Development to add 47 homes along Hillcrest Road

Forty-seven single-family homes will soon be rising from a 10-acre lot along Hillcrest Road where once there were weeds and a solitary, family-run business that sold firewood and Christmas trees.

Abraham Prado, associate planner with Hollister Development Services (HDS), told BenitoLink by email that the city Planning Commission approved the subdivision at its Jan. 26 meeting. It will include 50 lots, of which 48 will be for new single-family homes, one for an existing home, and one lot for a pond to catch and retain the storm water allowing it to percolate into the underground aquifer. Prado said access to the subdivision will be via two new road connections from Sawtooth and Trinity drives. There will be no vehicular access at Hillcrest, but there will be pedestrian access. 

The new development will be known as Hillcrest Meadows. The contractor, Enz Construction, began clearing and grading the site last week before the final map was recorded. Since then, though, developer Hugh Bickle submitted plans, which were approved by the Engineering Division, according to David Rubcic, HDS interim engineering manager and city engineer, and obtained the grading permit.

“The City Council gave the authority to the Planning Commission for approval of projects,” Rubcic told BenitoLink. “If there are any appeals, the council will review them. The Subdivision Map Act allows the Planning Commission to approve the tentative maps and set conditions. The City Council approves Subdivision Improvement Agreements and annexation to the Community Facilities Districts.”

Bikle is a local developer whom Councilwoman Mickie Luna once described as the one person who got the city back on its feet after the 1989 earthquake that brought down more than 30 businesses. In Jan. 2016, the council denied Bikle’s request for pre-annexation of another development on Maple Street. 

Bikle also owned more than 200 acres along San Felipe Road near the Hollister Airport where Swank Farms had operated its business for 40 years. He sold the land to developer Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort owner John Wynn, who, according to city officials, plans to build a 100,000-square foot manufacturing facility to produce smart glass.

Rubcic said Bikle’s normal method of operation is to avoid bonding by doing the construction up front (which is acceptable) and recording the map at the end of construction.

“He cannot sell any lots until the map has been recorded and all the conditions of the tentative map has been complied with,” Rubcic said.

Note: Correction has been made on the spelling of the name Bikle, the number of lots and a change from the name of Buena Vista Road to Maple Street..