At first glance, the potential problems associated with the
proposed development of Rancho San Benito seem so insurmountable
that it
’s easy to believe the project will never be approved.
At first glance, the potential problems associated with the proposed development of Rancho San Benito seem so insurmountable that it’s easy to believe the project will never be approved.
The proposal, which would create a seven-square-mile city between Gilroy and Hollister, does face many hurdles, including water supplies, sewer connections, flooding, traffic and environmental impacts, worries about noncontiguous development, and schools.
But let’s not be fooled. DMB Realty, the Arizona-based company behind that owns the 4,500-acre Rancho San Benito property off Highway 25 near the San Benito-Santa Clara county line, is not new to this game.
It has already built similar communities and has spent a boatload of money to purchase an option to buy the Union Pacific tracks between Gilroy and Hollister.
This company knows what it is doing, and it wouldn’t be spending money if it thought Rancho San Benito was doomed to failure.
We urge leaders in San Benito County, Hollister, Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County to heed the alarm bell that the Rancho San Benito plan, like the recent casino and Sargent Ranch proposals, is ringing: Northern San Benito County is ripe for development.
It behooves our leaders to get to know one another, to think regionally and to act locally to make sure that any proposals for the San Benito-Santa Clara county line are good for all of us.
The potential impacts are numerous: economic, educational, environmental, transit, and more, will be affected by these proposals.
This approach already has paid some results in Coyote Valley development plans just north of Morgan Hill.
Let’s heed the warning. We suggest that the schools and governmental agencies of the region plan regular meetings to get to know each other, to develop working relationships, to discuss development plans, and to work together to make sure that any development is beneficial for the entire region.
The first steps to such a regional approach already have been taken. We look forward to continued meetings.
Clearly with the flurry of proposals for projects just a few miles south of us, time is of the essence. Working together, we can pool our resources to influence any projects to be as beneficial as possible for the South Valley
