Planning director outlines county updates: municipal service reviews, standards, and SB2 funds used to modernize codes

Tulare County Planning Director Aaron Bach presented the Planning Commission with a director’s report outlining several county planning projects completed or in progress that use a mix of recording fees, SB2 (Local Early Action Planning) funds and other sources.

Bach said the county received approximately $500,000 in SB2/LEAP pass-through funds and used those and other monies to update municipal service reviews for special districts, modernize county improvement standards (including producing CAD-based standards), update zoning and subdivision standards for select communities, and support housing-element and hazard-mitigation updates. Bach said the municipal service reviews (which identify infrastructure capability and deficiencies) were last updated in 2011 for many communities and that the new reviews are being submitted to LAFCO for approval.

The director told commissioners the county also used funds to support partner cities such as Lindsay via pass-through arrangements, and that a compilation of updated county development standards, engineering improvement standards and online resources will make development review more efficient for applicants and staff. He said the county expects to be recognized by planning organizations for the work.

Commissioners voiced general support and described the updates as modernizing a system that in prior decades operated by informal practices. Bach said updated standards and municipal service reviews will help quantify infrastructure costs and clarify expectations for future subdivisions and commercial projects in unincorporated areas.

No action was required; the report was provided for information and planning commission awareness and follow-up on implementation steps.