After spending $100,000 on paperwork and planning fees hoping to
build 15 homes, South Valley Community Church still has to convince
the city council to again exceed Gilroy’s growth limit and alter
its long-term plan for the scenic Hecker Pass corridor west of the
city.
After spending $100,000 on paperwork and planning fees hoping to build 15 homes, South Valley Community Church still has to convince the city council to again exceed Gilroy’s growth limit and alter its long-term plan for the scenic Hecker Pass corridor west of the city.
The council voted 6-1 Monday night, with Councilman Peter Arellano voting against, to reconsider the issue next Monday. Debate has centered around the fact that the church’s land lies within the confines of the 2005 Hecker Pass Specific Plan, which took two years to create and limits the number of homes – none of which have yet been built – in the hilly, tree-lined area to 506. This number was a drastic increase from the 119 houses originally imagined and a slight decrease from the 530 once considered, according to city documents. The church wants a so-called “special exception” to build an additional 15 homes on a 6 acre portion of its 18-acre rectangular property zoned instead for schools and religious, recreation and other social centers.
About a dozen churchgoers, including vocal member Bob Costamagna, said history was on their side because the previous council voted in 2006 to grant a housing permit increase to the Gilroy Unified School District. The council approved and additional 99 housing units on the old Las Animas Elementary near Wren and Welburn Avenues in north central Gilroy to help the district finance two new schools. Council members acknowledged this past decision, but said they wanted another week for review.
The crux of the discussion centered on South Valley’s argument that the proposed homes are necessary to finance a new church and a private school for 650 students, both of which are called for in the Hecker Pass Specific Plan.
“Without the approval of the residential units, they will not be able to implement the Hecker Pass Specific Plan vision for their property,” reads a staff report.
A few council members winced at this reasoning.
“It disturbs me that we’re presented with this ‘do or die’ situation,” Councilman Bob Dillon said. “I simply do not like that.”
Councilman Perry Woodward said he felt “stuck” with “no good way to go,” and Arellano said the church was “really reaching and making this interpretation into their favor … but it’s our interpretation.”
The city has already allocated all 2,480 of its market-rate housing units through 2013 and can only grant special exemptions for senior housing, affordable projects, certain areas of town and small developments that fill in developed areas. The council has granted an additional 1,100 units for downtown development – part of the Glen Loma Ranch along Santa Teresa Boulevard, Gilroy Gardens and the school district. South Valley’s project would add another 15 to this auxiliary pile, further exceeding the city’s self-imposed growth limit.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved South Valley’s proposal May 7 as long as the church does not trade any units with other developers, and Durkin has given her stamp of approval as well. The previous planning commission split on the issue before the previous council agreed to consider the church’s special exemption. Since then, South Valley rewrote its plan and tweaked its project.
Costamagna reminded elected officials that the previous city council denied the church’s initial request in November 2007 before agreeing to consider a special exemption at a later time if the 15 homes on 6,000 square-foot lots “are needed to accomplish the goals and vision of the General Plan,” according to City Planner Melissa Durkin. This “next time” would be Monday because of the council vote to reconsider the plan.
Among other things, Gilroy’s long-term General Plan specifically addresses Hecker Pass and calls for city officials to “protect and enhance the unique qualities and character of the Hecker pass area as the City’s western gateway and as a highly valued scenic resource.” South Valley’s proposed homes would sit 115 feet back from the street – lined with deodar cedar trees – and now a new environmental impact report is necessary because the report imagined 530 residential units in the area, not the 506 the council ultimately approved.
“(The previous council) agreed to grant 15 (units) subject to clearing the environmental steps,” Costamagna said. “There are no new environmental impacts to the Hecker Pass Specific Plan.”
Two property owners also showed up at Monday night’s meeting to oppose the project, but the pair said they represented more than 200 members in a Hecker Pass Alliance that wants the council to honor its original plan.
“We ask you to step back and consider the wisdom of the specific plan and the guidance it provides,” Hecker Pass resident Susan Bassi said. “This would seriously erode the integrity and spirit of the plan.”
Councilman Peter Arellano agreed when he said the plan “was supposed to be the jewel of Gilroy, and there was a lot of work done on this jewel.”
Resident David Franklin jested that he owned an acre of land he could squeeze two or three houses on if the council started granting exceptions, and he warned the council of the precedent granting the 15 units would set.
“This will open the door for more units,” he said.
Click here to take a look at the revised plan the council will consider.
