On Election Day a decision was made in San Benito County that was not met with hand-wringing, complaints or accusations. At least not yet.
On Election Day a decision was made in San Benito County that was not met with hand-wringing, complaints or accusations. At least not yet.
The decision was made by the Board of Supervisors and involved a rezoning issue.
The board made a zoning decision that will help facilitate the updating of the housing element of the county’s general plan. According to County Planning Director Art Henriques, the decision ultimately will open the door for an increase in affordable housing in the county.
For those who equate the words “affordable housing” with weakness in government or socialism, relax a minute. The bulldozers will not be rumbling in any time soon. The county was simply completing a revision stipulated by the state in 2004 that more land be rezoned for affordable housing.
We applaud the county for getting this done. With movement being made in the area of sewage treatment, the end of the building moratorium is on the horizon and, yes, the county would need to address the charged issue of providing an avenue for affordable housing.
A noteworthy sidenote to this decision is the fact that large-scale development on the outer reaches of the city of Hollister’s sphere of influence and in the county has been a ferociously debated topic. In the case of Del Webb-Pulte Homes, it was the subject of a measure placed before voters. In the background during the months of campaigning is the proposed DMB Associates development. The charged issue of affordable housing is always brought up during the course of discussion for any development proposal in the same manner that the words “infill” and “leap-frog” development are mentioned.
In the this case, the county has designated 58 acres located off North Street because it is close to Hollister city limits. Other parcels – 37 acres off Southside Road, for instance – were redesignated for the same reason.
“In the long-term,” said Henriques, “it’s (land) not likely to remain rural.”
Henriques said the rezoning should also provide the county with more access to state grants.
The Board’s decision was greeted quietly. When the specter of actual affordable housing for those parcels becomes real, we’ll see if a debate ensues. For now, the county made an effective decision that also benefits the City of Hollister. That’s good under any pretext.
