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City staff outline code steps for 234 North Main occupancy change to instructional use
Summary
An occupancy change at 234 North Main Street from retail to instructional services was accepted as a permitted use; staff identified occupant-load, fire-safety, and permit requirements and said a PRC comment letter is coming in about two weeks.
Porterville staff reviewed an application to change occupancy at 234 North Main Street from retail sales to an instructional-services use and confirmed the use is permitted in the Downtown Retail/North zoning and the downtown overlay, subject to code and life-safety requirements.
Planning staff said the proposed instructional use is allowed in the DR-N zone and reminded the applicant that wall and window signage must meet downtown design guidelines and chapter 305 of the development code; window signs are permitted up to 50% of a window’s area and temporary signs (for example, a grand-opening banner) require a temporary-use permit and a $19.75 permit fee.
Fire staff said the building’s occupant load must be calculated and posted, that fire extinguishers must be placed so no travel distance exceeds 75 feet, and that a Knox box may be required depending on existing hardware. The building official said the building is sprinklered, which is beneficial to the applicant, but warned that if calculated occupant load exceeds 50 people the rear exit must swing outward with panic hardware and emergency lighting and exit signs will be required.
Engineering and public-works staff had no comments on the occupancy change. Police staff offered no comments.
Staff told the applicant that consolidated departmental comments will be mailed in about two weeks and that planning can sign off on the business license after each department’s requirements have been met and signed off.
