City staff flag fire‑safety, hydrant and code implications for proposed zero‑emission maintenance facility

Porterville staff on Sept. 10 reviewed plans for a proposed zero‑emission maintenance facility on the north side of Grand Avenue (APN 251‑350‑028) and flagged building‑code, fire‑protection, site‑layout and utility items to be resolved before permitting.

Planning said the project must meet minimum development standards including a six‑foot landscape buffer from the right of way and landscape planters spaced within parking runs; the code requires a compliant trash enclosure (Materials and gates per code section 300.13) and prohibits parking in front of required enclosures.

Engineering requested two street lights (one at each end of the property) and discussed frontage alignment options that could affect fence placement and turning radii for heavy vehicles. Water staff reiterated that all water services must be protected with backflow prevention devices.

Fire delivered the most technically consequential guidance: the department urged designers to consider higher hazard sprinkler calculations for locations that store, maintain or charge lithium‑ion battery vehicles, noting national recommendations and recent precedents to use an "extra hazard" classification rather than the lower ordinary‑hazard class. Fire also said commercial projects require hydrant spacing not greater than 300 feet and no structure shall be more than 400 feet from a hydrant; the fire department connection and required PIV should be at least 40 feet from the building and within 50 feet of a functioning hydrant.

Staff suggested locating FDCs and PIVs on the street outside fencing for clear engine access, and recommended coordinating turning‑radius needs for the vehicle fleet. Departments will send consolidated review comments to the applicant in about two to three weeks.