Tulare County board continues Williamson Act approvals after Visalia withdraws protest

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors closed a continued public hearing and moved to approve new Williamson Act land‑conservation applications after the City of Visalia told the board it no longer wished to file a protest.

County staff said this hearing continued from the Nov. 5, 2024 meeting and covers preservation applications PAP 24‑007 through PAP 24‑011; staff reported the county received 26 preservation applications totaling 3,678 acres for the 2024 public hearing cycle. Of that total, staff said 23.87 acres were identified as prime and 1,291 acres as nonprime; 2,750 acres had been approved at the Nov. 5 meeting, and five PAPs (including PAP 24‑007 through 24‑011 and PAP 24‑016) totaling 928 acres were continued to Dec. 3 for final action.

Paul Bridal, representing the City of Visalia, told the board that city staff had reviewed the matter and had no further comments and would work with county staff on any site‑specific concerns if they arise when properties enter eligibility for development. “After further studying the government code related to protest ... city staff has no further comments,” Bridal said.

County staff provided a map showing properties within one mile of Visalia’s city limits and indicated a consent calendar item on Dec. 10 would authorize the land conservation contracts and contract amendments for the PAPs. The board voted to conclude the public hearing and approved the staff recommendation; the transcript records the motion passed unanimously but does not provide a roll‑call tally.

The action advances the county’s schedule for executing Williamson Act land conservation contracts; staff will return on Dec. 10 with consent‑calendar documents to finalize the contracts and any amendments.