City receives Windsor Court study

Project is to construct 80 single-family residences over approximately 17 acres of land on West Henderson

The City of Porterville recently received an initial study/mitigated negative declaration for the Windsor Court Development Project, which was prepared by Crawford & Bowen Planning, Inc. of Visalia.

The document focuses on potential environmental effects of the City of Porterville’s Windsor Court Development Project.

The city intends to construct a housing development that includes 80 single-family residences over approximately 17 acres of land. The lot sizes are proposed to range from 4,375 to 9,932 square feet.

The proposed project is located on the north side of Henderson Avenue between North Westwood Street and the Friant-kern Canal. It is adjacent to the western city limit and is two miles north of Highway 190.

The proposed project will require a General Plan Amendment from High Density Residential to Low-medium Density Residential, and a zone change from RM-3 to Planned Development. The Planned Development Zone District will provide a mechanism to accommodate the unusual configuration of parcels.

Land-locked parcels are not consistent with the Municipal Code, however, the Planned Development Plan will include provisions that ensure shared ingress and egress, as well as shared maintenance and restrictions associated with parking along the driveways. As the majority of parcels do not meet the minimum lot size or dimension, the Planned Development Plan can include conditional

elements to allow for reduced lot dimensions, subject to the required findings identified in Section 201.04(c) (4) of Chapter 21 of the Porterville Municipal Code.

The project will be constructed in one phase beginning in June of 2018. Construction is anticipated to last approximately one year. Existing city services such as water, sewer and stormwater are located along Henderson Avenue and the city will be required to tie into those existing facilities.

The proposed project would require gas, telephone, cable, and electrical improvements. Natural gas would be provided by The Gas Company, telephone services would be provided by AT&T, electric power would be provided by Southern California Edison, and cable television would be provided by Charter Communication. The extent of work required for utilities and gas would be determined during final project design.

The City of Porterville will act as the lead agency for the project pursuant

to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA guidelines.

The proposed project site is currently fallowed and being disked for weed control. To the north is the Porter Slough and residential development, to the east is a retirement community and meeting facility, the south is Henderson Avenue and residential development and to the west are rural residences and agriculture.

The project will include the following components:

Construction of internal access roads with three points of ingress/ egress along Henderson Avenue.

Installation of an Ada-accessible pedestrian bridge crossing the Porter Slough that will connect the proposed development with Elderwood Street to the north to accommodate walkability to the school campuses.

Improve all streets, highways, or ways in or adjacent to the subdivision, in accordance with the approved improvements plan, in accordance

with Section 407.02(h) of the Porterville Development Ordinance.

Development of a subdivision tree and landscaping design that will be approved by the city. At least one tree will be planted on each residential lot and street trees will be planted at 35 feet on center along all parkways within and/ or bordering the subdivision.

Development of a Landscape plan, in accordance with Chapter 303 of the Porterville Development Ordinance.