In December 2024, the Hollister City Council voted to adopt a new General Plan for the city that could have led to the loss of up to 3,000 acres of surrounding farmland and open space. But Hollister residents came together to protect nature and local farms, launching a referendum effort to reverse that decision, with Green Foothills’ support. On March 3, the City Council voted to adopt the referendum reversing the decision, reducing the threat of sprawl development in Hollister.

Hollister City Council Reverses Course on Potential City Expansion

For some years, the City of Hollister has been considering the question of what the pace and scale of new development should be. The General Plan approved by the City Council in December would have expanded the city’s Sphere of Influence (which means the probable future city limits) by 3,000 acres, the majority of which is farmland. Although Hollister would first have had to annex those acres into the city before approving development there, the expansion of the Sphere of Influence would have been the first step towards eventual sprawl development onto the surrounding farmland.

Hollister residents who disagreed with that decision quickly began collecting signatures for a referendum to overturn the City Council’s approval of the General Plan. Once enough signatures had been gathered, the City Council had a choice of whether to put the referendum on the ballot or simply adopt it, thus reversing the December 2024 approval of the General Plan. On March 3, the City Council voted to adopt the referendum and discard the General Plan, including its expansion of the Sphere of Influence.

Sprawl Development on Farmland Harms Both People and the Environment

Sprawl development on farmland and open space, rather than building within existing city limits, is contrary to the principles of good urban planning. It results in increased traffic and air pollution as well as loss of open space. Before the March 3 Council vote, I took a drive with a local farmer to see the rich soils of the freshly tilled prime farmland where he grows mixed vegetables just west of the city, and land to the south he’s worked for years. He was concerned this land could be converted to development if Hollister’s Sphere of Influence was expanded. It was an important reminder that increased development can threaten the agriculture that is the backbone of San Benito County’s economy.

In Hollister, as in the rest of San Benito County, it is important to avoid the loss of prime farmland and ensure that local infrastructure can keep pace with the rapidly increasing population. Most Hollister residents work in Silicon Valley, but there are no public transportation options. So increasing Hollister’s population would increase greenhouse gas emissions, worsen traffic-related air pollution, and impact residents’ quality of life from sitting in hours of gridlocked traffic every day. Hollister, and San Benito County more generally, must figure out how to balance growth with meeting the basic needs of residents and protecting important farmland.

Green Foothills will continue to follow this issue and advocate with the City of Hollister to adopt a General Plan that preserves farmland and open space and prioritizes addressing our infrastructure needs.