Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Annexation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission recommends certification of mitigated negative declaration and forwards annexation, rezone and subdivision to City Council
Summary
The Hanford Planning Commission unanimously recommended certification of Mitigated Negative Declaration #2025‑73 and forwarded Annexation #165, General Plan Amendment #9‑24, Rezoning #13‑24, Tentative Map #12‑24 and Plan Unit Development #037‑24 to the City Council for final action.
The Hanford City Planning Commission on Nov. 25 voted unanimously to recommend certification of Mitigated Negative Declaration #2025‑73 and to forward a package of applications for a large residential and commercial development — including Annexation #165, General Plan Amendment #9‑24, Rezoning #13‑24, Tentative Subdivision Map #12‑24 and Plan Unit Development #037‑24 — to the City Council for consideration.
Staff opened the continued public hearing on the multi‑part application (a continuation of an Oct. 16 meeting) and summarized changes made after the city attorney raised concerns about the environmental document. Staff said the updated initial study adds an agricultural‑conversion analysis referencing the 2002 General Plan Environmental Impact Report and expands the vehicle‑miles‑traveled (VMT) analysis. Staff also removed a previously conceptual gas station from the tentative map and amended conditions to restrict the commercial portion of the site to less than 55,000 square feet to limit VMT impacts and keep the project within screening thresholds.
On access and public‑safety questions, staff told commissioners that the fire department reviews projects and requires at least two points of access and egress for residential developments. Staff recommended the Planning Commission certify the mitigated negative declaration under the CEQA guidelines and forward the item to council.
Developer representative Brig Nunnley addressed the commission in support, thanked staff and the project team for resolving issues, and introduced the landowner and consultants available to answer follow‑up questions.
On motions, the commission moved to recommend certification of MND #2025‑73 and then adopted a sequence of resolutions recommending approval of the annexation, general plan amendment, rezoning, tentative subdivision map and plan unit development to the City Council. The commission’s actions include a recommendation that Annexation #165 proceed to the Kings County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for processing. All motions passed on unanimous roll‑call votes.
Next steps: the City Council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendations and the environmental finding; annexation requires LAFCO action as a separate administrative step.
