Commercial projects expected to be underway soon
What ever happened to projects that were approved by the planning commission but have disappeared from the radar?
City Community Development Director David James provided updates on the following projects.
O'Reilly Auto Parts
Was approved by the Planning Commission on June 13 of last year to be built next to the Bank of the West on Tucker Road. James said their permit is ready, but they have been asking for extensions.
"The most recent extension was just requested," he said. "It will be their last extension; we wouldn't be able to extend it any further. This extension is for six months. I'm assuming they'll try to forge ahead."
Dollar General Market
The one to be built on Tucker Rd. just south of the Dollar Tree was approved by the Planning Commission on Jan. 14, 2013. According to James, "they have submitted their plans within the past week and their request for permit is in the works."
What about Walmart
James said currently the Walmart response is very preliminary.
"We do have a schedule worked out. The amended EIR document is scheduled to be circulated for public review in late March to mid April," he added. "We then have a 45-day waiting period for responses."
From there it will follow normal protocol call and go back to the Planning Commission, and then to the Tehachapi City Council if appealed.
Walmart was originally approved by the City Planning Commission on Jan. 31, 2011. On Feb. 10, 2011 an appeal was filed, which sent the decision back to the city council on March 28. On May 19, the city council rejected the appeal and approved Walmart. On June 17, 2011 Tehachapi First, an organization that grew out of opposition to the proposed Walmart store, filed a lawsuit challenging the approval of the approval
At a hearing, which was held on April 27, 2012 before Kern County Judge Kenneth Twisselman, he found the EIR to be deficient on two of 24 issues and that one of the findings concerning cumulative traffic impacts was also deficient.
The court issued a judgement and Writ of Mandate, which instructed the city to step back and set aside its approval of the Walmart EIR and the related findings as well as the site plan review.
At its regular meeting on Aug. 20, 2012, the Tehachapi City Council adopted a resolution setting aside the certification of the Walmart Environmental Impact Report and related actions taken on May 19, 2011.
Since then the city has been working on amending the EIR.
