Meeting
TULARE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Board of Supervisors Chambers
2800 W. Burrel Avenue
Visalia, CA 93291
NOTE: Information concerning the following agenda items is available for public consideration during normal working hours at the Resource Management Agency, Permit Center, 5961 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, California. The staff will assist in answering questions. For further information about the Planning Commission see last page.

All public hearings are scheduled for certain times, or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard. All non-timed items will be considered following the public hearings or when time permits.
Persons wishing to speak on any of the agenda items who have made a political contribution of more than $250 to any commissioner in the last twelve months must indicate this when speaking.

As a courtesy to those in attendance, please turn off or place in alert mode all cell phones and pagers.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Resource Management Agency at (559) 624-7000

 
 
AGENDA
June 26, 2024

9:00 AM Planning Commission Convenes

 
Note
Information concerning the following agenda items is available for public consideration during normal working hours at the Resource Management Agency, Permit Center, 5961 S.  Mooney Blvd., Visalia, California.   The staff will assist in answering questions.  For further information about the Planning Commission see the last page.

All public hearings are scheduled for certain times, or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard.  All non-timed items will be considered following the public hearings or when time permits.

Persons wishing to speak on any of the agenda items who have made a political contribution of more than $250 to any Commissioner in the last twelve months must indicate this when speaking.

 As a courtesy to those in attendance, please turn off or place in alert mode all cell phones and pagers.

 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Resource Management Agency at (559) 624-7000.

DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS: Pursuant to Government Code section 84308, members of the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors are disqualified and not able to participate in any agenda item involving contracts (other than competitively bid, labor, or personal employment contracts), franchises, discretionary land use permits and other entitlements if the Commissioner or Supervisor received more than $250 in campaign contributions from the applicant or contractor, anyone who acted as an agent of the applicant or contractor, or any financially interested participant who actively supports or opposes the County’s decision on the agenda item since January 1, 2023. Members of the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors who have received, and applicants, contractors or their agents who have made, campaign contributions totaling more than $250 to a commissioner since January 1, 2023, are required to disclose that fact for the official record of the subject proceeding. Disclosures must include the amount of the campaign contribution and identify the recipient Commissioner or Supervisor and may be made either in writing to the Planning Commissioner Secretary or Clerk of the Board, prior to the subject hearing or by verbal disclosure at the time of the hearing. The foregoing statements do not constitute legal advice, and parties and participants are urged to consult with their own legal counsel regarding the requirements of the law.
1.
ROLL CALL
 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2.
PUBLIC COMMENT At this time, members of the public may comment on any item not appearing on the agenda that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Planning Commission.  Under state law, matters presented under this item cannot be discussed or acted upon by the Planning Commission at this time.  For items appearing on the agenda, the public will be invited to make comments at the time the item comes up for Planning Commission consideration.  So that all interested parties have an opportunity to speak, any person addressing the Planning Commission may be limited at the discretion of the Chair.  (NOTE:  In order to be considered by the Planning Commission, testimony on Public Hearing items must be given at the time scheduled for the public hearing.)  At all times, please use the microphone and state your name and address for the record.
 
3.
PARCEL MAP PUBLIC HEARINGS – Action on all Parcel Maps in this section of the agenda will be heard in one public hearing, unless anyone wishing to discuss any one of these items requests that it be pulled for a separate public hearing. NO STAFF PRESENTATION WILL BE GIVEN ON ANY ITEM UNLESS REQUESTED. In any case there will be a separate vote on these items.
 
(A)
Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 24-014
Pedro Ruano / California Land Surveying
 
Categorical Exemption for Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 24-014 to allow the division of a 14.17-acres parcel into three (3) parcels; Parcel 1 = 9.44-acre, Parcel 2 = 2.31-acre, and Parcel 3 = 2.31-acre in the R-A-M-12.5 (Rural Residential with Mobile Home Overlay-minimum 12,500 sq. ft.) Zone. The site is located on Avenue 32, approximately 310 feet West of Road 84, within Allensworth Hamlet Development Boundaries (APN 333-340-002). Contact: Nebeyu Menkir at (559) 624-7000 or email at [email protected] (ONE MOTION)

Approve: Categorical Exemption consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines pursuant to Title 14, Cal. Code Regulations, Section 15061(b)(3), pertaining to the Common Sense Rule; and conditionally approve Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 24-014, with a final map.

 
4.
PUBLIC HEARING -To members of the public who wish to participate, you may do so at the time the public comment portion of the hearing is opened. At this time, please state your name and address for the record in order for it to be heard by everyone in the room. Your statements will go out on the live audio stream and will be included in the audio recording of the hearing. The timer will be set to 3 minutes, so please adhere to this time limit.
 
(A)
 Special Use Permit No. PSP 23-130
      Sam Simoes

Categorical Exemption for Special Use Permit No. PSP 23-130 requests to allow an existing milking barn at a dairy (that is ceasing operations as a dairy) to be converted into a custom slaughterhouse for swine in the AE-40 (Exclusive Agricultural – 40 Acre Minimum) Zone. The site is located at 13415 Road 136, Tipton, CA (APN: 300-050-024). Contact: Sandy Roper at (559) 624-7000 or email at [email protected]. (ONE MOTION)

Approve: Categorical Exemption, consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines pursuant to Title 14, Cal. Code Regulations, Section 15303, Class 3, pertaining to New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, and conditionally approve Special Use Permit No. PSP 23-130.

