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gilroydispatch.com • Vol. 152, No. 16 • $1
Gavilan’s rating is upgraded, for lower interest on Measure X
$2.5 MILLION IN POTENTIAL SAVINGS FOR TAXPAYERS Scott Forstner Reporter
➝ Gavilan Bond , 12
Barry Holtzclaw
Standard and Poors Global Ratings has upgraded Gavilan Joint Community College District’s general obligation bond rating, which could mean “over $2.5 million in taxpayer savings,” according to the college’s financial adviser. Mark Farrell of Dale Scott & Company, told the college the bond rating change, from AA- to AA, will mean lower interest rates, according to an April 8 press release. Farrell serves as financial adviser to Gavilan. The community college district voters approved Measure X, a $248 million general obligation bond authorization, in November 2018 to construct a new center in San Benito and improve the
THE BUSINESS VIEW Leaders of Gilroy’s Downtown Business Association, from left, John Taft, Gary Walton and Jose Montes, stand on the roof of the Hall Building, under renovation by owner Montes, overlooking Monterey Street.
Businesses want parking BUSINESS OWNERS PRESS COUNCIL TO ACT ON ADDING DOWNTOWN PARKING SPOTS Erik Chalhoub Business Editor
In 2005, a city-commissioned parking study found no shortage of places to park in downtown Gilroy. That study also stressed
that city officials needed to create a parking management plan to adequately deal with 200,000 square feet of anticipated new commercial development by adding more than 500 new parking spaces. Fourteen years later, more than 100,000 square feet of new commercial have been added in the city’s downtown corridor, yet downtown business owners and developers say there are nearly 100 fewer parking spaces than in 2005, more than 600 spots short of what’s needed.
That’s according to a recently completed parking study sponsored by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association, which hopes to work with the city to address what association president Gary Walton describes as a crisis for downtown. “We’d like to partner with the city,” Walton said. “We’re dedicated to staying on top of the parking situation and parking options for downtown.” John Taft, who served on the
parking study’s steering committee, agreed. “If we can convince the city to work even more with us in terms of what we can do downtown, we can significantly improve the value,” he said. “There’s a big opportunity there.” The business group’s study looked at the core of downtown, which is defined as Monterey Street between Fourth and Seventh streets, and sandwiched ➝ Gilroy Parking, 11
County struggles to preserve agriculture OUTREACH MEETING PLANNED WITH COUNTY, FARMERS AND RESIDENTS Jaqueline McCool Reporter
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Santa Clara County is considering options for rezoning ordinances in unincorporated agricultural lands in an attempt to better preserve open space. Manira Sandhir, a principal planner for the county, said the
conversation began in February when the county realized that farm owners, wineries and stables had concerns over the current zoning in unincorporated areas. “Ranchettes,” as they’re often referred to, are large homes built on acres of unincorporated land zoned for agricultural use. The ranchettes are allowed to exist under the current zoning ordinances in the county, but that could change if the ordinances are updated. Sandhir said the ranchettes are
FIELDS OF PLENTY Santa Clara County farms
➝ Agricultural land, 11 feel pressure from urban growth.
Summer Explorers Pre-K – Grade 3 May 29 – August 9
2019
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