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San Benito High School District approved the location of an additional campus on Wright Road, on what is known as the Pura Vida property, back in March. When the 49.7-acre parcel was purchased for $2.23 million, the district described it as “the most logical and compelling location” for its second high school for students in Hollister.
Donald Wirz, president of San Benito County Farm Bureau, an organization which focuses on preserving and promoting local agriculture, said he understands that Hollister needs another high school, but doesn’t agree with certain aspects of the project, specifically the location. The Wright Road location is outside Hollister city limits, on county land zoned for agricultural use.
“The new high school will be on prime agricultural land that doesn’t have a lot of road access currently,” Wirz said. “Calling that road a two-lane road that can handle high school traffic is extremely generous.”
The county’s 2035 General Plan states that its vision is to protect the area’s rural atmosphere and preserve prime agricultural land. Agriculture is the county’s major industry and plays a critical role in the economy while providing fresh, accessible food to the community.
“The County is determined to protect and support the agricultural and ranching industries in the county,” the plan states. The first goal of the General Plan’s Land Use Element is to “ensure the long-term preservation of the agricultural industry, agricultural support services, and rangeland resources by protecting these areas from incompatible urban uses and allowing farmers to manage their land and operations in an efficient, economically viable manner.”
Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum told BenitoLink that the high school district received input on the location from local municipalities.
“Both the city and the county encouraged the district to seek a site for the second high school in the Buena Vista Corridor region,” Tennenbaum said. The Pura Vida property is within that corridor.
According to the California Department of Education, school districts have the authority to “overrule local zoning and general plan land-use” when selecting school sites, though state law encourages school districts to avoid buying land zoned for agricultural use.
Tennenbaum said the district evaluated numerous options before settling on the Wright Road site. According to the General Plan, 90% of the county’s 890,000 acres are zoned for agriculture and used for farming, forestry and ranching.
“The district purchased the property in accordance with the requirements applicable
to school siting set forth in Government Code, Education Code, Title 5 of the California Code
of Regulations, the Williamson Act, applicable to agricultural land specifically, and California
Department of Education guidelines,” Tennenbaum said.
He said that after notifying the county of the district’s intent to purchase the Wright Road property, the district received the county’s “determination that the potential school site conforms with the county’s general plan.”
Abraham Prado, San Benito County’s building and planning director, said Tennenbaum attended a meeting with the county Planning Commission and discussed the location in the Buena Vista corridor, but that no formal action was taken by the commissioners.
Pesticide dangers?
Wirz said the location may restrict farmers from using pesticides and fertilizers. “You cannot apply pesticide at certain hours due to safety,” he said.
According to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, pesticide application is restricted on agricultural lands within a quarter mile of public schools and child day care facilities, depending on the type of pesticide and equipment being used. The restrictions cover Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Some pesticide application times depend on the type of crops, the season and the target pest, Wirz said. “There are some operations where it makes sense to apply pesticides at night.”
Wirz believes those in the area shouldn’t be worried about the use of pesticides.
“There shouldn’t be a huge concern on students, parents or teachers with being in an agriculture area,” he said. “The ag industry is highly regulated on the use and storage of pesticides, especially in California.”
Wirz added that the school’s location could encourage new development in the area and push farmers out.
“That high school could be a catalyst for housing development,” he said. “There will be more pressure for neighboring farms to sell to developers. It’s a domino effect of losing ag land.”
Tennenbaum said the need for a second campus is due to development, not the cause of it.
“Our district plays no role in the approval of development, but we must accommodate all local families and children who move to the area,” he said. “Our high school is bursting at the seams, compromising educational quality and student, staff and community safety. With ongoing development approvals by the city and county, the status quo—one high school to serve almost the entire county—is unsustainable.”
Tennenbaum added: “Our school location was determined to align with growth patterns in the City and County from already-approved development.” According to the city’s 2040 Draft General Plan, it encourages residential use in the Buena Vista Road area, which is located adjacent to Wright Road.
The city’s plan also shared its goal to provide high-quality education in Hollister by supporting the “San Benito High School District’s efforts to construct a new high school.”
In addition, Wirz said, “Several members of the Farm Bureau felt that there were sites within the city limits that could have fit the needs of the district.”
The district hosted community meetings to receive feedback from residents, teachers and students starting in August 2023. Last month the district said it had held 27 workshops, received over 1,500 comments and hosted over 450 participants.
Wirz said he attended one community meeting and had conversations with the district before the location was announced.
Lynn Overtree, executive director of the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust, a nonprofit that helps preserve agricultural lands and open space, says the organization is not against development, but prefers it within the county’s growth area.
“We encourage growth within the built areas in the county, rather than at sites that convert productive farmland and compromise the integrity of the surrounding farming operations,” Overtree told BenitoLink.
“It is important to remember that what may look like ‘available’ land, is usually farmland or rangeland that, collectively, provides more jobs than any other industry in San Benito County,” Overtree said. “Our local schools are where our students are taught to become the leaders of the next generation of agriculture.”
The district is committed to its agricultural roots, Tennenbaum said. The new campus would include instruction in row crop farming, agriculture business and agriculture technology, he said.
“Fundamentally, we have a duty to ensure that all local high school students have access to safe, modern classrooms and educational opportunities and guidance.”
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