Category: Central Valley

-September 6,2022-

After losing in Tulare County Superior Court, the City of Visalia may be ready to to rescind their plan to ditch an agricultural land mitigation fee on developers of farmland being brought into the city for development. The lands are in Tier 2 on the city’s general plan map – on the outskirt of town.

The matter is coming to the city council Sept 6 closed door session and a vote by the council might be expected.

To listen to Mayor Steve Nelsen who has been a strong advocate of no mitigation fee in the past, Nelsen now is “ ready to move on” and allow the fee as demanded by the Sierra Club and others.

Nelsen says an appeal of the ruling would be both time consuming and uncertain requiring a whole new EIR process. Alternatively rescinding the no fee regulation has already been done a few weeks ago and the former EIR will now be in place that requires the fee.

Nelsen says is concerned that “we keep the momentum going“ on new development including pending new residential annexations and important projects like the Costco in NW Visalia.

Another council member has long advocated for ag land mitigation fee.That council member, Greg Collins will likely support reinstatement of the fee as well. As a practical matter fighting the judge’s ruling could jeopardize the boom in activity seen across all sectors of the Visalia economy. We will see how the rest vote.

Look for some kind of statement this week from the city.

-September 2,2022-

Kings gas fired power plants help keep the lights on
Diablo Canyon drama this week

Two Kings fossil fueled power plants have been thought of as relics of the past.The natural gas fired 100MW plants located across from NAS Lemoore and the Hanford Industrial Park may be old news but they turn out to be good news for residents suffering through this week’s continuing days of 110 degree extreme heat that does not let up at night either. NWS weathermen say they expect night time temps in Hanford to be 10 degrees or more warmer than average. Solar works great in the day hours but when you come home from work and crank up the AC where is the power going to come from?

That’s where the local power plants come in, now owned by Chicago-based Middle River who supply power under contract to PG&E and the state system operator.

“The plants can operate any time but we find they are needed most not just in the summer months but in the winter when there is less sunlight“ says Mark Kubow CEO.

In an effort to extend the useful supply of power, Middle River plans to add one-hour battery storage to the Henrietta power plant that will allow the plant to supply that one hour without turning on the plant – so power is sent to grid with with no emissions – a key goal of regulators.Anyone who has traveled the Avenal Cutoff has seen this plant surrounded now by solar panels.

At their Hanford plant, they will add 42 MW of battery storage, says Kubow, to go on line by 2024.

That will increase the power that can be supplied by the two Kings County plants to 242 MW – or enough to supply the electric power needs of 200,000 homes, he says. There are about 47,000 houses in Kings County.

Middle River does the same for other parts of California with 10 plants in their portfolio in the state.

State power officials have changed their tune about gas fired power recently emphasizing the need to allow theses fossil fuel facilities to meet power needs not met by solar, wind or hydro power in part due to extreme weather events like we are seeing in California this week.Another factor- renewables are not coming on line as fast as they had estimated due to supply bottlenecks.

Among the assets the state is taking a second look at is Diablo nuclear power plant that may not be mothballed in 2025 after all. Diablo Canyon generates around 200MW of power day and night.

A bill to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open past 2025 will come up for a vote in the state Legislature this week at press time Wednesday — but it requires two thirds approval from both houses. The plant would close in 2029 instead of 2025. To meet a deadline, PG&E must submit an application for federal funding in September.

Lemoore City Manager- PGE capacity problems hamper new development in town

Lemoore City Manager Nate Olson says the city is negotiating for serval new developments to locate in town but the projects are hampered by PG&E’s lack of available capacity to power the new developments that could bring more jobs to town.”We are talking to PG&E now to try to work something out but there are are few alternatives” he shrugs.

PG&E to replace overhead lines at Tulare demonstration forest to cut wildfire risk

PG&E plans to install a new remote solar micro-grid at the Whitaker’s Forest Research Station within Whitaker’s Forest. Whitaker’s Forest is an approximately 350-acre forest plot bordering both the National Forest and National Park. The place is owned and managed by the University in Tulare County

Once installed, solar would provide existing residential structures on-site with a consistent and reliable source of electricity that would replace the need for the existing overhead electric distribution lines. It consists of a 12-panel solar array mounted on the roof of a new shipping container and battery storage.The Project is part of PG&E’s Remote Grids Pilot Program, a program within PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program.

