History
Tulare County Citizens for Responsible Growth (TCCRG) was formed in early 2006 when a group of concerned citizens met to discuss the future of Tulare County. Two particular issues provided the impetus for this meeting: 1) Tulare County was in the midst of a General Plan update process; 2) The Boswell Company had initiated a General Plan amendment process in a preliminary step to build a 10,000 home development, called “Yokohl Ranch,” in Tulare County’s Yokohl Valley.
2004-2006: The County holds a series of workshops all across the county in which residents are given the opportunity to express where and how they want future growth to occur. At these workshops, the top issues identified by residents are air quality, water supply, and loss of farmland. County Planners take this input and develop several alternative scenarios for where to accommodate future growth. Out of these, the Planning Commission chooses one scenario: the City and Focused Community Growth Alternative, which would direct growth into the cities and select unincorporated communities. This alternative is overwhelmingly supported by the people of Tulare County.
The Board of Supervisors, however, does not accept these recommendations and instead directs planning staff to examine where and how to allow more growth in rural areas that are currently agricultural land or open space – in other words, new towns.
TCCRG decides to support the voice of the people and begins to actively advocate for city and community centered growth. TCCRG also lobbies in general for smart-growth decision-making that will protect our local economy, communities, and natural resources.
February 2006: A request by the Yokohl Ranch Company, LLC to initiate an amendment to the Tulare County General Plan to allow the Yokohl Ranch team to proceed with its land planning efforts goes before the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. TCCRG sends out an alert to encourage citizens to attend the Board of Supervisors hearing. [Yokohl Ranch Alert]. Over 200 people show up at the hearing. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approves the Yokohl Ranch Company’s request.
Spring 2006: The County releases its Notice of Preparation for the General Plan, in which citizens and agencies can request items to be included in the EIR. TCCRG submits a comment letter [Notice of Preparation Letter] requesting no new-town provision and mitigation for agricultural land and open space loss.
April 2006: TCCRG members meet with Phil Cox to discuss the General Plan update and to share our vision for future growth in this county.
June 2006: TCCRG begins its outreach campaign, presenting to the Three Rivers Village Foundation
September 2006: TCCRG gives a presentation to the Porterville Unitarian Church.
September 10, 2006: TCCRG presents at the Three Rivers Town Hall meeting.
November 2006: The County releases the first draft of the General Plan update, with a request for feedback and comments.
February 2007: TCCRG submits an extensive comment letter on the draft General Plan asking for: 1) the inclusion of mandatory language in the “Goals and Policies” portion; 2) no new-town provision; and 3) mitigation measures for farmland and open space. [Feb. 2006 Comment Letter on Draft General Plan]
February 2007: The Yokohl Ranch Company submits a formal application to the County for a General Plan amendment to add a Planned Community Zoning Ordinance. This application is in anticipation of developing Yokohl Valley as a Planned Community.
Feb. 2007: TCCRG members participate in a Planning Commission Study Session
March 2007: TCCRG Co-Chair, Jeff Steen, has an Op-Ed piece published in the Visalia Times Delta. [Yokohl Ranch Op-Ed]
April 2007: TCCRG participates in a Visalia City Council meeting in which the County General Plan update is discussed.
June 20, 2007: TCCRG members meet with Supervisor Steve Worthley to discuss the General Plan update.
June 25, 2007: TCCRG presents to Woodlake City Council.
June 27 2007: An amendment to the Tulare County Zoning Ordinance to include a planned community zoning ordinance goes before the Planning Commission. TCCRG submits a comment letter, requesting that: 1) the Planning Commission delay consideration of ALL General Plan amendments until completion of the General Plan update and 2) the planning commission amend the ordinance so that ONLY lands within existing community and city development boundaries are eligible for the Planned Community Zone. [PC Zone Letter - Executive Summary; PC Zone Letter - Full Text]
Several dozen people attend the hearing and testify. The Planning Commission sends the draft of the ordinance back to staff with a directive to review public comments and amend the ordinance accordingly.
