Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Oh.

No.

Good evening.

I'm calling the meeting of the Planning Commission for the City of Tulare for Tuesday, July 28th to order. The first item of business on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance that will be led by Commissioner Hinnert.

Please join me in saluting our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. The next item on our agenda is public comment just to remember members of the public wishing to comment on any item not appearing on the agenda may address the planning commission at this time. State law prevents the Commission from acting on any matter not on the agenda. However, your comments may be referred to staff for follow-up. This is also the time for the public to comment on items listed under the consent calendar or to request an item from the consent calendar be pulled for discussion purposes. Comments related to public hearing and general business items will be heard at the time those items are discussed. In fairness to all who wish to speak, public comment is limited to a total of 15 minutes, with each speaker allowed three minutes unless otherwise extended by the Commission. Please begin your comments by stating your name and city of residence. We will now take public comment. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to make a public comment about something not on the agenda? okay public comment is now closed next on our agenda is approval of the consent calendar what are you commissioners what are your desires i'll move to approve the consent calendar as presented i'll second It's been moved and seconded that the consent calendar be approved as presented. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? The motion is carried. We are now down to public hearing. Comments related to public hearing items are limited to three minutes per speaker for a maximum of 30 minutes per hour per item unless otherwise extended by the Commission. The first is conditional use permit number 2026-12 and Jonathan, is that you?

Yes.

Okay. All right, Jonathan.

Sorry, hold on one second. Thank you the item before user request by over. To establish a funeral home and memorial event facility inside an existing commercial building. The subject property is located at 246 East avenue on the Northwest corner artillery Avenue and M street. Oh, North L street. The proposed site is Zone C3 Service Commercial and General Plan Designation in Central Business District. The development of the funeral home requires approval of a conditional use permit. The facility will provide professional funeral services including arrangement, memorial planning, visitation and viewing services, memorial ceremonies, and other related functions. The building will also provide a refrigerated holding room There will be no crematory services provided on the site. The project will operate Monday through Friday with the following hours 7 a.m. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The project is exam presented section 15332 in film development of the California Environmental Quality Act. In conclusion, staff recommends approval of conditional use permit application number 2026-12 subject to the recommended conditions of approval provided in your staff report. This concludes my presentation. Staff is available to answer any further questions.

Thank you very much. I will now open the public hearing. Is there anyone that would like to speak in favor or opposed to this item? Okay, I'm seeing no 1 wishing to speak. I will close the public hearing.

Commissioners, I have a question for staff. This is the 1st time I've personally seen a funeral home come before planning commission. Is this coming before us? Because all funeral homes do, or is it just a function of being central business district?

Uh, yes, um, so funeral homes are required conditional use permit. Um, the other, you know, homes went through a similar process when they were established.

Okay, so there's no zone where it's just by right and it doesn't have to come. It's for all.

I believe C4 right under the new code. Yeah, that's right.

C4. Okay.

And this would be the base zone. So it's a central business designation. plus you but the the um base zone is c3 retail commercial so it does require the conditional use permit okay thank you anyone else

I just I have a quick it says in events as an event center or event as well. What what kind is it just going to be the funeral? Are they going to be hosting like the the receptions? Will it be set up for that interior?

I believe just typical funeral services that you see. Viewings, rosaries.

So if there's any gatherings or receptions associated with the funeral process, I don't know if we have a representative in the audience for the applicant that can provide more detail, but our understanding is there's memorial services and sometimes there's gatherings before or after that they may host. Oh, yes, please go ahead. Approach the microphone and just identify yourself and city of residence. Thank you.

My name is Chris Porfiri. I'm a resident of Kern County and I am representing Mr. Gridado at this at this juncture and I'm also a licensed funeral director with the state. And your question concerning memorial use?

Yes, the planning commissioner had a question about the types of events or gatherings that you'd have within the facility.

They would be traditional type of funeral services, memorial services, gatherings afterwards as well. Generally, families who don't have a religious allegiance or a church to go to would use funeral homes, chapel facilities to memorialize their loved one.

Right, but my question was more, would you, is it going to be set up to host like the receptions afterwards? Are you doing that as well?

If they would, if the family wishes to utilize any facilities that we would have to put on a reception afterwards, absolutely.

So does that require to staff anything different if they were going to be bringing in food and different things like that?

No. So their operational statement includes full services for a funeral home, which includes anything, like I said, related to memorializing the departed. And so there are a number of gatherings that sometimes occur depending on cultural sometimes religious right uh traditions which vary uh right across populations sometimes there's gatherings before the the main memorial event sometimes there's after um but it wouldn't be um like open to the and i'm asking now the the funeral director you get it wouldn't be open to the public right where you somebody could rent it out for receptions and have alcohol service that is correct no we would not allow that not at all

No, but I wasn't talking about printing it out. I mean, if you, if you have a family that comes in and they want to have the reception there, will you have. Space for that, and would that require you to also have a health permit as well? That was more my question.

Yeah, we wouldn't consider that a separate use, at least from staffs. It is certainly your purview within Planning Commission to add additional conditions if you feel they are necessary. Again, with the reminder that it's in keeping with the health and safety of the general population and consistent with the zoning code.

Thank you. I have a question. Looking at the diagram up here, where is Tulare Avenue on here? is it on the right side you see it on our map because i don't see um any street designation at least on on there and um clary avenue is on the south or the bottom portion of this site plan okay okay so Now, where the drive-through currently is right now, are you going to be converting that into the garage where you're going to keep your... That is correct. Okay.