Valley tomato production down 5 percent

USDA says contracted production for California processing tomatoes this year is forecast at 10.5 million tons, averaging 46.9 tons per acre. The current production forecast is 2% below last year’s contracted production, and 10% below the May forecast.

The projected harvested acreage of tomatoes grown under contract is 224,000 acres, which is 1% lower than in 2021.
Expected production continued to decrease as the season progressed. Acres that were planted early were hit by frost damage that affected yields and crop quality.

Concern over low supply was prevalent as the lack of water availability and high summer temperatures have made it difficult for growers to meet market demand.

Harvest began during the second week of July. At this point, the flow of tomatoes has been consistently below last year. The Processing Tomato Advisory Board published shipments through August 27, 2022, showing a 5% decrease compared to the end of August in 2021.

 

Car sales down in California / EV sales up

New light vehicle registrations in California declined 17.9 percent during the first six months of this year versus year earlier, in line with the 18.3 percent drop in the nation. Information is from the California New Car Dealers.
As the vehicle market continues to navigate high demand, chip shortages, supply chain issues and production problems, the current economy could allow dealerships to help replenish their inventories as manufacturing of new vehicles is able to catch-up with demand, California New Car Dealers Association Chairman, John Oh, General Manager of Lexus of Westminster says. “We are thankful California isn’t being hit as deeply as other regions in the nation across all vehicle registration sectors. Additionally, we are seeing some increased interest in the electric vehicle market that are very promising.” Nearly 30% of new statewide registrations are electric or hybrid vehicles so far in 2022.

Near record butter prices

Kings County dairymen should not complain about high grocery prices considering the hefty price they are getting for a key commodity in preparing meals every day – butter. With the fall baking season coming up, the wholesale price for butter on the commodity market now exceeds three dollars a pound.That is near an all time high and almost double what butter costs a year ago. Blame low supply in storage and reduced supply in the hot summer months. Processors have been turning more milk into cheese, say sources. Dairy operators defend themselves facing sky high production costs from feed to labor and fuel.They say processors are pocketing the extra receipts

-August 11,2022-

Developer Caprock plans 2.7 mil square ft in four new buildings

The Visalia Industrial Park has plenty of room to grow to its north and west without impacting Visalia’s populated neighborhoods. Now the park’s biggest developer,Newport Beach-based CapRock, who has worked with Amazon to occupy two, million square plus warehouses here, is now planning a third – even larger complex to the west of Plaza and a country block north of Riggin.

According to the plan filed with the city last month, the developer would phase construction of the 155 acre industrial park with the first phase breaking ground next year, says principal Pat Daniels.Total under roof would be 2.7 million square feet in 4 concrete tilt-up buildings.

While the tenants for the buildings are speculative, the plan suggests they could employ around 2000 workers with some 2100 parking places for cars.The plan says they want to feed inbound trucks into the new cluster of buildings off of Plaza.

The huge parcel, Phase 3 of the Caprock developments – will be sandwiched in between Kibler on the north, Plaza on the east, America (Rd 76) to the west and Riverway on the south – one mile north of Riggin along Modoc Ditch.

Full buildout and signalization of the Kibler Ave. and Plaza Dr. intersection is required with the development of Phase 2A of the Caprock projects- the new Amazon now nearing completion just north of the first Amazon. If you did not know, the Caprock’s plan includes another million sq ft planned at the southeast corner of Kibler and Plaza currently just scrub land.

Now Daniels has jumped Plaza to do the next phase (3) west of Plaza that will be built out before Phase 2b starts in a few years, says Daniels. The reason could be Daniels has a different LLC who looks to invest in Phase 3 and perhaps a proposed tenant who has selected this location a mile closer to Highway 99.

The following changes have been incorporated into the site plan since the first Site Plan Review meeting January 5, 2022 for Phase 3. The site plan incorporates changes to address input received from the City of Visalia thru subsequent meetings on January 21, 2022, and March 29, 2022.

