Agenda Item Wording:
title
Recommendation to withdraw and re-notice to March 17 Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project consideration - the development of an industrial park with a total building footprint of approximately 3,720,149 square feet on 284 acres, and consisting of the following actions:
• Certification of a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (State Clearinghouse #2022080658): A request to certify the Environmental Impact Report for the Shirk Riggin Industrial Project (“Project”). The City of Visalia is the lead agency in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Initiation of Proceedings for Annexation No. 2024-03: A request to annex three parcels totaling approximately 284 acres into the City limits of Visalia. Upon annexation the area will be zoned Industrial (I) and I-L (Light Industrial) consistent with the land use designations of the Visalia General Plan Land Use Map.
• General Plan Amendment No. 2025-01: A request to decrease the Light Industrial land use designation and to increase the Industrial land use designation on the project site consisting of approximately 284 acres.
• Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance for adoption of a Development Agreement for the Shirk & Riggin Industrial Park: A request to authorize the City to sign and enter into a development agreement pursuant to Government Code Section 65864 et. seq., and Section 17.60 of the City of Visalia Zoning Ordinance.
Project Applicant: Seefried Industrial Properties, Inc.
Project Location: The proposed Project is located on approximately 284 acres, on the north side of Riggin Avenue between Shirk Street and Kelsey Street. (APN:077-840-004, 005, 006)
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Deadline for Action: 3/3/2025
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Brandon Smith, Principal Planner, (559) 713-4636, brandon.smith@visalia.city <mailto:brandon.smith@visalia.city>;
Paul Bernal, Planning & Community Preservation Director, (559) 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the public hearing item for the Shirk-Riggin Industrial Project (“Project”) be withdrawn from the City Council agenda and renoticed. The Project, consisting of an EIR certification, Annexation, General Plan Amendment, and Development Agreement, along with the appeal of a Tentative Parcel Map and Conditional Use Permit that was filed on February 20, 2025, has been noticed for the March 17, 2025, City Council meeting.
Summary:
The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on February 10, 2025, for entitlements related to the Project. These entitlements consist of the following:
• Certification of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Shirk & Riggin Industrial Park
• initiation of Annexation No. 2024-03
• Initiation of a Development Agreement pertaining to the Shirk & Riggin Industrial Park
• General Plan Amendment No. 2025-01
• Tentative Parcel Map No. 2024-08
• Conditional Use Permit No. 2024-26
The Planning Commission approved the entitlements for the Tentative Parcel Map and Conditional Use Permit, and recommended that the City Council approve the remaining entitlements (EIR certification, Annexation, General Plan Amendment, and Development Agreement).
Staff filed a legal advertisement with the Visalia Times Delta newspaper to notice the March 3rd public hearing of the City Council, for consideration of the remaining entitlements. The public hearing notice was published in the newspaper on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
However, on the same day as the publication, on February 20, 2025, the City Clerk received an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of Tentative Parcel Map No. 2024-08 and Conditional Use Permit No. 2024-26 (see Attachment). Due to the appeal, the public hearing for the remaining entitlements cannot be considered by the City Council on March 3rd. Because the appeal must also be noticed by legal advertisement and by mailing, the public hearing for the Project, including the appeal, has been noticed for the March 17, 2025 City Council meeting.
Fiscal Impact:
Not applicable at this time.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to withdraw the Certification of the Final EIR for the Shirk & Riggin Industrial Project, Annexation No. 2024-03, General Plan Amendment No. 2025-01, and the Development Agreement for the Shirk & Riggin Industrial Park from the March 3, 2025 City Council agenda.
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Environmental Assessment Status: Not applicable at this time.
CEQA Review: Not applicable at this time.
Attachments: Appeal of Tentative Parcel Map No. 2024-08 and Conditional Use Permit No. 2024-26