June 27: TCCRG hosts a forum, “The Future of Growth in Tulare County” at Porterville City College [Press Release for Porterville Forum; Porterville Recorder Forum Article ]
June 28 2007 TCCRG members meet with Supervisor Connie Conway to discuss the Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, the General Plan Update Process, and water storage and conservation.
July 25, 2007: A new draft of the Planned Community Zoning Ordinance goes before the Planning Commission. The changes to the draft are almost negligible and citizen comment virtually ignored. The Planning Commission votes unanimously to pass the Ordinance on to the Board of Supervisors.
August 2007: TCCRG conducts a fundraiser to hire a staff person. More than $10,000 is raised and Sarah Graber is hired as an Executive Director.
August 15 2007: TCCRG members meet with Allen Ishida to discuss the General Plan update, City and County revenue sharing, and water.
September 25, 2007: The draft Planned Community Zoning Ordinance goes before the Board of Supervisors. TCCRG submits a second comment letter. [PC Zone Letter to Board of Supervisors - Executive Summary; PC Zone Letter to Board of Supervisors - Full Text ] The Board of Supervisors votes 5-0 to approve the amendment to the Tulare County Zoning Ordinance
October 15 2007: TCCRG members meet with Supervisor Mike Ennis to discuss the importance of the public process and the results of the General Plan update workshops.
November 7 2007: TCCRG hosts a forum, “The Future of Growth in Tulare County: Four Perspectives plus Yours” at the College of the Sequoias. [Press Release for COS Forum; Visalia Times Delta Article on COS Forum ]
December 4 2007: TCCRG gives a presentation to the Porterville Rotary
December 11 2007: TCCRG gives a presentation to the Visalia Kiwanis
January 14 2008: Tulare County releases its draft Environmental Impact Report and a new draft General Plan Update. Comments are due March 14 and a joint Board of Supervisors/Planning Commission hearing is scheduled for February 26.
January 22 2008: TCCRG gives a presentation to the Exeter City Council
January 23 2008: TCCRG gives a presentation to the Visalia Democratic Club
February 21 2008: TCCRG gives a public presentation at the Visalia Memorial Building to discuss the General Plan Update and Yokohl Ranch development. TCCRG introduces its platform for a responsible growth General Plan, and encourages attendees to include these points, and/or their own vision for the future of Tulare County, in a letter to the Board of Supervisors. [TCCRG Responsible Growth platform.doc]
February 26 2008: The Tulare County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission hold a joint hearing to give Tulare County residents the opportunity to comment on the General Plan Update and Draft Environmental Impact Report. Almost 200 people attend and dozens of people give testimony (including 16 members of the TCCRG steering committee!), asking for a General Plan Update that directs growth to our existing cities and communities, contains clear policies and implementation measures, and protects our agricultural lands and water resources. [Citizens sound off on growth - Porterville Recorder]; [County’s update plan for growth criticized - Visalia Times Delta]
March 3 2008: Tulare County holds a Yokohl Ranch scoping meeting in Exeter, where citizens are able to submit input regarding issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Report. Over 150 people attend. [Tulare County project debated - Fresno Bee]; [Critics speak out to protect Yokohl Valley - Visalia Times Delta]
March 14 2008: TCCRG submits comments on the Notice of Preparation for Yokohl Ranch. [TCCRG Comments on Yokohl Ranch Notice of Preparation]
March 25 2008: TCCRG meets with the Tulare County Asthma Coalition to discuss the General Plan Update.
March 27 2008: TCCRG meets with the Tulare County Farm Bureau to discuss the General Plan Update
April 6 2008: TCCRG gives a presentation to the Unitarian Universalist Church on the General Plan Update, Yokohl Ranch, and smart growth planning.
