Citing uncertainties over environmental reports, a split city
council rejected two applications to expand Gilroy’s boundaries for
more homes.
Citing uncertainties over environmental reports, a split city council rejected two applications to expand Gilroy’s boundaries for more homes.
In two separate motions, the council voted 4-3 – with Council members Dion Bracco, Bob Dillon and Craig Gartman dissenting both times – against the separate development proposals. The Lucky Day Ranch application proposed the annexation of 285 idyllic acres straddling Burchell Road north of Hecker Pass Highway for up to 193 homes and 244 acres of open space and parks. The other application, from Wren Investors, proposed incorporating 48 acres near Christopher High School for up to 430 dwellings. Gilroy currently has enough empty land to develop 3,500 homes during the next 11 years, according to conservative city estimates.
Dozens of people stayed until nearly 11 p.m. Monday night to hear the vote after about three hours of debate. The majority of council members – prodded in part by a handful of environmentalists, rural residents and county representatives opposed to the projects – expressed concerns over the lack of detail in environmental reports. Council members said the reports did not consider an exact scenario of homes and their carbon footprints, but rather the general impact of more people in the area.
The applicants and city planners argued the city’s 20-year General Plan, which expires in 2020, already studied planned growth in the areas. The Lucky Day and Wren reports supplemented the General Plan’s review, and project-specific environmental reports would come when – and if – the city granted actual building permits for the two developments.
“It seems to me we’re being willfully blind to the fact we know how many homes they’re going to build and where, but fundamental questions like, ‘Do we need another fire station? Are we going to get there in time?’ – are just being glossed over, and I don’t understand that or think it’s appropriate,” Woodward said.
Along with landowner and Santa Clara-based developer Gary Gillmor and his Lucky Day co-applicant John Vidovich, Gillmor’s daughter, Lisa Gillmor, reminded the council that their group will have to jump through further planning and environmental hoops to actually develop the land.
“We will still have to go through the entitlement process everyone else as to go through and stand in line,” Lisa Gillmor said as her father sat pensively in the front row with his hands clasped over his mouth.
That point was rendered moot by the council’s vote.
Read about the Lucky Day’s applicants and their larger plans.
Click here to read the previous story about both failed applications.
Check back Tuesday afternoon for the full story
