Commission continues Orchard Road subdivision to March 19 after easement concerns

The San Benito County Planning Commission continued, to its March 19 regular meeting, consideration of tentative map PLN 240042, which would divide a 28.57-acre parcel at 1401 Orchard Road into three parcels of approximately 5 acres, 5 acres and 18.41 acres with small road dedications.

Associate Planner Jonathan Levis said the project proposes no construction and that the current zoning and general plan would allow similar uses without the subdivision. Levis also told the commission that the proposal qualified for CEQA exemptions, citing Guideline 15061 and categorical exemptions 15301 and 15304 because the project involves minor alterations and no significant ground disturbance.

Applicant representative Anne Hall said the subdivision was largely an estate planning action to separate existing homes from farmland. Hall asked for Condition 27 (undergrounding utilities) to be waived in the rural setting and for Condition 24 (road improvements) to be deferred until further subdivision or development.

Commissioners and staff focused discussion on the location of access easements to the back agricultural parcel. One commissioner observed that existing easements along the parcel edges could expose neighboring homes to future traffic if the agricultural land were later subdivided. Commissioners and the applicant’s representative discussed relocating an access easement toward the middle of the parcel or otherwise altering its alignment to reduce future impacts to adjacent homeowners.

No public comments were received in person or by Zoom on the item. After discussion the commission voted 5-0 to continue PLN 240042 to the March 19 regular meeting so staff and the applicant could prepare a revised map showing the proposed easement alignment or other changes for review.

Action at a glance: item continued to March 19, vote 5-0. Any final decision on the tentative map will be made at the continued hearing.