April 15 2008: TCCRG joins 70 other individuals and organizations (including the California Attorney General and Council of Cities) in submitting comments on the draft General Plan Update and draft Environmental Impact Report. TCCRG requests a major revision and recirculation of the General Plan Update and draft Environmental Impact Report. TCCRG also requests that the revised draft Environmental Impact Report include TCCRG’s “Healthy Growth Alternative” in the range of policy alternatives. [TCCRG’s comments on Tulare County’s draft General Plan Update and draft Environmental Impact Report]
April 23 2008: The Tulare County Planning Commission hears comments on the General Plan Update and draft Environmental Impact Report [TCCRG’s statement to the Planning Commission]
May 10 & 11 2008: TCCRG members and volunteers set up a Yokohl Ranch informational booth at the Three Rivers Redbud Festival. 150 people sign up to Save Yokohl Valley. [Yokohl Ranch FAQs]
October 4-5 2008: TCCRG volunteers participated in the second annual Three Rivers Environmental Weekend, staffing a booth and an art display, giving a power point presentation, and signing up new members. The Weekend featured numerous exhibits, multimedia presentations, and demonstrations relating to how individuals and communities can address global climate change. On Sunday, two groups of people from various Tulare County communities toured five fine local examples of earth-friendly buildings, designed and built for sustainability. TCCRG thanks Mona Selph, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the tour hosts, and the many other contributors to the Environmental Weekend, and deeply appreciates their very generous donation to TCCRG of proceeds from the home tour.
November 12 2008: TCCRG sponsors a well-attended forum on “The Water-Land Use Connection: Planning a Water-Wise Future for Tulare County,” at the Tulare County Office of Education. Speakers included Dr. John Suen, California State University-Fresno, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the California Water Institute; Paul Daley, President/CEO of Daley Homes; John Friedrich, Sierra Nevada Alliance; Fred Brusuelas, Assistant Director, Community Development, City of Visalia; Bobby Kamansky, Project Manager, Southern Sierra Integrated Regional Water Management Plan; Keith Watkins, Water Committee Chair, Tulare County Farm Bureau; and Greg Kirkpatrick, Farmland Conservation Strategies, State Watershed Advisory Committee (and former Visalia City Councilmember). Representing a broad range of backgrounds, interests, and disciplines, with expertise in science, planning, building, agriculture, resource management, and policy development, these speakers emphasized that collaboration and teamwork are essential to saving farmland, creating healthy communities, and protecting our water supply in the face of rapidly growing population, drought, and global climate change. Compact growth centered on existing urbanized areas, conservation, and more efficient use of water resources were cited as key solutions across the board. [forum flyer]
November 12 2008: TCCRG staffs a table at the Three Rivers Holiday Bazaar, giving out information, receiving donations, and selling bumper stickers.
November 18 2008: TCCRG attends the Tulare County Board of Supervisors/Planning Commission Joint Workshop on the Tulare County General Plan Update/Draft Environmental Impact Report (GPU/DEIR); TCCRG urges the Supervisors and Commissioners to ensure that the re-circulated GPU/DEIR includes a truly reasonable range of alternative, with at least one truly healthy, responsible growth alternative, such as the one proposed by TCCRG in its written comments of the GPU/DEIR.
February 2009: TCCRG begins campaign to support Tulare County’s oaks and oak woodlands, researching and assembling materials and contacting individuals, agencies, and organizations statewide for information and examples of plans and policies.