Onsite construction will be phased, and offsite improvements on Plaza, Keebler, and future American are anticipated to be completed as detailed in requirements previously provided by City of Visalia. There are no vehicular or truck access points being proposed to American/Road 76 with Building 1

One thing to keep in mind, this new project is literally pioneering this area requiring all off site infrastructure to be in place before development is done, a time consuming process.

A little history:

CapRock set off the Visalia logistics boom, selling acreage to UPS that became a 450,000 square-foot package distribution hub opening in 2020. That was followed by construction of the 1.1 million square-foot Amazon fulfillment center, operational as of last September. Between the two locations, 1,700 people are employed.

A handful of large players are building or planning to build including Phoenix based Seefried Industries nearing completion the new Ace Hardware center and planning another 535,00sf spec building, YS Industries who just this week filed plans for a 1.55 mil sf development, Fowler Packing – planing to break ground early next year on a 312,000sf warehouse, American Air’s Butch Oldfield, busy with a slew of new industrial projects and Irvine-based Greenfield Partners working on a 2 mil sf complex at Kelsey and 198. Also add the Ritchie/Vidovich partners who plan a massive new park north of Riggin and west of Shirk totaling 280 acres and adding some 3000 new jobs.

Don’t forget who was the largest player for years here, John Brelsford’s DDG company who has 150 acres at Plaza and Riggin.The Fresno company started the spec building trend in Visalia.

Besides these big projects, the industrial park is also laying out new mom and pop industrial parcels from 5 to 10 acres mostly south of Goshen Ave along American. Now investor Santokh Toor has filed preliminary plans for an 80 acre development with 10 small parcels at American and Hurley. west of Plaza.

Could stall Visalia new home construction

-August 3,2022-

In a July 21 ruling Tulare County Superior Court Judge David Mathias ruled against the City of Visalia over their revised program to not require ag land mitigation from developers who want to bring farmland into the city for urban development.The previous policy, part of the General Plan, would have required developers – typically home builders – to pay into a fund that would set aside ag land elsewhere. The mitigation policy would apply to ag land in Tiers 11 and 111- generally at the city’s urban edge. The city’s general plan, adopted in 2014, featured a three-tier system to encourage development first in Tier 1 before future subdivisions in Tier 11 and 111 were added.

Some 51% of the Visalia Planning Area is classified as Prime Farmland. The General Plan assumes as Visalia grows to full buildout it will develop 14,265 total acres of Important Farmland, of which 12,490 acres are Prime Farmland.

The mitigation policy has been championed by those who want to discourage sprawl on the outskirts of the city and promote infill within the city.The fee developers would pay would help buy the mitigation land on a one-to-one basis.

The judge did not rule on the merits of the ag mitigation policy but ruled against the city for not fully assessing the change in policy under CEQA that ended the Ag Mitigation Program(AMP). The ruling means that the ag mitigation program will stay for now.

Visalia Mayor Steve Nelsen says he was “surprised – thinking the plan we made was ironclad.” Now he says he understands “this is not a minor fix and we need to know if this will delay us.”

Sierra Club attorney Babak Naficy commented “that the City of Visalia will be mandated to rescind their amended policy” adding that the city consultant study on the plan was faulty.

Court documents show that the Sierra Club and Central Valley Partnership challenged the City adopted amendment last August by filing a petition for writ of mandate, contending the City lacked substantial evidence to support removal of the AMP requirement; and that the City abused its discretion by preparing an “addendum” to a previously. certified environmental impact report (EIR) for the policy change rather than a subsequent or supplemental EIR.

Judge Mathias agreed.”The court finds use of an addendum in the circumstances of this case is not supported by substantial evidence in the record, and, therefore, grants the petition. The court’s ruling is confined to this limited issue, and specifically does not extend to the ultimate issue of whether the AMP requirement may or should be removed from the general plan.”

Seven Visalia developments impacted now

For home builders wanting to build in Tier 11, the effect is the same until the city goes through a full EIR to remove the AMP from the general plan – a lengthy process that could put off new approvals for months or even years and with an uncertain outcome.

Who will be impacted? Mayor Nelsen says he understands there are seven Visalia housing projects ready to move into Tier 11 in the pipeline after several years of a boom in permit activity.“For those 7 projects to move forward, we need to iron this out.”

