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Addressing additional comments from the state, Hollister released a new draft Housing Element for public review on Feb. 4.
The public comment period runs through Feb. 11, after which the document will be resubmitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
The Housing Element is a state-required document that outlines the city’s plan to accommodate the construction of 4,163 housing units through 2030. The units are classified in one of four income categories, ranging from very low to above moderate.
According to a news release from the city, changes in the new draft reflect edits based on comments from the state. They include revisions to the number of units Hollister can accommodate for the various income levels on each of its proposed rezone actions.
However, the maximum number of units of 6,043 that are planned for rezoning identified properties remains the same, according to the Housing Element.
In total, the Housing Element proposes a maximum of 8,364 units, which include accessory dwelling units and projects in the pipeline.
Changes also include a statement that the city will partner with a qualified nonprofit housing counseling agency to develop educational materials for landlords to encourage participation in rental assistance programs.
The statement also says the city will create these materials by December 2026 and conduct outreach to at least five property owners annually about the program starting in June 2027.
The city added two new policies under its housing goals. The first states that the city will “create and maintain a centralized ‘Housing Mobility Information Hub’ which clearly outlines available housing options, assistance programs, and fair housing resources” as part of an effort to improve access to information and opportunities.
Other elements of the policy include increasing referrals to legal aid by adding a page to the city website on affordable housing developments and rental assistance programs; and providing information in languages commonly spoken in the city.
The second policy states the city will encourage the development of affordable and special needs housing in a “broader range of neighborhoods, including higher-resource and higher-opportunity areas.”
The new draft presents a deeper analysis of opportunities in education, transportation and accessibility modifications, as well as its capital improvement projects program.
Hollister has been out of compliance with the state’s deadline to update the Housing Element since the end of 2023, which rendered the city ineligible for some state grants. It also left the city susceptible to the “builder’s remedy,” which allows developers to apply for projects that don’t necessarily meet local land use requirements.
The city previously released its draft Housing Element for public review in December.
Like Hollister, San Juan Bautista’s Housing Element has yet to be certified by the state. San Benito County’s Housing Element was certified by the state on Feb. 3, according to the state’s Housing Element Compliance Report.
The public can submit comments on the Housing Element to:
- housingelement@hollister.ca.gov
- City of Hollister Planning Division, 339 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023
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