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In the latest sign of progress for San Juan Oaks, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved on April 14 the newest phase map for the age-restricted community of more than 1,000 homes being built south of Hwy 156 between Hollister and San Juan Bautista.
The new phase includes 67 non-age-restricted units, as well as the parcels where a 200-room resort hotel and the commercial neighborhood center would be located.
The board approved the map by a 4-0 vote. Supervisor Angela Curro recused herself, saying she had received more than $500 from the developer.
County Senior Engineer Deems Katada told the supervisors that 810 of the 1,017 planned age-restricted units have been recorded, that the county has issued 120 building permits, and 96 units have a certificate of occupancy.
Two more phases for the project are still pending.
Approved more than 10 years ago, San Juan Oaks also includes two community parks totaling 17 acres, 114 acres of open space, 41 acres of agricultural preserves, and 1,243 acres of permanent wildlife habitat preservation.
The developer, Third Millennium Partners CEO Dustin Bogue, told the board that one of the parks, which will become a county park, would be finished next month.
“It’s about 85% complete right now,” Bogue said.
Katada added that, to date, the developer is in compliance with the development agreement. County Counsel Gregory Priamos told the supervisors that as long as that remains the case, they were obliged to approve the map.
Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez, who faces a recall election on the June 2 ballot, criticized Bogue, saying he has opposed the San Juan Oaks development for years and that someone from Bogue’s family responded by contributing $5,000 to the recall campaign against him. He called it “offensive.”
“Development should be based on merit,” Velazquez said. “Not on if somebody votes ‘no’ then I’m going to give money to recall them.”
Bogue said he would be “happy” to have that conversation.
According to campaign finance documents filed with the county elections office, a Marina retiree named Kristen Bogue contributed $5,000 to the recall campaign.
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