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Planners tentatively deny Porterville-area mechanic-shop permit over zoning and groundwater concerns
Summary
The Tulare County Planning Commission voted 7-0 on July 8 to tentatively deny special use permit PSP26-001 for a proposed 2,500 sq ft agricultural service (mechanic) shop after staff and neighbors raised evidence of an active auto-repair operation, many vehicles on-site, and potential drainage to local waterways. The case will return August 12 for further findings.
The Tulare County Planning Commission on July 8 tentatively denied special use permit PSP26-001, a proposed agricultural service establishment (a 2,500-square-foot mechanic and repair shop near Porterville), citing staff concerns that the site currently functions as an auto-repair operation rather than an ag-related service. The vote to tentatively deny and return the item to the commission for a date-certain August 12 report was 7-0.
Oscar Zepeda, project planner for the county, presented the application for a property at 7959 Road 238 (APN 243430019) near Porterville. He said the site is in the AE20 zone and that the project would be allowable with a special use permit if consistent with county rules.
An adjacent property owner, Matthew Hammer, urged denial and submitted photos. Hammer said he had observed more than 40 nonresident vehicles at the site over several months, several travel trailers hooked to utilities, an unpermitted approximately 1,600-square-foot structure and possible unpermitted drainage into the Pioneer Ditch. "Where are the waste fluids from the cars currently going and what will be the downstream effects on my groundwater?" Hammer asked.
Hector Ramos, the county building official, recounted prior complaints and inspections for occupied travel trailers and possible junkyard conditions; his office had contacted a person on the property who indicated he was running an auto-repair shop. Ramos asked to review the photos Hammer supplied and to conduct a site visit to inventory vehicles and equipment.
Planning Director Aaron Bach told the commission staff has not observed ag-related heavy equipment and recommended a tentative denial to allow code and enforcement staff to inspect and to avoid prematurely suspending active violation enforcement. "Staff would suggest that we tentatively deny this," he said.
Applicant representative Carlos Carrillo acknowledged past violations and said the new owner has been working to clean up the property; he estimated it would take one to two months to remove customer vehicles and come into compliance.
Commissioners and staff proposed a motion to tentatively deny PSP26-001 and return the item on August 12 with a report from code enforcement and building. The motion carried 7-0.
Next steps: code enforcement and building staff will review submitted photos, conduct site inspection(s) and report back at the August 12 meeting; the permit will not be approved pending those findings.
