July 9,2014
Tulare County officials say building permit requests for residential
housing soared and the value of construction permits issued during the
County*s recently completed Fiscal Year 2013/2014 increased as well.
“During the last 12 months the County has issued 66% more permits for
single family homes in the unincorporated areas,” said Phil Cox,
Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “We’ve also seen a
substantial growth in economic activity and commercial building.
Although we are not in direct competition with cities for housing, this
is a clear sign of an improving economy.*
County records show 3,116 building permits were issued in FY 2013/2014
* representing projects with a total construction value of $141.6
million. That represents 4.75% growth in building permit values over the
previous fiscal year, when county officials processed 3,266 permits
worth a total value of $135.2 million.
County economic development officials say this represents an average
7.25% increase in construction permit values over the last three fiscal
years.
*The value of county building permits issued last fiscal year
increased by $6.4 million over the value of permits issued during the
prior 12 month period,” Board Chairman Cox said *Tulare Counties
effort to work closer with clients and businesses either looking to
locate to Tulare County or expand their existing operations is exceeding
our Boards expectations. We are very happy with the hard work our own
team puts in everyday to grow Tulare County.*
*This is significant and sustained growth over a three year
period,* said County Administrator Jean Rousseau. *We believe
some of that growth is due to our countywide effort to be become more
business friendly.*
What*s changed? Two years ago the Board of Supervisors established an
in house economic development program to foster value growth. Challenged
to make the county easier to do business with, planning administrators
developed a team-based approach toward business development. For
example, if someone wanted to fast-track construction of a medical
clinic, or expand a large Ag processing facility on an aggressive
timeline, the county developed a *new* team-based process to
accommodate that developer*s needs.
Tulare County Economic Development Manager Michael Washam said much of
the increase in new construction occurred in four business sectors:
Renewable energy, retail commercial, agriculture and health care.
*We have tried to focus on what we are good at, and our county has
made a strong commitment to encourage agri-business expansion,* Washam
said. *Our county is also one of the few in the state that has an
expedited permitting process developed specifically for renewable energy
projects.*
Construction continues on approved utility scale solar projects. In the
last 12 months Tulare County has issued building permits for $7.3
million-worth of solar projects and additional renewable energy growth
is expected this year.
*The County recently issued permits worth $4.3 million for the Pixley
biogas project and another $1.1 million permit for an innovative carbon
dioxide capture plant * a state of the art facility that produces food
grade CO2 used in carbonated drinks,* Washam said.
Building permits are currently pending for the Atwell Island West solar
project recently purchased by Con Edison Development.
In addition to renewable energy projects Setton Farms pulled more than
$2 million-worth of permits for plant expansions; Paramount Citrus
expanded greenhouse facilities – $4.9 million in permits; Family Health
Care Network*s new rural medical clinic in Terra Bella and a thorough
renovation and expansion of its Porterville clinic represent a combined
permit value of $1.7 million. Also approved: Tulare Community Health
Center*s new medical clinic in Woodville – $550,000 in permits.
Family Dollar, Auto Zone, Dollar General and Tulare Firestone Tires
have all built new stores in the unincorporated area of Tulare County
during the past twelve months * a combined $3.6 million in permit
value.