Now the Tulare County judge has ruled the city action needs to be rescinded – putting in limbo new applications for subdivisions in Tier 11, some 1500 acres inside the urban boundary. The need for Tier 11 land to build is clear from the fact that most of the Tier 1 land in the city has now been subdivided.

Last August the city filed a Notice of Determination for General Plan Amendment No. 2021-01. An Addendum to the City of Visalia General Plan Update Environmental Impact Report was prepared in association with the General Plan Amendment. General Plan Amendment amends Land Use Policy LU-P-34, removing a requirement for the establishment of an agricultural mitigation program applicable to urban development in Growth Tiers II and III.For residential uses, the threshold to move to Tier 11 is the issuance of permits for 5,850 housing units

At that time city staff argued that circumstances had changed since 2014. Their feasibility study suggested that a local City-wide AMP may result in” a patchwork of easements not contiguous enough to sustain economic viability”. Also that effectiveness of such a program is questionable and the cost of purchasing easements “would be cost-prohibitive.” A study said the average median density home would cost an extra $585 due to AMP fees.

An example of a Tier 11 application that appears to be stalled is a request submitted last April for the Belissa Residential Community Project- a 477-unit, low, medium, and high-density residential development with commercial and open space on 58.78 gross acres within the City of Visalia planning area.The proposed project site is located within the Urban Development Boundary Tier II, North of the Visalia city limits. The site is located North of Riverway Avenue and East of Demaree Street on vacant land behind an existing single-family residential subdivision. The builder appears to be Clovis-based Wathen Castanos.

Theoretically, the city could simply start to collect the AMP fee from developers so as not to slow plans while they wait to sort out Visalia’s long term policy. If the AMP is adopted, development projects within the City that convert important farmland to urban uses may be required to conserve farmland outside the City or pay an in-lieu fee.The plan had been for a local land trust like Sequoia Riverlands Trust to implement the program resulting /in protected lands in a greenbelt around the city long term, between Tulare and Visalia for example.

National home builders who do business in the city are among the nation’s largest including Beazer Homes, Lennar, DR Horton and Pulte Group who own Centex. Woodside Homes is a national company now owned by a Japanese firm.These companies are used to such mitigation plans in other jurisdictions like Kern County.

Even though the Generals Plan was adopted in 2014, nobody has had to pay the AMP fee yet since the City Council changed the plan before Tier 11 payments were set to start.Now the city is in a pickle wanting to encourage development to continue but suddenly pressed to require builders to start paying the mitigation fee or hurry up and wait.

Slowdown?

This legal news comes just as the local home building activity appears to be slowing down due to FED induced high mortgage interest rates. The latest construction statistics indicate that in June and July 2022 local builders permitted 88 new sf homes compared to 160 new homes for the same two months in 2021.

What is up in 2022 are permits for multi- family units at 475 so far this year compared to 130 through July 2021. As for existing home sales in Visalia in July, the number of sold listings is down at about 15% from July 2021.

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Panera Bread plans Northside location

Popular eatery Panera Bread is planning a Northside Visalia restaurant a the nw corner of Dinuba Highway and Sedona.It will be in the Donahue Schreiber center that includes In-N-Out and Pollo Loco.

Panera Bread operates as a bakery café and fast-casual restaurant, with over 2,000 locations around the United States and Canada. Panera offers a wide variety of pastries and baked goods, typically baked daily, each morning by on-staff bakers. Aside from the bakery selections, Panera serves a regular menu for dine-in, takeout, or drive-thru ordering which includes: sandwiches, flatbreads, pasta, soups, salads, Panera Kids, smoothies, coffee drinks, and tea. Panera will not serve alcohol at this location.

The proposed hours of operation for the store and drive-thru at this location will be Sunday – Saturday, 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM. This location will employ Panera’s new, double drive-thru lane operation. Lane 1 is to operate as a standard drive-thru lane. Lane 2 is for “rapid pick up” orders for customers who order ahead (online), notify Employees of arrival, and then proceed to the pick-up window.

 This location will employ about 12-15 employees per shift, with a total of 60-75 employees. The number of customers per day is estimated to be approximately 400.

