Before you Begin
The Betabel Project is a proposed project along Highway 101 and Betabel Road in San Benito County.
The initial project would have been a roadside attraction that included a visitor’s center in the shape of a watering can, a restaurant, fruit stand, market, motel, gas station, outdoor event center, outdoor movie screen, outdoor pool, and trail network.
The land was a former junkyard and was purchased by the McDowell family trust to honor their late son who passed of brain cancer. The property would have seen profits donated to pediatric cancer research according to the Betabel Project Website.
The initial project did not include housing but faced legal challenges.
The Builder’s Remedy Project
In late June, the project pivoted to add a residential builder’s remedy project. The new project includes 280 housing units in the form of multi-family apartments with 57 of them being affordable. 45 of those would be dedicated to low income renters while 12 additional would be dedicated to very low income renters.
The projects affordability unit rate is at 20%. Builder’s remedy projects do not have to follow local zoning regulations and are a consequence of an out of compliance housing element.
In addition to the housing project a 3,626 square foot community room and 685 parking spaces would be built. The project would be supported by septic and existing water wells on the property.
It is unclear from the plans what if any of the initial project will remain. This post will be updated once we learn more.
The San Benito Blueprint 
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