Many in SBC support a campus, but have concerns about the
location
Hollister – San Benito County supervisors will be briefed by the county planning director Tuesday about how a Gavilan College satellite campus, proposed to be built on 85 acres adjacent to the local airport, could affect transportation, agricultural land and infrastructure in the county.
The Gavilan College Board of Trustees voted in January to go ahead with the purchase of the 85-acre parcel, which is located near Highway 156 and adjacent to the Hollister Municipal Airport. They will buy the land with $4 million of the $12.7 million Measure E funds set aside for acquiring land and beginning construction on a San Benito County campus.
In a different meeting on the same day, the Gavilan College Board of Trustees will vote on whether the college will move forward with plans to build a full-service campus in San Benito County, rather than a smaller one with limited services. Also at the meeting trustees will vote on creating a subcommittee that will work with county residents as the plan for the new campus progresses.
Though most agree that a college campus in San Benito County will be a good thing, its proposed location has caused concern among many locals.
Supervisor Pat Loe said that she hopes Gavilan College trustees will thoroughly study the potential impact the campus’ construction could have on the area’s infrastructure such as sewer, water and roads. She also said, however, that she doesn’t think it’s the Board of Supervisors place to tell Gavilan trustees whether they should build near the airport.
The report that Planning Director Art Henriques will present to supervisors during their March 14 meeting lists a lack of infrastructure on the proposed campus site as a concern. The report also raises concerns about how a campus at the proposed site – which is currently zoned as agricultural land – would affect the prime agricultural land surrounding it.
Supervisor Don Marcus said he hopes that there will be more discussion about building a satellite campus that will suit the college’s purposes and also benefit Hollister.
“While I agree with Gavilan’s decision to buy land that is most affordable, I join with those who feel this land acquisition deserves further discussion,” he wrote in an e-mail. “From a planning perspective, the trustees need to work with the downtown community and county planners to design for a location that allows for future expansion, but also enhances the much need economic development of the city.”
Upcoming Meetings
– What: San Benito County Board of Supervisors meeting
– When: March 14, 9:30am
– Where: 481 Fourth St., Hollister
– What: Gavilan Joint Community College District Board of Trustees meeting
– When: March 14, 7pm
– Where: Gavilan College student center, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Gilroy
