Tulare County Planning Commission approves multiple special use permits, a zone variance and parcel map

The Tulare County Planning Commission on Wednesday approved six conditional special use permits, one zone variance and a tentative parcel map, each subject to standard conditions and project-specific requirements. All votes recorded were seven in favor, none opposed, with one commissioner absent.

The actions included: approval of Special Use Permit PSP21-045 requested by Dolores Uribe to allow a density bonus permitting nine residences across two adjacent 1.21-acre parcels in the Teviston Hamlet development boundary; PSP24-053 for a small-scale solid waste recycling operation behind Amigos Market (address corrected to 235 South Front Street); PSP24-054 to bring an existing contractor storage yard into compliance at 5818 West Caldwell Avenue; PSP24-062 to allow above-ground storage of flammable liquid in excess of 10,000 gallons (four 12,000-gallon tanks) at the southwest corner of Avenue 384 and Road 80; and related parcel/variance approvals (Zone Variance PZV24-068 and Tentative Parcel Map PPM24-047) to divide a 28.18-acre AE-20 property into a 1.16-acre parcel and a 27.02-acre parcel for a future family residence. Each item was approved with the environmental findings and conditions presented by staff.

The approvals were procedural and conditioned. Staff described factual site details, public notice and consultation efforts, and recommended findings and conditions of approval for each project. For PSP21-045, David Alexander, Planner III in the Resource Management Agency project processing division, summarized the request and history: “Before you now is special use permit number PSP21‑045… requested by Dolores Uribe for granting the density bonus, allowing 6 residences on a 1.21‑acre parcel and 3 residences on an adjacent 1.21‑acre parcel.” Alexander told commissioners the property had prior code‑enforcement actions and had participated in a project review committee; staff received three clarification calls and no opposition during the public comment period. Applicant representative Frank Gomez described the existing site conditions and corrective work, saying, “I believe 90% or 100% of the violations that were on there before… have corrected.” Gomez also told the commission the two parcels have a total of four septic tanks and roughly 15 bedrooms among the existing units and family members living on site.

For PSP24‑053 (Oscar Garcia), staff reported the proposed recycling operation would occupy a 1,500‑square‑foot area of a 15,000‑square‑foot parcel behind the Amigos mini‑mart, operate Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m.–1 p.m., employ two people and generate an estimated 28 trips per day; the staff report corrected the published address for the site from “2305” to 235 South Front Street. The commission approved the conditional permit after a motion by Commissioner Gil Aguilar and a second by Commissioner Bill Whitlatch.

For PSP24‑054 (Francisco Ochoa), Russell Kashiwa (project planner) said the site is used as a contractor storage yard for pool maintenance operations, employs nine people and currently operates weekdays with seasonal hour adjustments; the City of Visalia provided conditions limiting access to Caldwell Avenue and those conditions were added to the draft resolution. Applicant representative Jesus Gutierrez confirmed the owner accepts the conditions and estimated roughly 30 days to complete outstanding compliance items.

For PSP24‑062 (applicant represented by Harlan Westberg), the proposal includes four 12,000‑gallon above‑ground fuel tanks (48,000 gallons total capacity) to serve a mini‑market, fueling station, rest stop and accessory uses. Westberg described separation of diesel and gasoline fueling islands, a fenced storage yard, concrete pads and bollard protection, and on‑site fire suppression requirements including a rated fire water flow (reported in the staff presentation) and two 10,000‑gallon fire‑suppression water tanks. The applicant said development would proceed in phases, beginning with the fuel station and store and followed later by a fruit stand and rest‑area features.

The commission also approved Zone Variance PZV24‑068 and Tentative Parcel Map PPM24‑047 (Alfred Preseka, property owner) to create a 1.16‑acre parcel from a 28.18‑acre AE‑20 property. Staff said the variance request was justified by surrounding parcel sizes and prior home‑site divisions in the area; planning staff noted the site is outside mapped FEMA flood hazard zones for the parcel and that California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) mapping is used as a broad indicator for potential species‑of‑concern and does not confirm presence on site.

All project approvals were accompanied by their respective CEQA determinations as presented by staff: most actions relied on the common‑sense exemption under the State CEQA Guidelines (Title 14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15061(b)(3)); PSP24‑054 cited Class 1 (existing facilities) where applicable (Title 14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15301). Project files include additional, item‑specific conditions of approval and standard mitigation measures where required by consultations with County departments and, in one case, the City of Visalia.

At the end of the meeting, Planning Director Ehrbach announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) had signed off on Tulare County’s housing element after a multi‑year effort; staff said HCD sign‑off unlocks some state funding programs tied to an approved housing element. Ehrbach thanked staff (naming Russell Kashiwa) and said the county will return recommended housing‑element amendments to the Board of Supervisors for adoption.

Votes at a glance (each item approved 7–0, 1 absent): - PSP21‑045 (Dolores Uribe) — approved (conditional special use permit; CEQA common‑sense exemption) - PSP24‑053 (Oscar Garcia) — approved (conditional special use permit; address corrected to 235 S. Front St.) - PSP24‑054 (Francisco Ochoa) — approved (conditional special use permit; contractor storage yard; City of Visalia conditions applied) - PSP24‑062 (John Dolisinger applicant / Harlan Westberg agent) — approved (conditional special use permit; four 12,000‑gallon above‑ground fuel tanks) - PZV24‑068 / PPM24‑047 (Alfred Preseka) — approved (zone variance and tentative parcel map to create 1.16‑acre parcel)

The commission closed the meeting after the director’s report. Several items included follow‑up conditions (septic and well inspections, chemical storage limits, gate/access restrictions, and fire‑suppression requirements) that staff listed in the recorded resolutions and will verify as part of the project compliance process.

Ending: Copies of the staff reports, draft resolutions and the signed CEQA determinations are part of the public record for each project and are available through the Tulare County Resource Management Agency project processing division.