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Hampton Inn resubmittal: Porterville staff outline fees, planter and parking standards; conditional use permit required
Summary
City staff reviewed a resubmittal for a new Hampton Inn on South J Street and West Montgomery Avenue, advising that prior entitlements have expired, a conditional use permit is required, fees apply, and design adjustments will be needed for planters and pedestrian connectivity.
Porterville staff told the Project Review Committee that a resubmittal for a Hampton Inn hotel near the corner of South J Street and West Montgomery Avenue (APNs 269-050-056 and 061) will require a new conditional use permit and additional plan revisions because previous entitlements have expired.
“Ultimately, the project will require an approval of a conditional use permit for hotels,” Oscar Cepeda, chairperson and associate planner, said. Cepeda said the earlier entitlements issued in 2020–2021 have expired and the applicant must restart the discretionary process, which includes a public hearing before the City Council.
Planning staff provided a list of application fees and submittal requirements: a conditional use permit application fee of $1,164; an environmental assessment fee of $79 (staff said the city could determine a notice of exemption is appropriate); a noticing map and label preparation fee of $26.50 for a minimum 300-foot radius; and a $616 fee to process a lot line adjustment or lot merger if existing lot lines straddle the building footprint.
Planning also flagged site-design issues. The development code requires a landscape planter between every eight parking stalls, and planters must meet minimum interior dimensions of six feet; staff said the current drawing shows a half-diamond planter that does not meet the standard. The project’s parking is near the minimum required; staff noted the applicant could pursue a parking reduction request if needed. Staff recommended pedestrian connectivity between the hotel and adjacent restaurants and amenities.
“Yeah. We are aware it was approved with the half diamonds the last time,” Jeff O’Neil, City Planner, said, but he added the current code does not meet that previous layout and that staff will review past approvals to determine if there was a mechanism that allowed the earlier design.
During the meeting, architect John Frame of R.L. Davidson asked whether the planter dimension requirement changed since the previous approval. Staff replied the standard has not changed and confirmed the minimum interior planter dimension is six feet. Staff also confirmed that up to 10 percent of total parking may be proposed as compact stalls, and that compact-stall minimum dimensions are seven feet wide by 15 feet long if the applicant pursues that option.
Fire, building, public works and refuse staff said they had no new or unresolved comments beyond routine review items. Refuse staff confirmed that a triple-bin enclosure will be sufficient for the hotel site and discussed pickup logistics. Engineering staff said the project shows a shared drive approach and a pedestrian path from the sidewalk to the hotel entrance; engineering had no additional comments at that time.
No formal approvals were made at the PRC meeting; staff said a consolidated comment letter listing department reviews would be provided to the applicant within two to three weeks.
