The Hecker Pass Specific Plan, which is now before the city
Planning Commission, and soon the Gilroy City Council is in many
ways a model document. Elements of the plan preserve open space,
allow for public trails and preserve the character of a corridor
entryway to our city that Sunset Magazine profiled and praised
writing:
”
This drive is best enjoyed by taking your time, stopping along
the way at pretty parks and boutique wineries.
”
The Hecker Pass Specific Plan, which is now before the city Planning Commission, and soon the Gilroy City Council is in many ways a model document. Elements of the plan preserve open space, allow for public trails and preserve the character of a corridor entryway to our city that Sunset Magazine profiled and praised writing: “This drive is best enjoyed by taking your time, stopping along the way at pretty parks and boutique wineries.”
However, the plan for Hecker Pass before the city, in its current form, is not the answer.
The Council should not treat the Specific Plan with kid gloves nor adopt a laissez faire attitude toward this document or the land that it will govern.
If this City Council chooses that path, an area commonly referred to as the “jewel of Gilroy” could be transformed from a magnificent tree-lined corridor dotted with wineries, flower fields and scenic views into just another
traffic-choked, bare Bay Area highway with plenty of accidents, too many traffic lights and visible urban sprawl.
That we must avoid. In order to do so, the Council should exert its leadership and hammer out an accord with the landowners that will result in a reasonable compromise.
Step one is for the Council to direct staff to pursue with all vigor the designation from Caltrans to declare the stretch of Hecker Pass Highway a scenic route. That will help preserve the magnificent cedars along the highway and ensure that the area will retain its rural beauty and charm.
Second, the city should enter into serious negotiations on the number of proposed houses for the area. The General Plan allows for 137 homes, the landowners are proposing 530 homes. That gap – despite the open space preservation in the plan – is too wide. It represents a monumental change from what is called for in the General Plan and should be summarily reduced.
Third, the Council should insist on language in the plan that retains some controls on architectural design. If the landowners obtain building entitlements and then sell the Hecker Pass land to a developer, it will be important that the Council retain some control over development design.
Due diligence by the City Council in pursuing a reasonable compromise on the Hecker Pass corridor would provide the city with a model for cooperation between developers and City Hall. The twin goals of making a profit for the landowners and preserving a worthwhile scenic gateway to our community can and should be achieved.
It’s a vision we trust everyone will work toward.