March 2009: TCCRG attends workshops on the San Joaquin Valley Regional Blueprint; meets with Paul Boyer, Tulare County representative to the San Joaquin Valley Regional Blueprint process, and with Supervisor Phil Cox regarding support for the hybrid growth scenario; writes to Supervisor Alan Ishida, Tulare County’s other representative to the Blueprint process; submits written comments on the Blueprint alternatives; and, with American Farmland Trust, issues an Action Alert to members urging them to vote on the Blueprint alternatives. [Action Alert to TCCRG listserve on San Joaquin Valley blueprint]
May 2 2009: TCCRG organizes and sponsors the first Three Rivers Earth Day event, with over twenty booths and exhibits featuring a wide range of Earth Day appropriate displays and learning opportunities. Knowledgeable staffers presented information on a variety of topics, including lowering home energy costs, conserving water, reducing fire hazards, creating wildlife-friendly yards, and using native plants. Generous support came from the Three Rivers Community Services District, Lions Club, and Women’s Club; the Sequoia Foothills Chamber of Commerce; Aguirre Printing; Team Diana; Martha Widmann Design; and numerous hard-working community volunteers. [Earth Day Summary sent to the Kaweah Commonwealth]
May 9-10 2009: TCCRG staffs a booth at the Three Rivers Redbud Festival, giving out information and collecting signatures on oaks petitions.
May 11 2009: TCCRG and Sequoia Riverlands Trust make oaks presentations during the Tulare County Historical Society’s Oaks Discovery Tour; TCCRG collects signatures on oaks petitions. [OAKS Benefits and Services] [OAKS Legislation]
May 13 2009: After issuing an Action Alert to members, TCCRG attends Tulare County Planning Commission and speaks on oaks, along with representatives from Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Audubon Society, California Native Plant Society, and several landowners; TCCRG presents the Commissioners with over 260 signatures on the oaks petitions, collected in just a few days. [Tulare County Resource Management Agency presentation on an Oak Woodlands Conservation Program to the Tulare County Planning Commission] [Talking Points on Oak Management for May 2009 Planning Commission meeting]
May 28 2009: TCCRG makes informational power point presentation to Exeter Optimist Club.
June 13 2009: TCCRG hosts informational house party in Visalia.
July 2009: Arts Visalia presents “Views of Yokohl Valley,” an art show featuring works by local artists depicting many aspects of the valley. TCCRG members assist in organizing and publicizing the show (initiated by artist Mona Selph) and write Yokohl Valley information sheet to accompany it.
July 7 2009: After having met individually with several Tulare County Supervisors and sending out an Action Alert to members, TCCRG attends the Board of Supervisors meeting and speaks in support of an Oak Woodlands Management Plan for the County. Representatives of a variety of other organizations and interest groups attended and spoke in support of the Plan. The Supervisors stated that they would make adoption of an Oak Woodlands Management Plan a number one priority as soon as the General Plan Update is adopted. [OAKS Action Alert] [OAKS Letter to County Board of Supervisors]
October 3-4, 2009: On October 3, TCCRGers staffed an information table, gave out literature, talked with visitors, and signed up new members at the 2009 Three Rivers Environmental Weekend (TREW), while enjoying the day’s informative exhibits, events, and activities. On October 4, the TREW Green Home Tour brought two large groups of visitors to five innovative, efficient, and inspiring Three Rivers homes as part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour. Once again, TCCRG was the fortunate beneficiary of the proceeds of this tour. We deeply appreciate the dedicated volunteers who organize and staff this wonderful weekend and support TCCRG so generously.
October 16-18, 2009: Two TCCRG volunteers joined attendees from up and down California at the 16th Annual Sierra Nevada Alliance conference at Lake Tahoe, to share information, strategies, expertise, and connections in support of a strong and healthy future for California’s communities and environment. Keynote speakers and workshops covered a wide variety of timely topics, from climate science to water conservation to renewable energy to wildlife corridors to legislation, and the stories and accomplishments of those receiving SNA’s annual service and achievement awards were inspiring.
November 7, 2009: TCCRG hosted an informative booth at the first-ever Kaweah Land and Arts Festival, held at Tulare County’s Kaweah Oaks Preserve. TCCRG’s displays featured our proposed Healthy Growth Alternative for the General Plan Update, the importance of our oak woodlands, and the Boswell Company’s proposed Yokohl Ranch development (and its 10,000 home Eastlake development in San Diego County, which is necessitating the construction of a new freeway to handle its traffic). Hats off to Sequoia Riverlands Trust for organizing this event “to remind us all and encourage us to become more engaged caretakers of our natural and cultural resources.”
