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Planning commission recommends five Tulare properties and aircraft as local historic landmarks
Summary
The commission recommended that the City Council designate the Tulare Veterans Memorial Building, the Hoyt House, a T‑29A Convair, a B‑17 bomber and an F‑4 Phantom jet as City of Tulare historic cultural landmarks; staff cited historical associations and exempt status under CEQA.
At its Dec. 8 meeting the Tulare Planning Commission recommended that the City Council designate five distinct properties and objects as City of Tulare historic cultural landmarks.
Planning staff presented nominations and recommended approval for: the Tulare Veterans Memorial Building at 1771 East Tulare Avenue (Resolution 5536); the Hoyt House at 237 North L Street (Resolution 5537); a T‑29A Convair trainer airplane on North L Street (Resolution 5538); a B‑17 bomber associated with Mefford Field and local veterans (Resolution 5539); and an F‑4 Phantom jet also at Mefford Field (Resolution 5540). Staff said each nomination met local criteria and found these actions CEQA‑exempt in the categories cited in staff reports.
Chris Harrell, representing the Historic Cultural Landmark Committee and speaking for several applicants, described renovation work on the Veterans Memorial Building and urged recognition, saying the applicants planned a public open house if the designation is approved. Harrell also spoke in support of the Hoyt House nomination and the aircraft nominations, calling the Convair and the B‑17 "one‑of‑a‑kind" local artifacts and noting the B‑17’s restoration and its connection to national history.
Commissioners raised questions about the program’s scope (local landmarks versus historic districts) and whether a designation remains with a building if ownership or location changes; staff explained local landmarks can be objects or buildings and that a local designation can remain in effect while recognizing that some features may be altered and that property owners generally must opt into the program.
Each resolution was moved, seconded and approved by roll call (Vice Chair Miller: Aye; Commissioner Henard: Aye; Chair Miguel: Aye) during the meeting; the commission recommended that the City Council add the five entries to the local register of historic cultural landmarks.
The nominations include a mix of buildings and historic objects tied to downtown redevelopment and Tulare’s military and cultural history. Staff and commissioners discussed future opportunities to add plaques, provide more interpretive material, and to consider how the airplanes might be incorporated into broader aviation‑heritage or museum planning at Mefford Field.
