Agenda Item Wording:
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Ordinance Adoption - Second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2026-01 for Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06, a request by Tulare County Office of Education to change the zoning designation on APN: 122-480-004 from C-MU (Mixed-Use Commercial) to QP (Quasi-Public) and to prezone APNs: 122-470-003, 122-480-008 and 122-480-018 to QP (Quasi-Public) (Ordinance No. 2026-01, required).
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Agenda Date: 04/20/2026
Prepared by:
Josh Dan, Senior Planner, (559) 713-4003, josh.dan@visalia.city
Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, (559) 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2026-01 for Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06.
Summary:
On April 6, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing to consider General Plan Amendment (GPA) No. 2025-05, Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06, and Annexation No. 2025-03. The project was a request by the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) to change the zoning designation on APN: 122-480-004 from C-MU (Mixed-Use Commercial) to QP (Quasi-Public) and to prezone APNs: 122-470-003, 122-480-008 and -018 to QP (Quasi-Public) (Ordinance No. 2026-06, required).
The recommendation to support changes to land use and zoning designations for this project is to facilitate TCOE’s proposed campus expansion with additional facilities to its existing administrative office and conference center located at 6200 South Mooney Boulevard. TCOE has acquired portions of adjacent properties which will be merged with the existing site, expanding their overall campus site by approximately 12.54 acres.
No persons spoke in opposition at the City Council meeting, and Council voted (4-0) to conduct the First Reading of Ordinance No. 2026-06 for Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06, along with approving the other entitlements heard at that meeting.
The second reading of the Ordinances are the final action the City Council takes in order for Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06 to take effect. Following the second reading and Council adoption, the ordinances will go into effect 30 days following adoption of the second reading.
Background Discussion:
This proposal aids in consolidation and centralization of existing TCOE offices, which are located at 7000 West Doe Avenue and other sites, and hosting professional development training courses and workshops for district employees. If all entitlements are approved, the contiguous sites will be developed in a manner to provide internal access via drive aisles, along with other onsite improvements including curbing, drainage, and utility infrastructure.
The existing TCOE facility located at 6200 South Mooney Boulevard, was completed in 2016. The existing 11-acre campus includes administration offices and a conference center. The existing building is 91,596 square feet consisting of a three-story professional office building and a single-story conference center. The site design included three landscaped ponding areas for stormwater retention and a greenbelt along the northern property line. On the east side of the property, 2.5 acres were reserved for future expansion. Parking provided onsite totals 379 stalls used by employees and visitors. The only existing vehicular ingress and egress onto the site is provided via South Mooney Boulevard. In addition to administrative offices and support to TCOE schools and facilities, the existing campus is also used to host conferences, educational training, and up to three large-scale conferences per year. The proposed campus expansion is expected to provide five (5) additional buildings providing space for offices, classrooms, and conference meeting space.
To facilitate this request, in addition to the entitlements listed above (i.e., General Plan Amendment, Prezone and Change of Zone, and Annexation) the following Conditional Use Permit (CUP) entitlement was also required. CUP No. 2025-28, approved by the Planning Commission on March 23, 2026, was required due to schools being listed as a conditionally permitted use in the Quasi-Public zone. To assist in the overall development of the TCOE campus expansion, TCOE will be purchasing two adjacent sites to provide land area for these onsite improvements. A proposed stormwater ponding basin will be constructed along the southern boundary of the property for on-site drainage. New parking facilities surrounding the development will provide an additional 388 parking stalls, including 17 accessible spaces. Between the existing and proposed parking stalls, 767 stalls will be provided onsite.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs: None.
Prior Council Action:
On April 6, 2026, the City Council voted (4-0) to conduct the First Reading of Ordinance No. 2026-01 for Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06.
Other:
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on March 23, 2026, to consider the general plan amendment, prezone and change of zone, annexation, and conditional use permit for the TCOE project site. The Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit, based on the findings in the staff report, and recommended approval to the City Council the general plan amendment, prezone and change of zone, and annexation request. The vote for all four entitlements was 4-0 with Vice Chair Davis recused.
Alternatives: None.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the second reading of Ordinance No. 2026-01 for Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06.
Environmental Assessment Status: An Initial Study and Negative Declaration were prepared for the proposed project. Initial Study and Negative Declaration No. 2024-45 disclosed that environmental impacts are determined to be not significant. Staff concludes that Initial Study and Negative Declaration No. 2024-45 adequately analyzes and addresses the proposed project and reduces environmental impacts to a less than significant level.
CEQA Review: An Initial Study and Negative Declaration were prepared for the proposed project. Initial Study and Negative Declaration No. 2024-45 disclosed that environmental impacts are determined to be not significant. Salem Engineering Group conducted both a Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessment which found that soil and soil vapor at the project site did not pose a potential risk to human health or the environment. No engineering controls (i.e. VOC vapor barrier) are required to protect current or future building occupants. However, only “out of an abundance of caution”, recommendation was proposed by SALEM for preparation of a Soil Management Plan (SMP) which should be distributed to construction personnel prior to conducting grading or excavation activities. The SMP will establish protocols for handling, sampling, storage, and disposal of any suspected hydrocarbon-affected soils generated during construction activities. The SMP is not required in order to avoid a significant impact and is therefore not a mitigation measure, though the applicant may voluntarily choose to proceed with its preparation. Staff concludes that Initial Study and Negative Declaration No. 2024-45 adequately analyzes and addresses the proposed project and reduces environmental impacts to a less than significant level.
Deadline for Action: 04/20/2026
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2026-01 for Prezone and Change of Zone No. 2025-06
3. Exhibit “A” - Site Plan
4. Aerial Photo
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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