Tulare County Behavioral Health Residential Campus Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026100205
Public Agency
Tulare County
Document Title
Tulare County Behavioral Health Residential Campus Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/7/2026
Document Description
The 2.72-acre site is the former Casa Grande Assisted Living Facility and contains two existing buildings, onsite parking, and an unimproved area. The County acquired the property in 2023 and proposes to renovate and repurpose the existing campus as the Tulare County Behavioral Health Residential Campus to provide inpatient/residential behavioral health and supportive services. In addition to
renovation and reuse of the existing facilities, Building 2 would be expanded by approximately 4,480 square feet on the south end of the building. The preliminary plans identify Building 2 as approximately 24,360 square feet following the addition. The current action includes program funding, renovation/conversion, the Building 2 addition, and operation of the existing campus.
Contact Information
Name
Gary Mills
Agency Name
County of Tulare, Resource Management Agency
Job Title
Chief Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Jessica Wills
Agency Name
County of Tulare, Resource Management Agency
Job Title
Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Diane Higginbotham
Agency Name
Behavioral Health Division
Job Title
Administrative Specialist II
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Cities
unincorporated area, Visalia
Counties
Tulare
Regions
Southern California, Unincorporated
Zip
93277
Parcel #
123-063-034
Township
19S
Range
25E
Section
5
Other Location Info
347 E. Walnut Ave., Visalia, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Class 1 Section 15301(a) and (e)(2), Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301,
Class 1, Existing Facilities, including subsections (a) and (e)(2). Section 15301(a) applies to the operation and minor alteration of existing public or private structures and facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, including interior or exterior alterations such as partitions, plumbing, and electrical conveyances. The Project would renovate and reuse the existing former assisted-living campus for residential behavioral health services. Section 15301(e)(2) allows additions to existing structures of not more than 10,000 square feet where all
public services and facilities are available to allow for maximum development permissible under the General Plan and the area in which the Project is located is not environmentally sensitive.
The approximately 4,480-square-foot addition to Building 2 is below the 10,000-square-foot limit and would occur within the existing developed campus. The County has determined, based on the Project record, that the publicservice/
facility and environmental-sensitivity criteria of Section 15301(e)(2) are met and that none of the exceptions to the use of categorical exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. Any future new construction or material expansion beyond the scope described in this Notice would require separate CEQA review.
County Clerk
Tulare
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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