To obtain lodging at our special group rate with the Fairfield Inn in Hollister (available if you reserve by Oct 6), you may call the Front Desk at 831 623-1101 and mention that you are with the CCPCA, or you may use this link:
This year's annual statewide gathering of County Planning Commissioners will occur in beautiful San Benito County, which lies adjacent to Santa Clara County in the Central Coast Region, just south of the San Francisco Bay area. San Benito County is mostly rural in nature, stretching to the southeast toward Fresno County, including the Diablo Mountain Range, and the 109-mile long San Benito River.
El Camino Real passes through on its way north from Salinas, and one of the famed Spanish Missions was built at San Juan Bautista in 1797. San Benito County is also the home of Pinnacles National Park, the newest addition to the National Park system, established in 2013. Our Conference meetings will be held at the county seat in Hollister. We will explore the preservation of agricultural activity in the face of mounting pressure for development.
Topics will include updates on CEQA compliance and other discussions regarding the role and duties held by planning commissioners throughout the state. Informative speakers and panel discussions will be held throughout the day on Friday.
Our Saturday fieldtrip day will be highlighed by a visit to the 540-Acre Nyland Ranch, where the Trust for Public Land has orchestrated a partnership with three other local Land Trust organizations to balance and preserve cultural, natural and agricultural uses. We will also visit and tour Graniterock's A.R. Wilson quarry --the largest crushed rock quarry west of the Mississippi.
Lunch for both days will be sponsored by the San Benito County EDC. Our annual Banquet which concludes the event on Saturday evening, will be held at the Ridgemark Golf Club Resort.
All County Planning Commissioners are urged to attend as members. Additionally, city commissioners, planning staff, students, and other interested parties are welcomed. You are also encouraged to bring a spouse or guest who may enjoy participating in the social events and tield trips.
CCPCA President Rich Way has extended the following offer to encourage attendance: --if your county has not been represented at one of our conferences for the past three years, we are offering a special New Attendees Discount rate of $189 for the full conference.