In talking to local residents and civic leaders about issues such as transportation, housing, growth and economic development, we've learned a great deal about San Benito County and the ways in which a new community at El Rancho San Benito can improve the quality of life for all county residents.
The results of this dialogue are compiled in our Issues, Priorities and Guiding Principles report. A full version of this report may be obtained by calling our office at 831 635-5910 or by filling out our request form.
An executive summary that highlights major findings of this report follows.
Issue: We found a variety of opinions about local transportation issues and solutions. There is clearly no consensus as to the best method to route truck traffic within and through the county. There is growing understanding that public funding to construct improvements on county roadways is a long way in the future. Few have considered the range of possible uses for the rail line between Gilroy and Hollister. There was, however, broad agreement on one issue—the urgent need to improve safety and traffic flow on Highway 25.
Key Guiding Principle: “Significantly improve mobility along the Highway 25 corridor between Hollister and Highway 101.” The El Rancho San Benito community should construct a parallel connection to Highway 101 through the project site to provide new additional traffic capacity while, at the same time providing for project needs. Traffic impact fees generated by the project may be used by the county to create the local match needed to more quickly attract outside funding to widen Highway 25 along its entire length.
Issue: Many people voiced concern about the need to revitalize the local economy by adding quality jobs and by supporting existing businesses, particularly in downtown Hollister.
Key Guiding Principle: “Help create quality local jobs.” In addition to significant construction-related jobs, El Rancho San Benito should help provide the transportation improvements, housing and business climate necessary to attract commercial and industrial businesses that generate higher-paying employment opportunities for local workers to pursue.
Issue: Longtime residents feel priced out of the market by workers who have moved south to buy more affordable housing in San Benito County. Many of our teachers, public safety workers and healthcare professionals are forced to live outside the county. Local moratoriums and infrastructure problems have exacerbated the problem. Most people insisted that a new community include a range of housing types and prices—and not just high-end homes for out-of-county commuters.
Key Guiding Principle: “Create a comprehensive housing plan that creates a diverse community for all income levels and age groups.” The El Rancho San Benito plan should include a wide mixture of homes and prices. It should use a wide variety of programs and financing strategies to provide opportunities to meet both the rental and ownership needs of current county residents and workers.
Issue: Many residents expressed concern about poorly planned growth and inadequate infrastructure, particularly sewage treatment-related issues. People want better planning and long-term solutions to current problems.
Key Guiding Principle: “Project self-sufficiency with benefits to the wider community.” El Rancho San Benito should provide all of the public service related fire, police, water treatment, and other infrastructure and services required by the project. In addition, El Rancho San Benito should share some of this additional infrastructure and service capacity, as well as other benefits, with the community at large.
Preservation of Community Culture and Aesthetics
Issue: People love the small-town atmosphere and friendliness of San Benito County. Almost everyone we talked with indicated the county will grow, and they also expressed a desire to preserve the agricultural heritage and small-town nature of the county.
Key Guiding Principle: “Build an all-inclusive, complementary community.” El Rancho San Benito should be designed as a complete, fully functional community, not isolated housing tracts, in a manner that is consistent with the character of the county as a whole. The project should create permanent agricultural protection and open space for a significant portion of its land and create a community that enhances the county's small-town character and feel.
Issue: A wide variety of quality-of-life issues were raised during our outreach program. Many people requested that a community at El Rancho San Benito provide critically needed support for existing health service, cultural and recreational programs. The need for new facilities open to the general public was a particularly high priority among many residents.
Key Guiding Principle: “Create community recreational, sports and cultural amenities.” The project should include significant, new, permanently dedicated open space, sports and library facilities that are open to the general public. These amenities should be integrated into the larger life of the community. Health service facilities should be designed to support the existing County Health District.
