Planning commission approves special-use permit for lifestyle treatment center near California Hot Springs

The Tulare County Planning Commission voted 7‑yes, 0‑no (1 absent) on Feb. 12 to conditionally approve Special Use Permit PSP24‑084, allowing a phased “lifestyle treatment center” and a Korean Seventh‑day Adventist church retreat at 43686 Tyler Creek Drive near California Hot Springs.

The project, described in a staff presentation by Russell Cashewa of the Tulare County Resource Management Agency’s project processing division, would initially convert two existing residences and a storage building to program uses, serve a staff of six and house up to 12 patients, and offer plant‑based meals, cooking classes, meditation and educational programming. Cashewa said programs could last from one week to up to a year and that further phases could add a medical clinic, church and an on‑site RV area for staff and patients only.

The commission’s approval included a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and conditions limiting use of land within a separate conservation easement. “Conditions of approval numbers 32 through 34 have been added that prohibit commercial activity and any structures from being built on the conservation easement,” Cashewa told the commission.

Courtney Barnes, director of land protection for Sequoia Riverlands Trust, told commissioners the Buckeyes Ranch conservation easement on portions of the property prohibits commercial uses and that the easement holder will work with the landowner and county to ensure construction does not encroach on conserved lands. “No commercial activities…that even includes walking on the property, hiking,” Barnes said, urging the commission and applicant to avoid impacts to the easement.

Commissioners pressed staff on the RV component. Cashewa said the RV area was presented by the applicant as a future phase; county staff noted that a mobile‑home or RV park would also require a separate process with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) if it were to become a regulated mobile‑home park. “There would be that added layer of governmental regulation…they’d have to go through HCD to have a mobile home park,” Cashewa said.

Commissioners discussed whether an RV area was necessary given the applicant’s representation that some staff live about 13 miles east of the site. One commissioner said 13 miles in mountain terrain is a long drive and that an on‑site option could be useful for patients and staff, noting that HCD review would be “an arduous process.”

No members of the public indicated written opposition during the noticed comment period; Cashewa said public notice was published in the Exeter Sun Gazette and mailed to nearby property owners with a comment period that closed Feb. 12. The applicant was not present at the hearing.

The motion as read on the record approved a categorical CEQA exemption pursuant to Title 14, California Code of Regulations (Class 3 new construction/conversion of small structures) and conditionally approved PSP24‑084. Commissioner Bill Whitlatch seconded the motion; the vote was 7 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.

Conditions added to the approval and discussion at the hearing made clear that construction or commercial activities that would encroach on the Buckeyes Ranch conservation easement are prohibited, and that any later conversion of an RV area into a regulated mobile‑home park would require separate state approvals.

The commission closed the public hearing after comments from Sequoia Riverlands Trust and moved to other agenda items. The project record includes APNs 325‑210‑053, 325‑210‑063 and 325‑210‑069 and site plans showing two existing residences, a barn and storage structures identified for phased reuse.