 

VUSD plans to convert church to home school

The project is an interior remodel to convert space at the existing Grace Community Church into training room, administrative offices, and other uses for home school and independent studies students.The project is being proposed by the Visalia Unified School District who has purchased the 25,000 sf church building. The site is on north Lovers Lane at Mill Creek Parkway

Family Healthcare Network plans to develop square block into adult daycare facility

Visalia-based Family Healthcare Networks plans to develop a vacant square block in east Visalia into an adult daycare facility continuing their investment in the greater Downtown area.

The two-story facility would be 25,000sf located between School and Murray Santa Fe and Tipton. Clients would be picked up in vans in the day and dropped back home later.They expect to serve 150 persons a day.

-July 30,2022-

VISALIA: LA-based YS Industries is planning to build a 6-building,1.55 mil sf/ ft industrial project at the southwest corner of Shirk and Riggin at the eastern entrance to the Visalia Industrial Park. The project will be heard at the early August Site Plan Review meeting

YS Industries has already built several large concrete tilt-up warehouses, one now occupied by SunRun.They have a 355,000sf building under construction on Clancy near this new project being built by BJ Perch.The building is expected to be completed late this year.

The new project is located on 75 acres that include a large dairy that will be relocated. The development will need to be annexed into the city.The Shirk and Riggin intersection is planned to be signalized drawing traffic not just to the industrial park but to the new Costco on the northeast corner.

The project consists of an industrial park with the construction of six new warehouses and distribution buildings. This is a shell building type of development; the tenant has not been identified. Any future tenant improvements will comply with all applicable requirements for the existing zoning.

The size of each building is as follows:

A ±331,840, B ±188,020, C±188,020,D ±297,160, E ±297,160, F ±250,880.
Total square feet will be ±1,553,080.

Current site (A.P.N. 077-200-006) is an 74.77-acre parcel. The east part of the site is vacant and the west part of the site is an existing dairy.

-July 27,2022-
Former Drive-In Theater will be Derrel’s Mini Storage

The owner of Derrel’s Mini Storage is requesting the County to modify the previously approved Sequoia Drive-In Business Park Master Development Guidelines in order to accommodate the establishment of the first phase of large Derrel’s Mini-Storage within the footprint of the previously approved project. This modification would also add twenty acres of additional territory to accommodate the second phase of Derrel’s Mini-Storage. The area that is proposed to be added currently is planted to walnuts. The proposed site is located approximately one-quarter mile east of the City of Visalia.It is the long vacant Sequoia Auto Theatre that opened on July 28, 1950, with a capacity for 500 cars. It was operated by Westland Theaters as a second run drive-in.Derrell’s has some 62 locations in the Valley including four in Visalia.
Downtown Visalia bank will relocate

Fresno-based Central Valley Community Bank has made a public notice that they will relocate their Downtown Visalia location from 120 N Floral to 120 W Center – at Locust. The bank’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ and is near a 52-week low falling to $15.78 this week from $23 a share in April.Central Valley Community Bancorp acquired Visalia Community Bank on July 1, 2013. Visalia Community Bank has been at this location since its founding in 1977.

 
Valley Pure will relocate in Farmersville

Woodlake-based Valley Pure cannabis dispensary in Farmersville is applying for a Conditional Use Permit, Zone change, and General Plan Amendment to relocate their existing cannabis dispensary. The existing dispensary is located at 515 W. Noble Avenue and would be relocated to a site approximately 600 feet to the east. The proposed new site has an existing 4,800 square foot building (formerly a landscape (rock and groundcover) supply business that would be converted to a cannabis dispensary.

In addition to the dispensary, the project includes a public assembly area for up to 200 people and an overflow gravel parking lot with 68 spaces, immediately east of the existing building.

 
Kaweah Health’s Lifestyle stays healthy

Kaweah Health has adopted a red ink budget for this fiscal year. But one popular unit that is part of the district – the Lifestyle Center – has come out of the pandemic with a strong recovery despite new variant outbreaks and re-implemented indoor masking requirements. The FY 2022 contribution margin of $285,000 is higher than the FY 2019 pre-pandemic contribution margin of $154,000.

