The Tulare County Planning Commission on Oct. 8 conditionally approved tentative parcel maps and applied California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions for three split requests, including PPM 25-032 and PPM 25-037.

Staff told commissioners that PPM 25-032 was found eligible for the CEQA "common-sense" exemption under Title 14, California Code of Regulations section 15061(b)(3) and recommended conditional approval, and the commission voted to approve the item. Later, staff said PPM 25-037 qualified for a Class 3 categorical exemption (construction or conversion of small structures) under Title 14, section 15303 and moved to conditionally approve that tentative parcel map as well.

The commission recorded PPM 25-027 on the agenda and referred to a common-sense exemption for that parcel split in the administrative record; the transcript records discussion and that the item was on the consent list but does not contain an explicit roll-call vote result for PPM 25-027.

Why it matters: Parcel maps change how land can be used or sold and can have downstream effects on development, infrastructure requirements and permitting. Applying CEQA exemptions lets the county move forward without a full environmental review when the law and guidelines permit it.

Details and votes: Staff described PPM 25-032 as qualifying for the common-sense CEQA exemption and asked the commission to conditionally approve the tentative map and waive the final map requirement. The transcript records: "Motion passed 5 yes, 0 abstains, 2 absences." For PPM 25-037, staff explained the use of the Class 3 exemption and the commission voted: "Motion passed 5 yes, 2 absences, 0 abstain." For PPM 25-027 the staff noted the administrative record includes the exemption determination; the transcript does not provide a recorded vote tally for that specific item (not specified).

What staff said: A staff presenter summarized the change in CEQA classifications for these items, saying the Class 3 exemption was being used for PPM 25-037 and the common-sense exemption for PPM 25-027 and PPM 25-032. The commission accepted those recommendations and took separate votes on each parcel map.

Next steps: Approved tentative parcel maps move forward under the conditions applied by the commission and county code. Where final maps or additional agency approvals are required, applicants must satisfy those requirements before recordation or building permits are issued.

Votes at a glance
PPM 25-032 — CEQA: common-sense exemption (Title 14, §15061(b)(3)); action: conditional approval and waiver of final map; vote recorded in transcript: 5–0 (2 absences).
PPM 25-037 — CEQA: Class 3 categorical exemption (Title 14, §15303); action: conditional approval of tentative parcel map; vote recorded in transcript: 5–0 (2 absences).
PPM 25-027 — CEQA: common-sense exemption noted in administrative record; action: on consent list and discussed; vote not specified in transcript.

Ending: The commission moved on to subsequent public hearings after taking separate votes on the parcel map items.