Tulare City Council Approves 556-Home Development at Morrison and Prosperity

The Tulare City Council has approved the annexation, rezoning, and subdivision of approximately 140 acres of agricultural land in East Tulare to make way for a 556-lot single-family housing development proposed by San Joaquin Valley Homes.

The site is located at the southeast corner of Prosperity Avenue and Morrison Street, currently outside city limits but within the Urban Development Boundary. The council’s approval includes a pre-zoning designation of R-1-5 (Single-Family Residential, 5,000 sq. ft. minimum lot size) for approximately 134.85 acres, and a Rural Residential designation for a 5.47-acre remainder parcel. These zoning designations will take effect upon formal annexation.

The approved action, listed as Zone Amendment No. 754, follows the council’s earlier decision on April 1 to pass the ordinance to print. At the April 15 meeting, the council adopted Ordinance 2025-03, finalizing the zoning approval for the project.

Key Project Details

According to city planning staff, the development will include:

• 556 single-family homes on minimum 5,000 sq. ft. lots
• A 5.47-acre rural parcel that remains outside the core development area
• Entry access from two new intersections on Morrison Street and two on Prosperity Avenue
• Internal neighborhood streets designed to city standards

The development application was submitted prior to the city’s recent comprehensive zoning update, which eliminated the R-1-5 designation in favor of R-1-4 (4,000 sq. ft. minimum). Because of this timing, the project was allowed to proceed with the 5,000 sq. ft. minimum standard, although the city's zoning map will reflect it as R-1-4 upon annexation.

Council Discussion and Public Comment

During the public hearing, resident Allison Schott raised concerns about the ability of existing residents on Lois Lane—located north of the site—to access their homes safely, especially when traveling eastbound on Prosperity Avenue. She also asked where mailboxes for existing residents would be relocated.

City Engineer Michael Miller responded that a raised median would maintain access to Lois Lane and that mailbox placement is determined by the United States Postal Service, not the City of Tulare.

Councilmember Jose Sigala inquired about the planned park space within the development and whether it would include usable amenities like play equipment. Community Development Director Mario Anaya clarified that park design details would be reviewed by the City’s parks staff during the design phase to ensure compliance with city standards.

The council ultimately voted 4–0 to approve the development (Mayor Isherwood was absent).

What Happens Next?

Before construction can begin, the City must complete the formal annexation process through the Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). Once the property is annexed, the zoning will take effect, and the developer can begin infrastructure planning and subdivision improvements.

No specific construction timeline was discussed at the meeting, though approvals such as this typically precede grading and improvement work by several months.

Why This Matters

This approval represents one of the largest single-family developments proposed in Tulare in recent years. It comes amid ongoing regional discussions around housing supply, land use, and preserving agriculture.

While the project converts farmland to urban use, it is consistent with the city’s general plan designations and growth expectations. With over 500 new homes planned, the project is expected to help ease housing demand and bring new infrastructure improvements to the east side of the city.

More details will become available as the project moves through the final stages of annexation and subdivision approval.

Tulare Passes New Rules on Public Encampments

The Tulare City Council has approved new regulations to deal with growing concerns over public encampments. The new ordinance, passed at the April 15 meeting, sets stricter limits on where individuals can camp on public property and gives city staff more authority to intervene when issues arise.

What Prompted the Change?

• Unhoused individuals using outdoor water sources to bathe

• Break-ins and vandalism at industrial properties

• Public health concerns around waste, fire hazards, and drug activity

What’s in the New Ordinance?

1. City Property Exclusion (Chapter 8.37)

• Who it applies to: Anyone who commits certain violations on city-owned property (e.g., harassment, vandalism, unauthorized camping)

• How it works: After repeated infractions, a person can be banned from specific sites—like the library, City Hall, or a park—for a set time

• Due process included: Offenders are entitled to a hearing to contest their exclusion

2. Encampments on Public Property (Chapter 8.38)

• Camping is prohibited on certain public lands at all times, regardless of whether shelter beds are available

• Why that matters: In many California cities, courts have blocked enforcement of anti-camping laws unless sufficient shelter is available. Tulare’s ordinance is designed to withstand legal challenges by targeting sensitive areas and public safety concerns.

Enforcement tiers:

• First violation: Written warning

• Second: Administrative citation

• Third: Exclusion order from public property

What Does This Mean for You?

• Expect more visible enforcement around parks, civic buildings, and known encampment areas.

• If you report a safety or sanitation issue on public property, City staff will now have more authority to respond—especially if the same individuals are involved repeatedly.

• If you're someone working with or advocating for the unhoused, this policy adds urgency to expanding outreach, services, and shelter capacity.

What Comes Next?

• Recruiting hourly staff to manage day-to-day operations at the encampment site

• Evaluating next steps on permanent shelter planning

• Considering additional investments in hygiene and mental health services

The ordinance takes effect May 4, 2025.

Tulare Chamber of Commerce membership grew despite Covid challenges

As the effects of the pandemic waned in 2021, the Tulare Chamber of Commerce saw an upswing in membership and business activity in support of Tulare.

That's the report Chamber CEO Donnette Silva Carter gave to the Tulare City Council meeting at its recent meeting. 

"2021... was actually a great year for our chamber. As we started working with our businesses, going into recovery, we had some challenges from COVID, but things got better at the end of the year," she said. "And as we stepped into 2022, it's been a much better year for our local businesses and for your Chamber of Commerce, too. We are 687 members strong now."

The chamber grew by 175 members, and 26 others upgraded their memberships.

 

Fred Ynclan named Tulare Police Chief

Tulare police Captain Fred Ynclan was selected to be the city's new police chief.

The move was announced at a Tulare City Council meeting, where City Manager Marc Mondell described a process where they looked for candidates with strong moral character, honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and cool under pressure.

"He's proven himself to be the candidate that can remain calm and collected under pressure, which is critical for this position and for the department," Mondell said. "He has steadily risen through the ranks of the department for a high level of success. He has served as a captain in the police department since 2015."

Ynclan addressed the council after the announcement, which was met by applause.

City Council honors Tulare's 3 State Farm agents

The Tulare City Council honored the city's three State Farm agents at a recent meeting, recognizing their parent company's 100th anniversary.

State Farm is the country's largest insurance provider, according to the Insurance Information Institute. State Farm holds the largest market share in policies for homeowners, auto, and property and casualty, according to 2021 data. 

Mayor Dennis Mederos called two of the three agents forward to read a Certificate of Recognition.

"Our idea would have been to have each one of them come and receive this certificate of recognition. But as it turns out, they were being recognized in a different way in Las Vegas that day, so they didn't want to come here," Mederos said with a chuckle. "Our city council appreciates the dedication and the perseverance as it relates to any organization that exists for 100 years."