A successful community petition to repeal the controversial rezoning of four commercial nodes along Highway 101 will put the issue before voters.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution on Nov. 19 calling for an election. County residents will vote on the rezoning in the March 3 primary.
The board also had the option of repealing the C-3 zoning ordinance for the four nodes known as Betabel, SR129/Searle Road, Rocks Ranch and Livestock 101. It approved the rezoning on Sept. 24 in an effort to increase revenue by attracting Highway 101 motorists to the nodes, which would feature gas stations, fast food outlets and hotels.
After the San Benito County Planning Commission took up the rezoning process on May 15, local activists with Preserve Our Rural Communities raised concerns around the environment and water supply, impact on San Juan Bautista businesses, and increased traffic along the corridor.
At the Nov. 19 meeting, supervisors accepted the certification of 3,284 valid signatures gathered by PORC for the referendum. The petition needed a minimum of 2,060 valid signatures to qualify.
San Benito County Planning Commissioner Valerie Egland, who is running for San Benito County Supervisor District 2, said there were complaints about the signature gathering process.
“The people I’ve spoken to in the neighborhood have said that they were given misinformation when asked to sign the petition,” Egland said. “There is overwhelming support on School Road and Anzar Road for the continuation of development at the Betabel [node].”
Resident Elia Salinas also said she was approached by someone collecting signatures who gave her incorrect information. Though people opposed to the rezoning claimed there was a lack of transparency about the rezoning, no decisions were made behind closed doors, she said.
“If people did not know that this was happening, it is by their own accord because they do not pay attention to what’s going on in their county,” Salinas said.
Volunteers who collected signatures also spoke at the meeting and said they were careful in their explanations not to give false information. Michael Strasky said he resented accusations that volunteers misinformed the public.
“I’m trying to be as truthful as I can,” Strasky said. “I’m not besmirching Mr. Botelho or anybody else. Our group didn’t go after anybody like that. We were just concerned about the process.”
Prunedale resident James Starkewolf said that he had not heard people were deceived to collect signatures and that those who signed expressed frustration with the “tremendous amount of growth.”
North Monterey County resident Jeannie Echenique said the county should repeal the rezoning ordinance because the process lacked transparency, and that putting it on the ballot would cost taxpayers money.
“There is supporting evidence that there may have been a conflict of interests with parties that participated in the public proceedings in creating the nodes,” Echenique said. “The FPPC has not dismissed the cases, but said there was insufficient evidence. They provided the process for additional evidence to be provided to allow further investigation into the matter, which I believe will show there is a clear conflict.”
In October, Supervisor Anthony Botelho and San Juan Bautista Councilman Dan De Vries were the subjects of Fair Political Practices Commission complaints that claimed they had conflicts of interest related to the rezoning ordinance, because of property that was not disclosed and currently representing the node property owners, respectively. The commission dismissed the complaints citing “insufficient evidence of a violation of the Political Reform Act,” according to an FPPC letter.
After public comment, Supervisor Peter Hernandez urged all parties to move forward.
“I believe and agree with the process to play out and give people an opportunity to weigh in,” Hernandez said. “My biggest hope is for us to have an honest intention to make sure that accurate information is being portrayed.”
Other related BenitoLink articles:
FPPC dismisses complaints against Botelho and De Vries
PORC petition on Highway 101 nodes meets signature requirements
Supervisors approve rezoning of Highway 101 nodes
County Planning Commission approves Highway 101 commercial nodes
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