This community opinion was contributed by Jessica Wohlander. Jessica Wohlander is a San Benito County resident and works as an Environmental Associate for Green Foothills. She lives and farms in Aromas. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invites all community members to share their ideas and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink user in the top right corner of our home page and agreeing to follow our Terms of Use, you can write counter opinions or share your insights on current issues. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
On November 5th, voters have the opportunity to change the way land use decisions are made in San Benito County. Measure A, the ‘Empower Voters to Make Land Use Decisions’ initiative, would make voters the decision makers on any proposed development that would change rural, agricultural, or range land to commercial, industrial, or residential uses. It would give a voice to the people most impacted by the county’s development decisions. It would protect our local environment, with beneficial effects extending throughout the county and beyond. It would push the county towards a more sustainable future that creates abundant opportunities for economic prosperity while also improving quality of life here. Voting yes on Measure A is the best thing we can do for San Benito’s future.
In San Benito, housing development has outpaced the infrastructure and services required to support the growing population. This is apparent in our struggling water systems, insufficient sewer systems, overcrowded schools, frighteningly limited fire services, deteriorated roads, and the traffic so many residents sit in every day. Measure A would allow the people who sit in that traffic, the people experiencing firsthand the consequences of rampant growth, to be the ones who decide whether or not the county should build more houses before it addresses these infrastructure problems and service shortages.
Measure A would also remove four (out of 16) areas designated for commercial development along Highway 101. These four areas, or “nodes,” lie within a landscape that provides an essential connection for wildlife to migrate between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Gabilan and Diablo Ranges. This landscape is critical for the health and resilience of California’s wildlife. Without the ability to move freely between these mountain ranges, wildlife cannot migrate to find mates, and the genetic diversity of their populations decreases, leading to health problems and population decline. By interfering with wildlife migration, commercial development along these four nodes on Highway 101 would damage ecosystems throughout the region, far beyond the borders of our county. The ecological resilience of a large portion of the state of California depends on the ability of wildlife to move with ease between these mountain ranges. Measure A would protect the environment by protecting these four crucial nodes, while still leaving 12 remaining commercial nodes available for development.
Measure A is not anti-development, but it would encourage development in areas that are already designated for residential, commercial, and industrial uses. By requiring voter permission to change land use designations, Measure A would encourage developers to build in areas already designated for development. With a few exceptions, these areas tend to be closer to cities. In other words, Measure A would discourage sprawl development and encourage infill development instead.
Sprawl development means low-density development that literally sprawls across the countryside, destroying farmland, rangeland, and open space. Data suggests that sprawl development increases the costs of infrastructure and public services by 10 to 40 percent, since they have to be spread out over a wider area. Sprawl development also increases traffic, as residents are forced to drive long distances for everything they need. This not only wastes residents’ time, but also releases more greenhouse gases (GHG) into our atmosphere, reducing our air quality and unnecessarily contributing to climate change.
Sprawl development would have a significant impact on the character of the county, and it would also affect our food supply. California is losing around 50,000 acres of farmland every year, and in San Benito 43% of our important farmland has been lost since 1984. Decreasing the amount of land available to grow food threatens the resilience of our food systems.
Instead of sprawl, Measure A would encourage “infill” development, which means building in and near cities. In contrast to sprawl, infill development reduces the cost of infrastructure and public services, reduces traffic, and cuts GHG emissions. It would encourage more people to spend more time in Hollister, supporting the local businesses that already exist there.
Measure A would allow voters to create a future for San Benito that allows it to thrive economically while also improving the quality of life here and protecting our natural resources, the county’s greatest assets. According to recent studies done by Fortune Business Insights, the ecotourism sector grew by 20% from 2023 to 2024, and is expected to continue to increase at a steady rate over the next decade. Another study found that 80% of vacationers are interested in sustainability and ecotourism experiences. San Benito is in a perfect position to take advantage of this growing market. The county’s natural beauty and proximity to Pinnacles coupled with its rich history makes it an obvious choice for tourists looking to get out of congested Bay Area cities. Agritourism, or operations like farmstays, u-pick opportunities, and pumpkin patches, is also a growing sector. It made up 16% of the ecotourism market share. San Benito already has some agritourism, but with our strong agricultural sector and many farms, there’s plenty of room to grow. This would bring in tourism dollars and also support our local farmers and ranchers, providing opportunities for additional revenue, and the resilience that comes with diversified revenue streams.
If Measure A does not pass, the chances that we lose this possible future increase significantly. A county lined with truck stops and massive garbage dumps would not be appealing to the 80% of vacationers interested in sustainability, who are seeking out experiences in beautiful natural spaces. However, if Measure A passes, it creates an extra level of protection for San Benito’s oak woodlands and grasslands, some of the most biodiverse, and least protected, habitats in the state, so that everyone can benefit from them.
Measure A protects our wildlife and supports ecological resilience. Measure A sets San Benito County on a course to economic vitality and a high quality of life for its residents. Measure A gives voters the power to decide what they want the future of San Benito to look like. Join Green Foothills in supporting Measure A.
The post COMMUNITY OPINION: Measure A – the best thing for San Benito’s Future appeared first on BenitoLink.