The city has reached agreement with Award Homes on reimbursement amounts for traffic improvement costs related to the 667-unit West of Fairview development.
According to projections from Higgins Associates, the engineering firm chosen for the improvements, the total cost is $1.625 million. The contribution Award Homes agreed to pay from that total is $249,216, while the city will make up the rest.
For this project to become a reality, several traffic improvements must be made. According to the staff report prepared for the Hollister City Council, renovations include new traffic signals at the intersections of Fairview Road at Union road, Valley View Drive at Union Road, and Enterprise Road at Airline Highway. Also included is a new westbound right-turn lane at the intersection of Airline Highway and Union Road. After completion of the turn lane, there will be a new traffic signal to accommodate the left turn lanes from both directions.
The traffic improvements are to help ensure proper access for the development, which will include 517 single family homes, 60 garden homes and 100 apartments, according to the staff report.
Approved at Monday's council meeting, the agreement states that the city will reimburse Award Homes for its contribution to city-approved traffic work.
This project has been in the works for nearly 20 years, but the reimbursement portion of talks has been under way for about six months to a year, estimated Hollister City Manager Clint Quilter.
Quilter also noted that even with this agreement, he wasn't sure when the development would begin construction.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
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