Hollister · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hollister public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
San Juan Crossings housing and retail on the west side
A 132-apartment mixed-use project near the new roundabout got its approvals extended two years while the developer lines up construction financing — new housing and possible ground-floor shops or a daycare are coming, eventually.
Accessory dwelling unit ordinance update (Ordinance 1277)
Hollister must update its accessory dwelling unit rules to match recent state laws — no choice in the matter, per HCD. Homeowners can now add up to three ADUs on single-family lots, and multifamily properties can add up to eight detached units, with fewer fees and shorter review windows.
Comprehensive zoning overhaul (Ordinances 1274-1276)
The commission reviewed draft language for the permitting chapters of the zoning code rewrite, including a notable new rule: pre-zoning approvals would expire after two years if owners don't pursue annexation, clearing out a backlog of stale pre-zones tied to zoning districts that no longer exist.
2040 General Plan and Climate Action Plan
The City Council adopted the city's updated General Plan, Housing Element and zoning amendments on April 20. The General Plan kicks in within 30 days and the housing element immediately, with state certification to follow.
Renaming of Avenida Cesar Chavez and City facilities
Following recent allegations against Cesar Chavez, the council weighed removing his name from a city roadway and a planned park near Fire Station 2. Most speakers favored renaming — several for Dolores Huerta — while others warned against erasing farmworker history. No vote was taken; the renaming comes back on a future agenda, with options including reverting to Union Road, naming it for Dolores Huerta or 'Avenida Comunidad,' or a ballot measure.
Downtown objective design standards
New quantifiable design rules for multifamily and mixed-use buildings in the downtown mixed-use district — pedestrian connections, street-facing frontages, parking behind buildings, historic-district standards. Adopt them or lose all design control under state law. Passed 4-1.