Membership continues to increase, trending upward each month of the fiscal year. Starting with just under 9,000 members in July 2021 and up to 9,400 members as of May 2022. Overall membership is up 2% over the prior year, says a report to the board this month.

 
Valley Farmer John hog ranch in jeopardy

Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods is closing its 1,800-employee hog-processing plant in Vernon, California in early 2023, saying that high costs made the plant uneconomical. Smithfield Foods announced it will end operations at its Farmer John pork processing plant in the LA area as the company retreats from California and the West to the Corn Belt. Smithfield said it would supply its customers in California with Farmer John and other brands and products from its facilities in the Midwest. The meat producer, which is headquartered in Virginia and owned by Hong Kong-based WH Group, is facing pressure to keep its prices in check at a time of high inflation and regulatory scrutiny.That includes stricter rules on hog comfort in California being challenged by the industry at the Supreme Court.

The impending closure of the California processor puts hog raising at the Kings County Corcoran hog ranch in jeopardy where it raises pigs for the Farmer John label – one the best selling pork product lines. A call to the ranch elicited a ‘no comment’ from staff.The former ‘CorcPork’ facility is located at 10990 Angiola Ave.

The Farmer John brand has a more than 90-year history selling pork products in California. But according to Smithfield, which has owned the brand since 2017, having the state as a manufacturing base has come at a substantial cost.

Tulare County sales fall but less than California average

California existing home sales dropped 21% in June from a year earlier, says California Association of Realtors.They dropped 8.4% from May as high interest rates hurt sales. In Kings County the median home price was $327,000 compared to $381,000 in May and $295,000 a year ago. Sales were down 22%. Tulare County saw a decline in sales of just 3.7% and the median climbing to $378,000 from $370,000 in May.

 
What the Hay?

Corn prices are down this summer but not hay – a key feed for diaries and horse ranches. Amid drought in the West, forage costs continue to climb says California Milk Producers. According to the Hoyt Report, premium quality alfalfa delivered to dairies in California’s Central Valley commanded an all- time high of $455 per ton last week, up from $282.50 a year ago.

 
The Depot Restaurant is for sale $3.25 m

Realtor Matt Graham is offering a “distinctly unique property available to acquire in downtown Visalia. What used to be Visalia’s original train station, built in 1916, the Depot Restaurant is newly on the market.”The price is $3.25 million. Currently owned by the Vartanian family, the landmark eatery on Oak St has been closed for several years due to Covid and staff shortages.They also own the shuttered Jack and Charlie’s across the street.
Pilot Travel Centers says it will build electric charging stations

July 14 (Reuters) – General Motors Co (GM.N) and travel operator Pilot said Thursday they will develop a national network of 2,000 electric vehicle charging stalls at travel centers to make it easier to recharge near highways.
The companies said the stations will be co-branded “Pilot Flying J” and “Ultium Charge 360”, powered by EVgo and open to all EV brands at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers.

342-unit affordable multi-family project on Lovers Lane

Two large multi -family projects are going through the city site plan review process this week totaling almost 500 units.The largest called Caldwell Apartments, is located at the NW corner of Lovers Lane and Caldwell. The big development sits on 11.4 acres with 342 units termed 100% affordable, tiered to attract residents with various levels of income. The project is being built by Bay Area-based Maracor Development.

The second project- Packwood Apartments is a 144 unit market based complex being proposed by Ron Vander Weerd on 9.5 acres on Demaree south of Caldwell.

The filings follow the trend of a boom in construction of apartment complexes in Visalia this year that follows a slow decade of new apartment building here For the past 10 years, Visalia has permitted just 862 new apartment units in the city.

But there is plenty more space allocated and zoned for more if the market can sustain it. A city report says the General Plan inside the Tier 1 boundary, offers 320 acres for new apartment complexes totaling 4,230 units.

Property values up 7 percent in Tulare County/8.35 percent in Visalia

Tulare County property values are up nearly 7 percent in the past year according to a report of the 2022/23 property rolls from the County Assessor posted in late June. Total valuation countywide is $43.4 billion – up from $40.6 billion in 2021/22.

