Planning commission approves final site plan to legalize two as-built residences at 4400 Avenue 308

The Tulare County Planning Commission on a 7-0 vote approved final site plan PSR25-004 for a property identified as 4400 Avenue 308, allowing the county to conditionally legalize two as-built residential units and resolve an outstanding code-compliance violation.

The planning staff presentation said the application would allow “an as built third and fourth residences” on a roughly 2.0‑acre parcel in the RA‑12.5 (rural residential, 12,500 square foot minimum) zone. Staff said the site contains two existing mobile homes, an as-built 1,100‑square‑foot residence with a carport, an as-built 450‑square‑foot residence, three storage buildings, three shade structures, a barn, a swimming pool, a domestic well and three septic systems. Project planner Jose Saenz, Resource Management Agency (RMA) special projects division, said approval of the final site plan and subsequent issuance of required building permits would resolve the code-compliance case.

Commissioner Gil Aguilar moved to find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Title 14, California Code of Regulations, section 15301 (Class 1, existing facilities) and to approve final site plan PSR25-004; the motion passed 7‑0. Commissioners present recorded as voting yes were Lonner, Mailis, Stoll, Bill Whitlatch, Lehman, Gil Aguilar and Chair Aleman.

During the public hearing, staff said a mailed public notice and a 10‑day comment period produced no written responses. When commissioners asked about storage contents, the applicant replied that the storage structures contained “just personal items” and “there’s no chemicals or hazardous stores,” and staff confirmed the residences must proceed through the standard building‑permit and inspection process before final occupancy or code resolution.

The staff report cited consistency with the Tulare County zoning ordinance and the county general plan. The county record shows the final site plan was filed in response to an unpermitted construction violation; approval of the plan does not replace the building‑permit process. The applicant must submit and obtain building permits and pass required inspections for the structures to be treated as permitted.

The commission closed the public comment period before voting. No conditions beyond standard permitting and code compliance were recorded in the meeting minutes.

Next steps: the applicant will be required to submit building permits and documentation to RMA and to complete inspections; the code‑compliance matter will be closed upon verification that permit and inspection requirements have been satisfied.