Planning commission backs Sherwood South subdivision, recommends MND and zoning change to council

The Tulare Planning Commission on March 10 recommended that the City Council approve the Sherwood South tentative subdivision map, related general plan amendment (2026‑01), zone amendment No. 771, and adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project.

Staff presentation described the proposal as a request by Summit Home Developer to subdivide roughly 59.3 acres at the northeast corner of Enterprise Street and Barsley Avenue into 209 single‑family lots and 19 multifamily parcels; the multifamily parcels are proposed as duplex sites (two duplexes per parcel for four units each). Staff said the applicant proposes changing about 7.2 acres from low‑density to medium‑density residential to align the land‑use designation with the proposed zoning and residential density. The project would provide standard public improvements including water, sewer, streets, curb and gutter, sidewalks, landscaping, a stormwater basin and a 2.76‑acre park on the east side of the subdivision.

Staff told the commission an initial study prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act proposed a Mitigated Negative Declaration; staff said mitigation measures are incorporated into a mitigation monitoring and reporting program and into the project conditions. A 30‑day public notice for discretionary approvals and for the notice of intent to adopt the MND was published on January 13, 2026; comment letters came from multiple state agencies and staff and the applicant prepared written responses that were included in the agenda packet.

During the hearing, the applicant’s consultant (Tracy Meyers of Four Creeks) spoke in support and said the project is intended to add housing choices and connectivity to downtown. Commissioner Jose Sagala praised the proposed park and asked whether the park design could include exercise equipment and whether the multifamily portion would include or target low‑income housing; staff and the applicant fielded those questions but no affordability requirement was presented during the hearing.

Commissioners also questioned lot sizes and placement of the multifamily parcels; staff clarified that although the R14 zone minimum lot size is 4,000 square feet, the applicant is proposing larger lots (about 5,000 sq ft) and that the 19 multifamily parcels would be sited together along the north edge of the subdivision with three cul‑de‑sacs proposed to serve the area and the primary access to Enterprise Street.

A commissioner moved that the commission recommend City Council approval of the general plan amendment (2026‑01), zone amendment No. 771 and adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, and also moved to approve the Sherwood South tentative subdivision map subject to the findings and conditions in resolution No. 5546; the motions were seconded and approved by voice vote (Vice Chair Limas: yes; Commissioner Ku: yes; Chair Miller: yes). The commission’s recommendations and the proposed MND will go to the City Council for final action.

The record includes staff’s recommendation, the draft MND and written responses to agency comments; the commission did not vote on any affordability conditions for the multifamily parcels. The next procedural step is the City Council hearing and final decision on the proposed amendments and map.