Visalia,Woodlake and Dinuba were all up over 8 percent.Visalia valuation reached $14.7 billion, up 8.35 percent from 21/22 when it was pegged at $13.6 billion.

Woodlake was up 8.5 percent and Dinuba was just under 8 percent.Lindsay was lowest with 2 percent growth. Tulare was 6.2 percent higher and Porterville was 7.4 percent higher than the year before. Exeter came in at 6 percent higher and Farmersville was up 5.6 percent.
Amazon spending $600K on hydrogen fueling tanks in Visalia

The two Visalia Amazon distribution centers will fuel at least some of their trucks with hydrogen, helping to clear the air as they move through the area. The state is promoting the plan to switch from fossil fuel-based diesel to hydrogen. To accommodate the new trucks Amazon is installing hydrogen fuel tanks at their facilities in the Visalia Industrial Park.The permits are valued at $600,000.

Transportation is a major component of Amazon’s business operations, says the company, and a key part of their plan to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. They are optimizing and transforming the transportation network through technological innovations, efficiency enhancements, and alternative solutions that allow them to deliver packages to customers more sustainably.

The transportation sector is responsible for roughly 28% of the CO2 releases in the United States.Under pressure to cut emissions, truck manufacturers are choosing between batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Amazon is investing in both.A NY Times story recently said “Daimler Truck and Volvo, the two largest truck manufacturers, argue that fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity — emitting only water vapor — make more sense because they would allow long-haul trucks to be refueled quickly.”

-July 7,2022-

The recently passed California state budget includes millions in new funding for the historical Tulare County community of Allensworth founded by Blacks settlers in 1908. Based on the idea that African Americans could own property, learn, thrive, and live the American Dream,it was named by Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth.

The funds includes
-Colonel Allensworth State Park: Approves $28 million to build a visitor center and requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to conduct community engagement efforts to consult with stakeholders in the planning and design of the visitors center and related improvements.

-Allensworth: Provides $12 million total to create the Allensworth Civic & Entrepreneurship Center ($1.6 million) and to expand TAC Teaching & Innovation Farm ($10 million). Authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to give “free days” access to the Colonel Allensworth State Park over the next three years.

 

 

 

Downtown Restaurant News 

Watson’s sells health food store/restaurant

Tim and Kim Watson have sold their Downtown Visalia landmark health food store and restaurant, a fixture on Main Street, to the Cantu family who operate the metaphysical store Ziaya’s in Visalia. Tim says after being in the business for 30 years “Kim and I decided it was time to slow down” perhaps do some European travel.The good news is that not much will change with staff, the store and the menu at Waston’s all staying familiar. The place is a favorite lunch spot with its hidden backyard garden, the best place to have a quiet and healthful meal in Downtown.Tim says the transition to the new owners is already underway.

A little history is in order. Watson’s Health Foods was started by Lionel & Juanita Watson on Willis St. in Visalia in the summer of 1957. Pioneers of health, way before their time. Lionel sold the business to his twin brother, Louis Watson and his grandson Gordon in 1972 while Juanita continued to work in the store. Gordon’s son, Tim & his wife Kim moved to Visalia in 1992 to operate the family business.

Watson’s is located at 617 W Main. Ziayas’ is at  801 E Main-a  Meditation Center, Boutique Store and Gift Shop.

Fugazzis plans second story restaurant at 217 W Main

Italian restaurant favorite Fugazzis has posted a liquor license for 217 W Main in the former Quality Jewelers building being remodeled for multi-tenant and multi-story use.

The sit-down bistro will be located on the second floor. Owner Mike Fligor was not available for comment but sources say he will keep the existing location at Main & Locust.

Nash’s Steakhouse opening Downtown

Little Italy opening in fall

Popular Italian restaurant Little Italyhas received  a permit  to remodel parts of the Main St eatery across from the Fox.Owner Joe Vaccaro expects to open this fall.  The place has been closed for many months due to the Covid pandemic.

After fire-Alejandra’s to expand

Fire-Impacted Alejandras could be open by next May. The popular Mexican restaurant will expand its dining space by 2200sf and add more outside tables down Main Street when it takes over the space that used to be Michaels Jewelry.Jimmy Johns will reopen then as well.