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Based on flyers, billboards, social media and BenitoLink surveys, housing cost and population growth are among the hottest topics in San Benito County. But when it comes to workshops on these issues, public participation is minimal. Only three residents joined a Feb. 28 Hollister housing evening workshop in person, with several others listening online.
Kimley-Horn, an engineering firm contracted by the city, held the second Housing Element community workshop welcoming public input on Hollister’s Housing Element draft. Two Kimley-Horn associates, Dave Barquist and Bryant De la Torre led the event intended to gather input for the Hollister City Council.
The workshop, held in the nearly empty council chambers, kicked off with a presentation defining the housing element, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and the sixth cycle. Over the next eight years, considered the sixth cycle, state-mandated housing goals require the city to add 4,163 units. According to the U.S. Census, there are an estimated 3.43 residents per household. Using that figure, the sixth cycle increase would amount to 14,279 new Hollister residents.
Along with the three participants in-person, six participants attended the workshop via zoom. Those participants online were Hollister Mayor Mia Casey, City Planning Commissioner Carol Lenoir, James Brennan, Jessica Wohlander, Mickie Luna and Rafael Hernandez.
City Planning Manager Eva Kelly said gathering participants can be difficult. Even set at 6:30 p.m., few residents venture out and make it to the meetings.
“I think there are many reasons, but I believe the fact that many of our community members commute out of town for work makes it difficult to attend workshops, and while we try to hold workshops and meetings later in the evening to accommodate for commuting community members, it may be too late in the evening for others,” she said.
Kelly added that the Feb. 28 workshop was posted on the city’s social media accounts, on the city’s website and emailed to a “large email group related to the housing element” that receives notifications.
The Kimley-Horn presenters said the housing element is a required component of the city’s General Plan. It also provides goals and policies addressing current and projected housing needs and identifies projected housing growth by income.
The city’s RHNA is determined by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the San Benito County Council of Governments.
The required number of units is broken down into five income categories. The income ranges are based on the 2023 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development median income for the county, which is $140,200 for a family of four. The annual income categories are:
- Up to $33,400 for extremely low income
- $33,401 to $55,650 for very low income
- $55,651 to $89,050 for low income
- $89,051 to $168,250 for moderate income
- $168,251 and above for above moderate income
Barquist and De la Torre asked the participating residents a few questions about housing challenges, opportunities and priorities in Hollister.
A lack of affordable housing was among the biggest challenges from the residents’ perspective.
“We talk about affordability, and it’s getting harder and harder for the development community, with inflation [affecting] everything, not only our groceries, but our building costs and labor,” Ted Intravia said. “[Then] we adopt new policies in the county and the cities such as the protection of farmland.”
Barquist answered: “But the challenge with that is from a cost standpoint of feasibility, of actually being developed at those densities, is really the challenge.”
Another resident said priorities for housing in the community should include rezoning vacant land and developing high-rise apartment buildings and multi-family rentals.
Associate Planner Stephanie Reck contributed a few positive notes, adding that down payment assistance for homeownership and more coordination between the city and county could mean more opportunities for home buyers.
The public review period for the draft housing element began Jan. 26 and ended Feb 29. A revised draft will be sent to the state for review, after which it will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council during summer or fall, according to the City’s housing element webpage.
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