Porterville staff outline requirements and constraints for 95‑lot Blind Street subdivision in Hillside Overlay

Porterville’s Project Review Committee reviewed preliminary technical requirements for a proposed 95‑lot residential subdivision on two parcels totaling 19.33 acres between Scenic Drive and Lime Street, north of Mulberry Avenue.

Oscar Cepeda, chair of the Project Review Committee and an associate planner, said the site lies in the Hillside Overlay District and that a tentative subdivision map, environmental review and public hearing process will be required. Cepeda outlined upfront fees and noticing: a subdivision‑map fee of $3,004 was stated, a recurring fee described in the transcript as "$39 per month" (transcript wording), and a $26.50 fee for the city to prepare a mailing list for required hearing notices. The city requires at least 10 days’ advance notice for public hearings related to tentative‑map approval.

Staff reiterated that development on hillside properties triggers additional technical submittals. Javier Sanchez, Engineering and Project Management Director, said the Hillside Overlay density is calculated from a slope‑analysis map and that the maximum allowed density in that overlay is 2.4 units per acre at the most favorable slope band, with allowable density decreasing as slope increases (the regulation appears in Chapter 500 of the development ordinance, staff said). Sanchez noted the project currently proposes about 4.6 lots per acre and that an updated slope analysis could significantly change the number of allowable lots.

Sanchez and other departments identified infrastructure, frontage and grading needs. Water and sewer lines exist nearby but would require extension through the subdivision; frontage improvements along Lyman and Scenic Drive would be required. Fire personnel said hydrant spacing must be a maximum of 500 feet, the subdivision must maintain two points of entry and exit, the water system needs to be looped with more than one point of connection, and drive grades are limited by fire code: maximum 10% grade and a maximum 5% side slope where applicable.

Parks and recreation staff said subdivisions with 50 or more lots must provide parkland dedication and/or pay impact fees. Engineering staff gave the standard ratio discussed in the meeting as 0.0032 acres per unit; at 95 lots that computes to roughly 0.304 acre of parkland. Staff also said that parkland in such subdivisions would be maintained by the subdivision’s landscape and lighting district, with the maintenance costs paid through assessments on lot owners.

Other departmental comments were largely technical and will be compiled into a departmental comment letter. The city has on‑call environmental consultants available to prepare environmental documents, and submissions will be subject to associated environmental‑review fees. No formal action or approval was taken; staff provided preliminary requirements and advised the applicants on submittal steps and fees.