Porterville staff outline requirements for proposed four-lot parcel map on 1.4-acre site

Porterville planning staff and city departments on Dec. 4 reviewed a proposal by applicant Dylan Parzumab to subdivide a 1.4-acre property into four lots and a remainder, outlining required fees, design standards and public-safety improvements.

Oscar Cepeda, chairperson of the Project Review Committee and associate planner for the planning division, told Parzumab the project would need a tentative parcel map and an environmental determination, and listed the preliminary fees: a tentative parcel map fee of $1,500, an environmental filing fee payable to the Tulare County Clerk of $58, and an optional city mailer fee of $26.50 for required noticing. Cepeda said a final map fee of $955 would apply when the applicant files to finalize the subdivision.

The committee noted the remainder area shown on the map does not meet the city's development standards for lot width. "You're showing 45 feet, wide, which the code will require for that to be minimum 60 feet," Cepeda said, adding that other proposed lots appear to meet minimum standards and that any future development will be verified through the building permit process.

Javier Sanchez, engineering and project management director, said water and sewer exist on J Street and would be extended along the new street, and that because of the street length a turnaround for emergency and refuse vehicles would be required. "Turnaround will be required, and you'll have to either incorporate it as part of your design there on the last couple lots or look to see if a turnaround is possible on the adjacent neighboring property," Sanchez said. He also noted street-lighting and curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements along the property frontage would be required.

Clayton Dignam, fire marshal, said if the new street exceeds 50 feet from J Street it would require a turnaround meeting the fire code and a fire hydrant that meets required fire flow and separation from other hydrants. "Any other comments from fire would come in during the plan review process," he said.

Brianna Spry, field services superintendent for refuse, added a practical reminder: "My only comments would be just to make sure there's a turnaround for the trash trucks. That would be it."

Committee members told the applicant that if the proposed lot configuration does not meet the city's minimum lot-width standard the applicant may pursue a conditional-use permit and must satisfy findings for discretionary approval by the City Council; staff cautioned that a conditional-use process "doesn't guarantee the approval," but is the route to request a variance from standards.

Staff said the tentative parcel map would trigger a public hearing with notices mailed to properties within a 300-foot radius and that staff will compile the committee comments in a letter to the applicant to be mailed in about two weeks.

The committee did not take a formal action on the item during the meeting; staff provided preliminary comments and next steps for application submittal and environmental processing.