Hollister 2040 General Plan, Climate Action Plan, and Agricultural Lands Preservation Program Revised Draft EIR

The City of Hollister is implementing a Modified Project to update the previously certified 2040 General Plan, Climate Action Plan (CAP), and Agricultural Lands Preservation Program (ALPP). These modifications include reducing the extent of the Sphere of Influence and revising the associated land use map to ensure consistency with state regulations and guidance. A key component of the modified ALPP requires that any conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses must include the dedication of eligible agricultural conservation easements at a 2:1 ratio, meaning two acres must be preserved for every one acre converted. To ensure environmental compliance under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Addendum was prepared to evaluate the modifications. This process confirmed that the changes do not create new significant environmental effects or increase the severity of previously identified impacts. The project was officially approved on April 20, 2026, with a Notice of Determination filed in San Benito County. Administrative oversight is managed by Charles Wall, the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Hollister. Additionally, the project mandates that developers impacting tribal cultural resources must coordinate with tribal representatives to train workers on confidentiality and avoidance measures prior to construction.