Tulare planning commission approves two stationary mobile vending permits

The Tulare Planning Commission on Oct. 13 approved two conditional use permits allowing stationary mobile vending vehicles at separate downtown sites, each subject to the findings and conditions in staff reports and identified CEQA exemptions.

Planning staff presented item 6.1, a request by Marco Tapia to operate a stationary mobile vending vehicle at 1109 West Avenue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Staff said the vending unit contains refrigeration and cooking appliances, customers will have access to restrooms located in an on-site mechanic shop during the shop’s business hours, and the project is in a service-commercial zone and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under section 15304(e). Staff recommended approval. “Staff recommends approval of CP 2025-17 subject to the recommended conditions of approval provided in your staff report,” planning staff said (presentation, SEG 143–146).

Commissioners questioned whether the city caps the number of mobile vendors. Planning staff replied the city’s ordinance does not set a numeric cap but requires vendors be at least 300 feet apart from each other and from certain alcohol-serving locations; changing that approach would require an amendment to the zoning ordinance. “We don’t have a cap. We just have a distance requirement, which is 300 feet from each other,” planning staff said (SEG 181–183, SEG 190–196).

A motion to approve CP 2025-17, subject to the findings and conditions in resolution 5528, was moved and seconded. Vice Chair Miller, Commissioner Guerrero, Commissioner Henard and Chair Miguel each voted “Aye” and the motion passed (SEG 299–314).

The commission then considered item 6.2, a request by Miguel Perez to operate a stationary mobile vending vehicle at 525 West Avenue from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. Staff noted the applicant had previously been approved at a different location (CP 2023-17), described the site zoning and operations, and again cited CEQA section 15304(e) as the basis for an exemption. Staff recommended approval (SEG 315–336). “The proposed site is zone C4 service commercial and the project is exempt pursuant to section 15304(e) of the California Environmental Quality Act,” planning staff stated (SEG 331–333).

Commissioners asked whether the truck serves full meals and whether relocation or traffic had caused problems at prior locations. Staff said the truck will serve full Mexican food for the 525 West Avenue location and that they take care to site trucks away from drive approaches and pumps to avoid traffic interference; staff reported no known traffic issues at the proposed location (SEG 350–351, SEG 371–379).

A motion to approve CP 2025-18, subject to findings and conditions in resolution 5529, passed on voice/roll-call with the same four commissioners voting in the affirmative (SEG 465–481).

Commissioners and staff also discussed how some mobile vendors have later opened brick-and-mortar businesses locally. Planning staff noted one vendor uses a built-in mill to grind corn and sell freshly made tortillas from the truck, a detail commissioners said helps explain shorter operating hours for that vendor (SEG 285–291, SEG 423–431).

The meeting’s consent calendar was approved at the outset, staff offered brief announcements about downtown Tulare events on Oct. 30, and the commission adjourned.

What happens next: both permits were approved subject to the conditions listed in the staff reports (resolutions 5528 and 5529); any future change to distance provisions or a numerical cap on mobile vendors would require an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance.