On Thursday, the Turlock Planning Commission will decide whether or not the sale of property, including the War Memorial and former Turlock Police Department, to the Turlock Irrigation District is consistent with the General Plan.
Turlock City Council provided direction and authority to move forward with the sale of the former Turlock Police Department, War Memorial, and Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park to TID, following a closed session offer made by TID in March of 2013.
Prior to that closed session meeting, the City and TID had been in talks about the sale of property in November 2012.
TID's Main Office Building shares a city block — bounded by East Canal Drive, North Palm Street, Starr Avenue, and North Denair Avenue — with the Police Department, Skate Park, and War Memorial.
The City was expected to move forward with the sale in October of 2013, when the Turlock Police Department moved to its current location at the Public Safety Facility, located at 244 N. Broadway Ave. However, there was a delay due to lot line adjustments associated with the Stanislaus County-owned former site of Turlock’s courthouse and relocation of the Skate Park.
Those issues have since been resolved, according to staff reports, including the relocation of the Skate Park.
Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park was originally planned to be relocated to Donnelly Park in November 2013, following finalization in August 2013. That move was delayed, however, as part of the Skate Park was funded by state grants and the relocation had not yet been approved by the State of California.
In March 2014, the expectation was to begin planning for the new skate park in August of this year. During the relocation, Turlock is expected to be without a skate park for a two month period between November 2015 and February 2016.
Since the issues have been resolved, sale of the properties can now move forward.
The Planning Commission will consider a resolution to determine whether the disposition of the property is consistent with the General Plan and is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, thus approving the disposition.
On Thursday, the Planning Commission will also:
- Receive an update on the South County Corridor.
- Receive an update on the Active Transportation Plan.
- Considering approving a Stanislaus County use permit for a Verizon cell tower in Turlock and referring the permit to the Stanislaus County Planning Commission on Feb. 19.
- Elect a Chair and Vice Chair of the commission for 2015.
Turlock Planning Commission will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Yosemite Room of City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.
