the misinformation and show why a college campus located near the airport is a good decision for the City of Hollister and the residents of San Benito County.
The passage of Measure E in 2004 made funding available for land acquisition in San Benito County. The bond language did not specify that the land would be located within Hollister city limits, but promised to “Establish a Gavilan College Education Center in San Benito County to Accommodate Growth and Increasing Student Enrollment.” The bond measure did specify certain projects, such as the San Benito County Education Center (and a center serving the greater Morgan Hill area, now planned for Coyote Valley) but did not allocate bond funds by community.
The initial working draft of the Gavilan College facilities plan noted estimated costs for each project based upon the best information available at the time. The text of the ballot measure clearly stated: “The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District’s control.” Land values in the Coyote Valley area have escalated more rapidly than those in San Benito County; however, by spending wisely we will have sufficient funding to both acquire land and construct a permanent building at each location, the first step in building a new campus.
It has been almost two years since Measure E passed. That time has been spent studying district enrollment forecasts, participating in Vision San Benito, and evaluating the land available for purchase. The Board of Trustees considered a number of properties, including locations closer to downtown Hollister – even one on top of a hill with sweeping views of the valley.
The Gimelli property next to the airport stood out for a number of reasons. Land costs and construction costs are important considerations. Funding is limited. At $50,000 per acre, the Gimelli property is significantly cheaper than the downtown parcels (one of which was offered at $136,000 per acre.)
In addition, the Gimelli property is flat. It is very expensive to build on hillsides, meet seismic standards and make a sloped campus accessible by wheelchair, as is required by law. A property with a tremendous view of the valley is a luxury that a publicly-funded state agency cannot afford. The Gimelli property also has access to major transportation routes and will not require expensive roadway improvements to handle the traffic generated by a college.
College campuses do generate a lot of traffic. Even with the best of intentions and encouragement for people to use public transportation, many students will drive. (Anyone who has lived or worked near San Jose State University in downtown San Jose can attest to the impact a college campus has on traffic and parking.) The San Benito County campus will serve students, not only from downtown Hollister, but from San Juan Bautista, Aromas, Tres Pinos and the Panoche Valley. No matter where in the county the campus is located, many students will get there by car. Adding this large volume of traffic to downtown streets could have unwelcome impacts for residents and businesses.
The property selected by Gavilan College is quite consistent with Hollister’s new General Plan, which designates the area by the airport for industrial development, a compatible use. (The hilltop property, by contrast, is zoned for high-density housing.) The area around the airport is already occupied by a number of industrial users. With the airport’s intention to serve as an engine for economic activity, a college in close proximity will enhance the attractiveness of the area as an economic hub. (Locating in a planned center of business activity also makes it more likely that the new campus will in the future be served by public transportation.) In addition, establishing a college campus is an economic generator in and of itself. College campuses create jobs, prepare employees to meet the needs of local business and provide residents with a low cost, locally available option to complete the first two years of their bachelor’s degrees.
Thirty percent of current Gavilan College students live in San Benito County. While some are able to find the classes they need at the Briggs Building, the majority must travel over Highway 25 to the Gilroy campus. We can now look forward to the development of a full-service college campus in San Benito County – with athletic fields, labs, classrooms and all of the support services that tomorrow’s students will need to achieve their educational goals.
Taxpayers rightly expect that the funds expended to provide public services will be used prudently and in a way that maximizes the benefits that can be derived. By acquiring land at a good price and minimizing future development costs, we will be able to construct the first building for the new campus within three to five years. Between the purchase price and building cost we will be close to our $12.5 million original estimate for land acquisition, plus be several years closer to the dream of a full-service campus than we would be if we’d spent $12.5 million on land acquisition alone.
The purchase itself will not become final until the property clears a due diligence process in which the State of California will evaluate it’s suitability for a campus. Complete development of the site will likely be spread over two decades or more. Ideally, the pace of development will match the pace of growth within San Benito County. Depending upon the county’s growth rate, large portions of the property could remain undeveloped for many years. Gavilan College will continue to offer classes at the downtown Brigg’s Building as long as the community continues to support them.
When the land purchase becomes final, then serious planning for a new campus can begin. When we reach that point the community will have opportunities to participate in the planning. We invite you to help build the college that will help build the future for San Benito County.
Steve Kinsella is the President of Gavilan Community College. If you would like write a guest opinion column contact Editor Conan Knoll at 637-5577 or [email protected].