 
(B)
Zone Variance No. PZV 24-029 & Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 24-006
LK Ranches, a California General Partnership / 4-Creeks Inc.
 
Categorical Exemption for Zone Variance PZV 24-029 & Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 24-006 to divide one parcel containing 99.77 acres into two parcels: Parcel 1 = 7.95± acres and Parcel 2 = 91.47 acres in the AE-40 (Exclusive Agricultural – 40 acres minimum) Zone. The site is located on the east side of Road 52, approximately 1,300 feet north of Avenue 280 (Caldwell Avenue), west of Visalia. Contact: Nebeyu Menkir at (559) 624-7000 or email at [email protected] (TWO MOTIONS)

Approve: Categorical Exemption consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines pursuant to Title 14, Cal. Code Regulations Section 15301, class 1, pertaining to existing facilities; and conditionally approve Zone Variance No. PZV 24-029.

Approve: Categorical Exemption consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the State CEQA Guidelines pursuant to Title 14, Cal. Code Regulations Section 15061 (b) (3) pertaining to the Commonsense Rule; and conditionally approve Tentative Parcel Map No. PPM 24-006 and waiver of the final map.

 
(C)
General Plan Amendment No. GPA 24-004
Tulare County Board of Supervisors
 
General Plan Amendment No. GPA 24-004 Administrative amendment to the Health and Safety Element to Incorporate by Reference the 2023 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. Contact: Susan Simon at (559) 624-7000 or email at [email protected] (TWO MOTIONS)

Approve: Recommend that the Board of Supervisors find that the proposed General Plan Amendment GPA 24-004 to the 2030 General Plan Health and Safety Element update is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Title 14 California Code of Regulations (CCR), Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies) and pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines “general rule.”

Approve: Recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve an administrative amendment General Plan Amendment No. GPA 24-004 to incorporate by Reference the 2023 Tulare County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into the 2030 Tulare County General Plan Health and Safety Element of the General Plan.          

 
5.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
 
6.
PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION ITEMS AND REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS – NO ACTION OTHER THAN DISCUSSION AND REFERRAL TO A FUTURE MEETING
 
ADJOURNMENT: Adjourn the meeting of the Tulare County Planning Commission to reconvene on July 10, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., at the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 2800 West Burrel Avenue, Visalia, California.

 

TULARE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION AND AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION
 
COMMISSIONERS     COMMUNITY RESIDENCE
       
Carlos Aleman, Commissioner (Vice Chair)     Exeter – District 1
Gil Aguilar, Commissioner      Tulare – District 2
Bill Whitlatch, Commissioner     Visalia- District 3
Wayne O. Millies, Commissioner (Chair)     At Large
Christopher Launer, Commissioner     Dinuba- District 4
Ed Dias, Commissioner     Visalia- At Large
Terren Brown, Commissioner     Porterville- District 5
Dennis Lehman, Commissioner     Visalia – At Large Alternate
Bill Whitlatch,  - ALUC only (Chair)     Visalia
Matthew Stoll - ALUC only (Vice Chair)     Visalia
 

TULARE COUNTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY

SENIOR STAFF   OFFICE
     
Reed Schenke, RMA Director    Tulare County
Michael Washam, Associate RMA Director   Resource Management Agency
Sherman Dix, Assistant RMA Director - Fiscal Services   5961 S. Mooney Boulevard
Aaron Bock, Assistant Director, Economic Development & Planning   Visalia, CA 93277-93277
Vacant - Public Works   (559) 624-7000
Jason Garcia-LoBue - Planning and Permit Manager   Violation Line 624-7060
Gary Mills, Chief Planner, Environmental Planning   Zone Line 624-7105
Sandy Roper, Chief Planner, Special Projects    
Hector Ramos, Building and Housing Manager    
     
 
 

PROCEDURE FOR CONDUCT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS BY THE TULARE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION*

  1. Open for public hearing.
  2. Presentation of factual staff report and environmental finding.
  3. Public testimony -- proponent's presentation
  4. Public testimony -- opposition's presentation
NOTE:   To avoid cumulative and repetitious testimony, the Chair may restrict testimony or place time limits on presentations. Testimony and evidence must be germane to the topic of the hearing.
   
  1. Summation and/or rebuttal by applicant (at the discretion of the Chair, usually limited to five minutes.)
  2. Summation and/or rebuttal by opposition (at the discretion of the Chair, usually limited to five minutes.)
  3. Staff recommendation including reasons or criteria for choice.
  4. Close of public testimony phase of the hearing -- no additional testimony is taken following the staff recommendation unless rebuttal is specifically requested and such request is granted by the Chair.
  5. Discussion and decision by the Planning Commission -- final decision shall include reference to applicable criteria or ordinance bearing influence on the decision.
  6. Notification of date for Board of Supervisors' action (if applicable) and rights of appeal.
  7. Close of public hearing -- no further action is to be taken on the matter before the Commission. Any public hearing may be continued from time to time.

NOTE: Planning Commission actions are advisory for all General Plan Amendments, Zone Changes, Planned Unit Developments, and all subdivisions located outside urban areas. Such matters require final action by the Board of Supervisors. All Planning Commission actions are final on Special Use Permits, Zone Variances, Setback Variances, and Subdivisions within urban areas unless appealed to the Board of Supervisors. All Planning Commission actions on any of the above matters may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors. Any appeal must be filed in writing with the Board of Supervisors within 10 days and an appeals fee is required. *(As Amended by Planning Commission Resolution Nos. 4931 and 7392)