December 9, 2009: Issue #2 of the newsletter TCCRG Land Use News was sent out to our members. Click on the following link to read the PDF version.
[TCCRG Dec 09_12.8.09_PH.LS EL]
January 10, 2010: TCCRG gives a PowerPoint presentation to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Porterville.
February 16, 2010: TCCRG gives a PowerPoint presentation to the League of Women Voters in Visalia.
February 25, 2010: TCCRG gives a PowerPoint presentation to the Breakfast Rotary Club in Visalia.
March 10, 2010: Several TCCRG members attend the Planning Commission hearing on the proposed Redfield Project (TM 805), to be located 2 miles north of Woodlake, and join local residents in asking the Commissioners not to approve the project (which would turn a producing olive grove into 46 residential lots outside of any Urban Area Boundary–although within an FGMP development corridor, indicating an area potentially suitable for development) for the many reasons cited by the citizens who live near the property (including issues related to groundwater supply and quality, periodic flooding, traffic, safety, substandard roads, air and light and noise pollution, and the gerneral unsuitability of a totally auto-dependent housing development in the middle of a rural agricultural area) and because the proposed development would not meet any of the criteria of responsible growth. The Commissioners voted to deny the project.
March 13, 2010: At least nine TCCRG members attend the day-long Central Valley Water Forum, sponsored by the Valley Water Consortium, at Fresno City College.
March 25 2010: The County releases for public comment the latest version of its draft General Plan Update and re-circulated Draft Environmental Impact Report. The 2200 pages of documents include the County’s first draft of a Climate Action Plan, which is announced as a plan to mitigate for the impacts of the Plan on global climate change. However, it is also announced that the Climate Action Plan will not be scheduled for adoption at the time of the General Plan’s adoption, but rather at some later date.
March 26 2010: Having brought together a coalition of 22 concerned public interest and faith-based groups concerned about the County’s future, TCCRG delivers to the Board of Supervisors the coalition’s letter regarding its intent to analyze and comment on the just-released draft General Plan/RDEIR documents, and also sends out a press release on the subject. (The letter and the press release are also distributed to TCCRG members via TCCRG’s March newsletter; see link to Newsletter on “News” page.)
April 3 2010: TCCRG volunteers set up our booth at Lindsay’s first-ever Earth Day event (sponsored by Sunset Waste Systems) at Sweet Brier Park, and enjoy meeting and talking with the public, including a new house party volunteer.
April 17 2010: The TCCRG booth went out again to Woodlake, for that community’s inaugural Earth Day event, held at Miller Brown Park. We signed up new members, got more signatures on the Oaks Petition, and enjoyed the music and traditional dancing. (Exeter’s Earth Day event, scheduled for April 22, was cancelled due to rain.)
April 19 2010: Kelly Mitchell starts work as TCCRG’s new Executive Director (working part-time initially, going to full-time July 1). (See article on “News” page.)
April and May 2010: TCCRGers put in hundreds of hours reading, researching, and analyzing the draft GPU/RDEIR documents, writing comments, conferencing with other commenters, and working with consultant Laurie Oberholtzer on the group’s official comment letter.
May 6 2010: At a house party graciously hosted in Visalia, TCCRGers present our GPU PowerPoint presentation and participate in a lively discussion about sustainable development , including the topic of Transition Towns.
May 27 2010: TCCRG and dozens of other groups and individuals submit hundreds of pages of comments at the close of the GPU/RDEIR comment period. You can read TCCRG’s comments here: TCCRG’S Comments Submitted 052710 to Tulare County on the Recirculated Draft EIR (RDEIR) of the General Plan Update (GPU) 2030