Lemoore development rebounding? Several projects on the drawing board

In other positive news, the Lemoore Police Department will grow by another officer after Lemoore accepts a COPS Hiring Program Grant. Councilmembers will also be asked to hire a lobbying firm to help secure additional funds for the Consolidated Regional Dispatch Center the city wants to construct.

Tuesday, February 21 City Council Agenda

“Staff has been working with several developers on a variety of projects throughout the city and its borders,” stated Lemoore Development Services Director Judy Holwell. “The projects are in varying stages,” she continued, “some have had formal applications submitted or have been reviewed by the Lemoore Planning Commission.”

Holwell, in her recommendation to councilmembers, indicated that it’s staff’s desire to continue development in a direction that the Lemoore City Council sees “appropriate for the community.”

Projects currently under consideration or on the books:

1. Brisbane (East D Street and Daphne) – This site has an approved Tentative Subdivision Map for a 64-lot single-family housing project. Council approved a General Plan Amendment and zone change. Staff is working with a national builder to develop the site.

2. Commercial project at Bush and 19 ½ Avenue, which staff is working with a new property owner.

3. Caltrans – Staff met with Caltrans to discuss right-of-way issues at Highway 41 and 198 interchange and Highway 41 and Hanford-Armona Road. Caltrans is reviewing the right-of-way requirements at each location and will provide an update with the findings.

4. Capistrano V (near East Bush off Barcelona) – This site has an approved Tentative Subdivision Map for a 20-unit single-family housing project. However, it has been stalled for several years. A developer, Wathen-Castanos, has taken over the project and staff is presenting the project to the Lemoore Planning Commission on February 13 for approval.

5. Daley (near Highway 41/198 Interchange) – An application has been received to develop a single-family housing project. There are right-of-way requirements adjacent to the interchange, so staff is working with the developer and Caltrans to determine plausible options.

6. Highway 41 and Hanford-Armona Road – Informal plans have been summited for a 16-acre parcel. Staff is working with the property owner to develop the site. There are some issues with this site due to right of-way required by Caltrans. The developer is revising the plans and is expected to submit a formal application soon

7. Dr. Horton (Parkview Estates near Heritage Park) – This site has an approved Map and two homes\were constructed several years ago. The project stalled due to the economy. Horton has taken over the project and planning commissioners approved the home plans on January 9, 2017. Construction of the model homes should begin soon.

8. Lennar (north of Hanford-Armona Road and Liberty Drive) – An application was received for a 40-acre site outside the city limits. Staff has commented on the plans submitted and is working with the developer to modify the site plan. This project will require a Tentative Subdivision Map and annexation into the City, which will require planning commission and council approval.

9. Pacific Gas & Electric (Lemoore Industrial Park) – PG&E is developing a service center on an 11.59-acre site. The project was approved last year, however, PG&E wants to make changes to the building façade and location of the fence. These changes are being presented to the planning commission on February 13, 2017. Plans for the site are currently being reviewed by staff.

10. Victory Village (Westside) – This is an approved project for a 51-lot housing subdivision. Staff is currently reviewing.

11. Housing Project (near West Hills College) – Staff is working with a developer who currently has an option agreement to purchase property for a housing project. Staff met with them to discuss development of the site.

12. Housing Project (17th Avenue) – Over a year ago, staff met with a property owner and developer regarding a potential housing project on property east of Lemoore’s city Limits that would need to be annexed into the City. The owner and developer also attended a city council meeting and during public comment asked council members if they would be interested in annexing in property to the east of the Lemoore Canal. At that time, the council indicated that they liked the project being described, but that it would have to go through the entire annexation process before it could be approved.

The property is not contiguous to the city limits, so staff informed the owner and developer that they would need to see if other property owners in the area would agree to be annexed in simultaneously. The owner and developer discussed the project with Kings Christian School, and staff met with them to discuss the process. Later, the owner and developer notified staff that the school was not interested in annexation. Staff recommended talking to other adjoining property owners in the area, so they set up a meeting and asked staff to attend. At that time, staff declined to attend because this is not a city project. The owner was advised that the city could not move forward until he received support from the surrounding owners. Several property owners attended a recent council meeting and expressed opposition to annexation. To date, no adjacent property owners have indicated a desire to be annexed into the City of Lemoore.

13. Dollar General (19th Avenue near Bush) – Staff reviewed the site plan for a 7,500-sq. ft. building on 1.05 acres. It was returned to the developer for revisions.

In other actions, Chief Darrell Smith will ask councilmembers to accept a COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant of $125,000 enabling the city to hire another full-time police officer, increasing the city’s sworn officer ranks from 32 to 33.

The COPS program provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire law enforcement officers in an “effort to create and preserve jobs,” and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.

Smith also will ask council to enter into an agreement with CrisCom, a local lobbying firm that recently helped the city secure approximately $1 million for a Consolidated Regional Dispatch Center. Smith wants the firm to help the city secure additional funding for the dispatch center, designed to be built in Lemoore and serve Kings County, Lemoore, and Avenal law enforcement. For a $1,500 per month fee, CrisCom will attempt to establish and facilitate meetings with the Governor’s Office and members of the State Legislature.