This community opinion was contributed by resident Jessica Wohlander, Environmental Associate for Green Foothills and resident of Aromas. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated ontributors. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Measure A, approved in November by over 55% of San Benito voters, allows San Benito County to grow according to the principles of smart growth. By focusing future evelopment in infill areas such as the city of Hollister, rather than sprawling onto the county’s farmland and rural areas, Measure A will prevent taxpayers from having to subsidize costly sprawl
development. Numerous studies have shown that when development is stretched over a wide region, it is much harder and more expensive to provide services to that development. Sprawl also results in more harmful greenhouse gas emissions, since people have to drive longer distances to get to work or to go shopping. In addition, concentrating the county’s growth in infill areas means that we will protect the farmland upon which the biggest sector of our economy depends, and the wildlife habitat that is critical to the survival of at-risk species like mountain lions and California condors.
But Dan De Vries, quoted in the BenitoLink article “Measure A clashes with federal Opportunity Zones’,” seems to think that the reverse is true — he incorrectly assumes that San Benito would benefit from having economic development sprawling over the rural areas, rather than in Hollister. The “Opportunity Zone” featured in the article is almost entirely in the rural unincorporated county. It stretches from Aromas in the northwest to Cienega Road in the southeast — and encompasses a startling amount of agricultural land. Is this really where Mr. De Vries thinks our future residential, commercial, and industrial development should go?
There is also an “opportunity zone” located in Hollister. Focusing on that zone would allow
businesses in Hollister to benefit from the federal tax incentives mentioned in the article. It would be helpful if Mr. De Vries and others who are interested in supporting commercial growth would bend their efforts towards helping Hollister businesses, rather than attempting to build sprawl development on farmland and wildlife habitat.
Let’s not forget that Measure A will promote agritourism – not harm it. The measure does not affect the ability of future agritourism and recreational businesses to thrive in the unincorporated area. Economic development reports highlight the untapped potential for tourism, and specifically ecotourism and agritourism, in San Benito County. In order to tap into this rapidly growing sector, it is essential that we protect our farmland and open space.
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