Porterville staff review SB 330 proposal for 27-unit multifamily at 1310 W. Olive; parking, utilities and potential CEQA exemption flagged

Porterville's Project Review Committee considered an SB 330 application, PRC 2025026, for two multifamily residential buildings totaling 27 units at 1310 West Olive Avenue. City staff reviewed site constraints, development standards and preliminary infrastructure concerns.

Oscar Cepeda, chairperson and associate planner, said the property is zoned Retail Center and that the proposed land division to separate the multifamily parcel would require both a tentative parcel map (tentative map fee $1,500) and a final map ($955) and a potential CEQA review. Cepeda said staff will evaluate whether the project qualifies for a CEQA exemption and will provide details in a written comment letter.

Jeff O'Neil, city planner, discussed CEQA review and the SB 330 process. O'Neil said of a possible exemption, "nothing is jumping out at me to say this can't be exempt," but added staff would examine consistency findings and other exemption criteria before making a determination. He also summarized the SB 330 affordability requirement discussed at the meeting, saying, "Just for the immediate discussion, it's 20% of the units sold or rented to lower income households," while noting that percentage and requirements vary with the level of affordability and that staff will include specifics in the letter.

Planning staff noted development standards for high-density residential districts, including a site-layout expectation that parking be located behind the building rather than between the building and the street. Cepeda said concessions or incentives for affordable-housing projects may be available. Staff also reminded the applicant of landscaping standards (section 303 of the Porterville Development Ordinance), minimum parking requirements (each unit must have at least one covered parking stall designated to the unit), requirement for a refuse enclosure and limits on sign area (one building-mounted sign and one monument sign not to exceed 32 square feet cumulative).

Javier Sanchez, engineering and project management director, flagged a potential conflict where a waterline appears to run under part of a proposed building footprint; he advised moving the building west or otherwise adjusting the site plan and said the project will need to connect to existing water and sewer lines at development. Sanchez also described frontage improvements, drive-approach widths (30 feet common; minimum two-way approach roughly 24 feet), and potential street lighting and landscaping adjustments.

Clayton Dignam, fire marshal, outlined standard fire requirements for multifamily projects: hydrant spacing no greater than 300 feet for multifamily residential applications; no structure shall be greater than 400 feet from a hydrant; fire hydrants used in fire-flow calculations must be on a looped system when two or more hydrants are required; fire sprinkler plans (NFPA 13R) and fire alarm monitoring will be required; and the fire-department connection must be within 50 feet of a hydrant and typically not closer than 40 feet to the building.

Staff said they will compile departmental comments and send a written letter to the applicant in about two weeks. Cepeda added that if the application does not proceed under SB 330, staff will provide information about possible zone-change or general-plan amendment paths because the project could not otherwise proceed under the current Retail Center zoning.

No formal action or vote occurred; staff provided preliminary guidance and will follow up in writing.