Twenty years in waiting, the 1,100-unit Santana Ranch project off Fairview Road fits the area well, stands to improve the community's housing stock and includes the necessary green approach we like for a successful development as San Benito County moves forward.
The project on 241 acres - slated for an area north of John Smith Road and south of Santa Ana Valley Road - would include include 71 percent single-family homes and 29 percent multi-family units.
Though it's hard to think past the current housing market crisis, its cyclical nature could potentially give the Santana Ranch project an opportunity to build out - it should take at least 10 years - at just about the right time.
Economic speculation aside, though, we like this project for several reasons.
For one, its developers are local and have a vested interest in the community. Frank Guerra's family owns Guerra Nut Shelling Co., they've been here for many generations and they appear intent on staying in the community.
The location also suits San Benito County well. That area off Fairview Road has been ripe for development for years as it lacks the type of prime agricultural land we must strive to maintain as San Benito County inevitably grows.
In comparison with DMB's El Ranch San Benito project slated for the county's northern end, Santana Ranch also would stand to add a greater economic gain because it's close to currently existing commercial areas and could keep people from heading to Gilroy to do their shopping. And from an education standpoint, it's an appropriate area considering the slated locations for a new high school and Gavilan College campus.
As far as traffic goes, we're concerned about a need to expand Fairview Road, especially as that part of the county's population increases. But the developers, as regulations require, would pay their fair share in impact fees to offset their end of the costs.
The developers are leaning toward using the city's wastewater system, and connecting to Hollister's plant or Sunnyslope's would stand to help either as they need such additions to spread costs.
The project is fully conscientious of the public's desire to be environmentally friendly. They plan to take such approaches as constructing at angles for the greatest energy benefit. And from a green and aesthetic viewpoint, we like the inclusion of an abundance of parkland, including a linear park, a community park and several pocket parks.
The Free Lance Editorial Board The Free Lance Editorial Board is made up of Publisher Steve Staloch; Editor Kollin Kosmicki; Columnist Marty Richman; and members at large Frankie Arballo, Jae Eade, Louise Ledesma and Richard Place. Opinions of the board are not necessarily unanimous.
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