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Another example provided is Opportunity Site #8 – Gilroy Gardens, specifi cally 35 acres along Hecker Pass Highway and zoned Highway Commercial. The EPS assessment recommended the addition of a mixed- use tourism village with an outdoor recreation focus and a combination of hotel, restaurants and retail. Development constraints listed: investment attraction to realize the Gilroy Gardens Conceptual Master Plan, and requirements for signifi cant infrastructure improvements. Other suggested place-based development opportunities included a Transportation Oriented District (TOD) village/gateway to the City’s downtown, a sports complex, a combination high- density residential/retail project, and more. What's Next According to Gilroy City Administrator, Gabe Gonzalez, the Gilroy Place-Based Economic Development Strategy will be presented to the General Plan Advisory- Committee (GPAC) as informational. No date is set yet but Gonzalez indicated it would likely be this spring. At that meeting, the City will present GPAC with the land analysis, providing them with an opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion of how it fits with GPAC work on the City of Gilroy’s 2040 General Plan. “We’ll invite recommendations to incorporate aspects of this place-based strategy into the 2040 General Plan. GPAC can then make recommendations to Gilroy City Council,” Gonzalez said. Gilroy City Council may then direct Gonzalez and his team to begin imple- menting specified aspects of the Gilroy Place-Based Economic Development Strategy. Some items may be scheduled for future meetings to give the Council a chance to discuss and activate specific recommendations from the report. “As we explore economic development opportunities, this is another tool that gives us a new and different lens through which to consider best uses for the land available within our existing Urban Growth Boundary,” Gonzalez said. Gilroyans have always had great pride in the place they call home. By being intentional about best-use development, the land-use decisions made now will benefit future generations and give them a reason to be even more proud. Source: All report data and images provided courtesy of Economic & Planning Systems, Inc., 400 Capitol Mall, 28th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. epsys.com. Stay informed about City of Gilroy Economic Development at cityofgilroy.org. GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN april/may 2019 gmhtoday.com 15