The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Jan. 13 to approve a reimbursement agreement with Santa Lucia Ventures LLC that will cover county consultant costs associated with processing land‑use entitlements for the proposed Traver Ranch development in the town of Traver.

Developers Greg Querring and David Querring told the board the project is intended to be a comprehensive community rather than only a housing subdivision. "We came into this project with a view of not only just building homes, but actually improving the community," Greg Querring said as he described planned street, drainage and park improvements and a new or converted water system.

County staff said the reimbursement agreement will pay for outside review of the environmental impact report and infrastructure plans. "The reimbursement agreement helps retain Margaret Sahaghi to review the EIR," said Aaron Bach, assistant director for the Resource Management Agency. RMA staff said Inner West will review master infrastructure plans and that DTA has been retained for CFD and bond counsel work.

The developers outlined key elements: reconstruction of Merritt Drive with sidewalks, gutters and storm drains; a proposed roundabout with a grain‑silo feature at the town entrance; off‑street pathways; conversion of an agricultural well plus installation of an additional well; an 11–12‑acre parcel set aside for potential school expansion; roughly 10 acres of storm‑basin/recreation space; park areas and a wastewater treatment plant expansion. The developers said community financing tools under consideration include a community facilities district (CFD) and a community services district (CSD), and that outside approvals likely will include LAFCO (for the CSD), Caltrans (for the roundabout) and two regional water quality control board permits (water and sewer).

Board members described the project as significant for northern Tulare County and praised staff for prioritizing its review. Supervisor Pete Vanderpool asked for comparable examples; the developers pointed to large, recent Greenfield‑style projects in nearby counties as precedents. RMA staff told the board the developer is targeting a tight summer schedule for early permitting but projected about two years to reach the first bond issuance for infrastructure.

Supervisor Eddie Valero moved to approve the reimbursement agreement; Supervisor Dennis Townsend seconded the motion. The board voted 5-0 to pass the motion. No public comment was recorded on the item.

Next steps listed by staff include completion of a project description for the environmental review, preparation of the EIR and the development agreement process (general plan amendment, zone change and concurrent subdivision map) and coordination with outside agencies as the project advances.