Planning commission unanimously recommends rezoning Bernard property to allow second home

The Porterville Town Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday voted to recommend that the Town Council rezone a 5-acre parcel owned by Forrest and Susanna Bernard from agricultural (AG) to agricultural-residential (AR), a step the applicants said is needed so they can split the lot and build a second home.

The recommendation, made at the commission's regular meeting on June 25, follows a presentation from an agent for the Bernards describing the parcel and the applicants' plan. The commission moved and seconded the recommendation and then voted; the motion was recorded as carrying unanimously.

The commission heard from the Bernards' representative, who showed a county map and described the property as a 5-acre parcel at the southern end of the valley. The presenter said the parcel currently sits in an AG zone, which she said has a five-acre minimum, and that the AR (also referred to during the presentation as RA/AR) zone would allow smaller lots; she described the AR/RA zone as having a half-acre minimum. The presenter said the applicants intend to rezone first and then prepare a plat after obtaining a topographic survey and laying out two home sites to preserve privacy between the existing and new dwelling.

Commissioners asked for clarification about nearby parcels and zoning irregularities; one staff member (identified in the meeting as Chris) was asked to pull up the zoning map during the discussion. Speakers in the public portion raised questions about adjacent parcels and existing nonconforming splits in the area. No public opposition to the rezoning was recorded in the transcript.

The commission discussed the path forward: a zone-change recommendation to council, followed by a topographic survey and a subsequent plat application showing the two lots. The presenter said the applicants plan to follow topography so each residence has privacy and that a drone/flight will be used to capture topography for the plat. The presenter identified herself as associated with Iron Rock and said she was representing the Bernards.

A motion to recommend rezoning from AG to AR for Forrest and Susanna Bernard was made and seconded; the chair called for the vote and the motion carried unanimously. The commission recorded the action as a recommendation to the Town Council; final rezoning requires council approval and any subsequent plat/subdivision review.

The commission's action resolves the planning commission stage of the applicants' request. If the council accepts the recommendation, the applicants indicated they will return with a plat based on a topographic survey to show the proposed split and building sites.

Votes at a glance: The planning commission moved and seconded a recommendation that the Town Council rezone the Bernard parcel from agricultural (AG) to agricultural-residential (AR). The motion was recorded as unanimous; the transcript does not specify a numeric roll-call tally.

Sources and attribution: Direct quotes and attributions in this report come from the planning commission meeting transcript (June 25, 2025). The presenter representing the Bernards described parcel size, zoning comparisons, and the proposed sequencing of rezoning followed by plat/topography work. The meeting transcript names the applicants (Forrest and Susanna Bernard) and identifies the presenter (Shannon) and a staff member (Chris).