The city of Hollister in San Benito county was chosen as the location for our annual statewide gathering of County Planning Commissioners for 2026. Beautiful San Benito County lies adjacent to Santa Clara County in the Central Coast Region, just south of the San Francisco Bay area. The 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. The theme of the conference explores the preservation of agricultural activity in the face of mounting pressure for development.
Our Saturday fieldtrip day began with 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. After lunch at the renowned Jardines de San Juan, we embarked on an eye-opening tour of Graniterock's A.R. Wilson Quarry in Aromas.
The CCPCA extends it gratitude to the San Benito County Economic Development Corporation, for sponsoring the provision of lunch on both days of the event.
The event concluded with a Farewell gala Banquet on Saturday evening at the Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort, featuring keynote speaker Matthew Huerta, affordable housing consultant.
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS AND RESOURCES
Friday Oct 23:
| 6:00AM -9;00AM | Breakfast - Fairfield Hotel |
| 9:00AM: |
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| 10:00AM | "Counsel, the Commission, & the Builder’s Remedy" |
| 10:30AM | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 AM | Data Center considerations, presented by Melanie McCavour. |
| 11:40AM | Gentle movement, stretching and breathing exercises for modern living and stress management with Kathleen Sheridan. |
| 12:15PM | lunch catered in by the Farmhouse Cafe |
| 1:30PM | Panel discussion on balancing housing, agriculture, and development Jessica Wohlander, Green Foothills; Kollin Kosmicki, San Benito Dist 2 Supervisor; Phil Foster, Pinnacle Farms |
| 2:30PM | Afternoon Break |
| 3:00PM | Melanie McCavour presents on CEQA update |
Saturday Oct 24:
| 7:00AM - 9:00AM |
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| Morning Tour | The Nyland Ranch: a 540 acre holding of the Trust for Public Land, in conjunction with the San Benito Agricultural Land Trust, the Amah Mutsun Land Trust and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. This area has been saved from potential development and is available for agriculture, environmental preservation, and as a cultural history resource. Tour Hosts: |
| Lunch | ...at Jardines de San Juan, in San Juan Bautista |
| Afternoon Tour | Graniterock's A.R. Wilson Quarry in Aromas, named after Arthur R. Wilson, who founded the Graniterock Company in 1900. One of the world's largest mobile rock crushers is located in its main pit, at an elevation more than 100 feet below sea level. Interestingly, the granite vein being mined lies directly along the San Andreas Fault.
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| 5:30 - 5:50 PM | Attendees Return to hotel, then once again board the bus for Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort. |
| 6:00 - 9:00 PM | Farewell gala dinner at the Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort.
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