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Hollister council rescinds 2040 general plan after referendum, will revert to earlier plan
Summary
After petitioners submitted more than the required signatures, the Hollister City Council voted unanimously to rescind Resolution 2024-201 and suspend the 2040 general plan; the city will operate under the prior general plan while staff prepares next steps.
The Hollister City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to rescind Resolution 2024-201, the version of the city’s 2040 general plan adopted in December 2024, after county election officials verified that referendum backers had submitted sufficient valid signatures to force voter review.
The rescission returns the city to the previously adopted general plan while staff prepares options for a new or revised plan to present to the council. City Clerk Jennifer Woodward told the council that the county registrar had verified the petition signatures earlier in the meeting.
“Because there were enough valid signatures, the decision now is what the council wants to do next — rescind the resolution, put the rescission on a future ballot or call a special election,” Woodward said during the staff report. Council members discussed costs and timing before moving to rescind.
In a roll-call vote taken after nearly three hours of public comment, the council approved a motion to repeal Resolution 2024-201. Councilmember Resendiz made the motion to rescind; Councilmember Deanda seconded. The motion passed 5-0.
The repeal was the culmination of a months‑long citizen campaign. Public speakers during the meeting urged the council to respect the will of voters, citing Measure A (a slow‑growth ballot measure the public passed in November) and concerns about infrastructure, traffic on Highway 25 and loss of agricultural land. “I support the referendum,” Fallon Gregg, a local resident, told the council. “Voters are frustrated and angry that their votes and voices are being ignored.”
City staff said any changes adopted during the December 2024 update are suspended while the prior plan remains in effect. City Planning Manager Eva Kelly told the council the city will need direction about whether to open for new annexation or general plan amendment applications; staff recommended pausing new submissions until the council defines a path forward. The council directed staff to return with options for proceeding with a revised plan and asked that pending applications be considered individually as needed.
Mayor Stevens thanked public organizers and council members for their participation and said the city will move quickly to develop a plan that reflects community input. The repeal takes immediate effect; if the council later places a replacement plan before voters, costs and timing will vary by election option the council may select.
The council did not set a new timeline for a revised general plan at Tuesday’s meeting. Staff said costs for an early special election would be considerably higher than consolidating a measure with a regularly scheduled statewide or municipal election.