That is correct. As you may see on the diagram there or in one of the others, the refrigeration unit and our prep area would be in that new area, which is enclosed.

I'm just kind of curious, what do you guys plan on doing with the existing vault?

Well, the existing vault certainly would come in handy with the storage of Korean banded remains from our other facilities that folks would be coming down to pick up. State regulations require that they be in a very secure area in the funeral establishment itself.

okay perfect okay thank you okay i have some questions also um have has anything been considered um or a study done about parking for people that will be attending services i noticed that i mean we do have a parking lot but it's not Necessarily that big if you have a large service, so would people attending services then be parking on the street?

Yes, so stuff's on stuff, review this. The site has its own off side off street parking. And then they are able to utilize curbside parking. It is in the downtown zone. So we have more flexible requirements for businesses in the downtown. And when it comes to parking, however, and staff believes. There's not an issue where there would not be sufficient parking for this business as well as others in the vicinity. However, it is certainly your commissions. within your ability if you disagree with staff and wish to have that reflected in your vote or in any conditions you wish to apply.

Okay. And then when exiting the facility in the cars and for the procession, you would be pulling out onto Tulare Avenue and would you be making a right on Tulare Avenue and then around to go to the cemetery or are you going, trying to make a left? on Tulare, or do you know?

Well, to tell you the truth, I do not know, but certainly wherever we need to go, left or right, or depending on the destination, certainly done very safely and within means.

Well, that's a very busy intersection. And with a facility being right on the corner, I'm thinking making a left out of there is not going to In fact, it is double-striped, is it not?

I believe it is.

Okay, so would the City then be in charge of or oversee a route, establishing a route to go to the Kern Street Cemetery?

No, we would just ask participants to follow the rules of the road, just like anyone when it was operating as a bank before. There was nothing keeping from people to try to make a left. It's ill-advised, but for the reasons that have been stated, but we would not impose any, modify the streetscape for this particular use.

and certainly we make aware uh make families aware that all traffic regulations and laws must be followed there's no such thing as a procession they are for the most part illegal without a recommended and recognized escorts so we don't do that yeah

I mean, you know, that whole Tullery Avenue is very busy. So in both directions. So having a large number of cars going down there, I know that there have been issues with, you know, coming out of churches, especially on the north, on the north side of town, coming out and going to the cemetery there on Kern can lead to traffic issues. And Um, I, I see that the business hours are what eight, eight to five. Is it during the, uh, yes. What are, what plans would you make for an evening service? Many Catholics have rosaries in the evening. So what?

Typically, typically what happens when, especially if we are making arrangements with, uh, uh, say a local Catholic parish, uh, and if they are providing an individual to come down and leave the rosary, um, typical visitation hours would be from 4 0 PM to 8 0 PM. And the, the rosary would normally start at about six. And if all five decades are being said, that's usually about 25, 30 minutes. And then the the visitation concludes at 8.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you.

I do have another, I do have a question in regard to piggyback on the traffic. Because of the amount of traffic coming in. That might impede traffic going East and, you know, East and West on there. Will there be police out there to. Monitor and ensure that. You know, the traffic stops for session again.

Yeah, this was reviewed by planning and engineering fire police. We did not feel there would be such concerns with the occasional services. I would remind the planning commission. We have another funeral home downtown. In fact, at 1 point, I think we had to not at this exact intersection, which I know is a little different. But we've to date really never had any issues with traffic for these types of services.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. So, commissioners, do you have any other questions? Okay, the public hearing is closed. So, the next step on the agenda would be, or the process would be to.

Um, I will know that we approve conditional use permit number 2026 dash 12 based on the findings and subject to the recommended conditions and resolution number 5558.

I 2nd, it has been moved and seconded that we approve the project. Would you pull the commission?

Vice chair, I, commissioner, I. Commissioner can too.

Chair Miller I. Congratulations it has been passed. Welcome to Larry. Okay, the next item on our agenda has been will be rescheduled for August 11. And the next item now is a general business comments.

We chair, we just ask for this is a recommendation from staff. So we still just need a motion and a vote to be able to re, notice and continue to date certain.

All right. I will entertain a motion to re agenda is the recommended zoning amendment number 774. I second. We need to move a motion.

I would just say that you would table it the motion would be to table and to re, notice that you're in for the August 11th meeting.

Okay, I'll know that we tables on amendment number 774 and re, notice for the August 11th planning commission meeting.

I'll 2nd.

It's been moved and seconded that we table and re-agendize a zone amendment number 774 for the August 11th, 2026 meeting. Is there any other further discussion? Will you hold the commission?

Vice Chair Limas? Aye. Commissioner Cantu?

Aye.

Commissioner Hennard? Aye. Chair Miller?

Aye. Okay. Are we covered? Great. All right. General comments related to general business items are limited to three minutes per speaker for a maximum of 30 minutes per item unless otherwise extended by the commission. Is there any general business to come before us? And staff updates?

Just a quick update planning division remains very busy. This is the time of year. We start getting applications for entitlements as people look to the end of the year for property land transactions. So, we'll probably have a number of entitlements coming, you know, I'd say, between the fall until the spring, some long range planning projects as well that your. planning division is working on such as sustainable agricultural land grant funded strategic plan project and we will continue to well we have two items we know for the August 11th meeting now we just continued one and I believe we have a oh that's right general plan and zone amendment for the next meeting so just a heads up for that for our next meeting that's all I have this evening thank you

Thank you commissioners who have anything else to bring before the commission. Okay, we stand adjourned.