COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE - R. ESPINOSA

Hold a Public Hearing Regarding Acquisition of Real Property located on Buena Vista Road (APN 019-230-002-000) from Graniterock Company in the amount of $450,000 (minus a charitable contribution of $65,000 for a net price of $385,000) and approve the Real Property Purchase and Sale Agreement.  Said price is subject to an increase of $11,500 should Graniterock demolish the existing building on the Property prior to the close of escrow; approve budget adjustment/transfer in the amount of $396,500.00 (4/5 vote)

County of San Benito has been presented with the opportunity to buy certain real property from Graniterock Company described as APN 019-230-002-000 (on Buena Vista Road across the road from where Buena Vista Road makes a 90 degree turn towards the north) for $450,000 (minus a charitable contribution of $65,000 for a net price of $385,000; subject to an increase of $11,500 should Graniterock demolish the existing building on the Property prior to the close of escrow). 

The purchase of real property is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines (the “common sense exemption”), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, because the property to be acquired is open space land and there currently are no plans and no funding available to develop it, so any potential environmental impacts would be purely speculative at this time.  Environmental review will be conducted in the future, at such time as the County may consider plans to develop the property.

The CAO is requesting that the Board of Supervisors hold a public hearing, make the finding that purchase is exempt from CEQA, approve the real property purchase and sale agreement, and authorize the CAO to further negotiate and execute the real property purchase and sale agreement.

The CAO recommends that the Board of Supervisors do the following:

1.    Hold a public hearing on the proposed purchase;

2.   Make the finding that purchase of the subject property is exempt from CEQA pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines;

3.   Approve the real property purchase and sale agreement and authorize the CAO to execute the real property purchase and sale agreement and take all necessary actions during course of escrow;

4.   Approve Budget Transfer/Amendment in the amount of the purchase price as set forth above.

5.   Direct the RMA, Planning Division to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.