Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Vttm 7427 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commissioners approve 77‑lot Bakersfield subdivision after debate over mature trees
Summary
The Planning Commission voted to adopt a mitigated negative declaration and approve vesting tentative tract map 7427, allowing 77 single‑family lots on 21.54 acres. Conservationists urged preserving a strand of trees; staff and the applicant said biological studies show the vegetation resulted from altered drainage and is not a protected riparian habitat.
The City of Bakersfield Planning Commission approved a mitigated negative declaration under CEQA and authorized vesting tentative tract map (VTTM) 7427 on July 16, clearing the way for a 77‑lot single‑family subdivision on about 21.5 acres near Chase Avenue and Daytona Drive.
Staff presented the project as consistent with the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan and zoning and said mitigation measures address air quality, biological, cultural and traffic impacts. Veronica Martinez, an associate planner with the city's Development Services Department, told commissioners that an initial study and subsequent supplemental reports concluded "there would be no significant environmental impacts" with mitigation and that the project meets city development standards.
The applicant, Scott Quintana of LAV Pinnacle Engineering representing LaBerkshire LLC, said he and independent specialists conducted additional biological field investigations, drainage analyses and historical aerial review. "The vegetation on the site does not constitute a jurisdictional wetland or protected riparian habitat," Quintana said, adding those plants resulted from artificial drainage associated with surrounding urban development and that agency comments were addressed through the environmental review.
Sierra Club members urged the commission to preserve a contiguous strand of mature trees on the site. "It is still worth preserving as a woodland area," Karen Erso of the Sierra Club said, arguing the trees provide shade, habitat and local cooling benefits and asking the commission to consider alternatives such as incorporating the area into a sump or a protected easement.
The project's biologist, Steve Pruitt of Probiological, testified that while the trees are naturally occurring, they grew because development altered drainage flows and do not meet the Corps of Engineers’ tests for jurisdictional wetlands or a protected riparian forest. "It wasn't planted by anybody," Pruitt said, but he added that other factors — hydrology, soils and whether the vegetation’s presence is the result of introduced human activity — are what determine jurisdiction.
Commission debate focused on whether the commission’s earlier referral back to staff intended preservation of the trees or clarification of the riparian definition; commissioners expressed support for saving trees in principle while also acknowledging the biological findings and practical constraints of redesigning a previously approved map. Commissioner Brent Oliver estimated the strand might affect "at least 4 to 6 lots," and some members said redesigning the map would be economically and logistically prohibitive.
Commissioner Berrar moved to approve staff’s recommendation; Commissioner Brent Oliver seconded. The motion passed with Vice Chair Martin absent and Commissioners Strickland and Kader voting no. The record shows the commission approved VTTM 7427 subject to the conditions in the staff report.
Next steps: the project proceeds under the conditions attached to the tract map approval. The commission record notes that mitigation measures addressing air quality, biological resources and traffic must be implemented as described in staff materials.
