Porterville planners review 8‑unit affordable housing proposal at 939 Tomah Avenue under SP 330 rules

An affordable multifamily proposal for 939 Tomah Avenue drew discussion at the March 5 Project Review Committee, where city staff reviewed development standards for an eight-unit project the applicant said would include four very-low-income units and four low-income units under an SP 330 submittal pursuant to the Housing Crisis Act of 2019.

Planning staff said the project will be evaluated as high-density residential and noted standard requirements for setbacks, lot coverage, private open space, landscaping (Porterville Development Code Section 303) and fencing (Section 300.03). Oscar Cepeda, chairperson and associate planner, said the applicant may pursue bonus density incentives and concessions under Government Code Section 65915 if they seek them.

The nut graf: The proposal is eligible for state-prescribed affordable-housing streamlining (SP 330), but staff said it must still meet city development standards for parking, access, utilities and public-safety systems. Those technical items will determine whether the concept as presented can be finalized without design changes.

Parking and circulation were central issues. Planning staff explained that two parking stalls are required per two‑bedroom unit, with one stall covered and designated to the unit; guest parking is required at one stall for every five units. The applicant and engineering staff discussed driveway placement and vehicle maneuvering on Porter Road; Javier Sanchez, engineering and project-management director, suggested a shared drive or modified driveway geometry, and staff discussed adding a landscaped parkstrip and setback sidewalk per current right-of-way standards.

Fire and building staff discussed required systems. Clayton Dignam, fire marshal, said the six-unit grouping would require a 13R sprinkler system and that a fire-department connection must be within 50 feet of a functioning hydrant on the same side of the street; duplex units would be addressed with 13D systems as applicable. Public-works field services confirmed a three‑stream refuse enclosure will be required for the multifamily use. Parks staff asked about maintenance responsibility for landscaped areas; the applicant said the landlord would maintain landscaping and planned low-water desert planting.

The applicant expressed flexibility on unit count, layout and access to meet city requirements. Jeff Ponillo, city planner, and other staff noted that the proposed project does not require a rezone or general-plan amendment for the parcel; the applicant separately asked staff to consider a future blockwide rezoning that would align zoning with surrounding high-density residential areas, but staff said that would be a separate process.

Staff said they will compile written comments and send them to the applicant in about two weeks. No formal action or vote was recorded at the meeting.

Less critical details: the applicant described the site as prominent from Highway 65 and noted an effort to replace an "eyesore" property with affordable housing; staff reviewed sewer access from Tomah Avenue and how right-of-way standards could affect frontage improvements.