Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Capacity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning director warns of sewer capacity limits; Goshen study, permit activity discussed
Summary
Tulare County planning director reported building permits down about 10% this fiscal year, noted steady valuation due to larger projects, and described sewer force‑main and pump-station capacity constraints that are affecting developments such as Goshen.
Tulare County Planning Director Aaron Bach gave the commission a director's report July 9 with updates on permitting, valuation and sewer capacity issues affecting local subdivisions.
Bach said building permits were down roughly 10% compared with typical volumes, but overall valuation for the fiscal year remained steady because larger projects — notably solar installations — have offset lower permit counts. "Building permits are probably about 10% down," he told commissioners.
On sewer capacity, Bach described physical limitations at a regional force main and pump station. He said the main trunk line has substantial theoretical capacity ("probably double" cited in the meeting), but the pump station’s practical limit is around 500,000 gallons per day; typical daily flows hover near 350,000 to 380,000 gallons and peaks sometimes exceed 500,000. Bach said these constraints have led to moratoria on will‑serve letters in some communities and will affect future subdivisions until capacity improvements are funded and constructed.
Bach said staff is pursuing wastewater capacity studies and possible funding to expand service for communities such as Goshen and that the county will present an update to the Board of Supervisors. He noted the high cost of infrastructure improvements and said federal funding shortfalls make rapid fixes difficult.
The director also summarized economic development outreach and tourism metrics and said the county is coordinating with smaller cities to support housing and development initiatives. Bach told commissioners staff will return with more detail on sewer capacity and community studies as they become available.
