SCH Number 2026020370

Project Info

Title

Tortuga Bay Water Park Project

Description

Tortuga Bay Water Park, LLC (Property Owner and Applicant) has applied to amend the City of Bakersfield’s Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan land use designation and the Municipal Code zone classification for a 152 gross acre site located at the southeast corner of the Hageman Road and Mohawk Street intersection, in the northwest portion of Bakersfield, CA (Figure 1-Vicinity Map and Figure 2-Project Location Map). The proposed Project includes a General Plan Amendment that would change the land use designation on the Project site from the existing LI (Light Industrial), SI (Service Industrial), and HI (Heavy Industrial) to LI, SI, HI, GC (General Commercial), and P (Parks)(Figures 3, Existing General Plan Designations, and Figure /Proposed General Plan Designations). The proposed Zone Change would change the zone classification on the Project site from M-1 (Light Manufacturing), M-2 (General Manufacturing), and M-3 (Heavy Industrial) to M-1, M-2, M-3, C-2 (General Commercial), and OS-P (Open Space – Parks), or more restrictive zones (Figures 5, Existing Zoning Classifications, and 6- Proposed Zoning Classifications). The proposed Project uses existing land use entitlements, together with proposed land use modifications, to design a Project that would be internally integrated and compatible with surrounding off-site uses, particularly the existing residential areas to the north and west of the Project site. The proposed Project achieves this by downgrading the existing entitled medium and heavy industrial designations along the north, west, and south portions of the Project site to recreational, commercial, light, and service industrial, and by siting a surgery center and medical offices on the northern portion of the Project site near existing elderly care facilities. The proposed water park would be located in the center of the site, giving ample distance from existing residential uses to the north and southwest. The anticipated height of the tallest portion of the proposed Project is 60 feet, with most commercial and industrial buildings ranging from 20 to 35 feet. The proposed Project consists of the following uses: Northeast—General commercial uses consisting of a surgery center, medical offices, and one hotel. Northwest—General commercial uses consisting of a commercial retail village, restaurants, and a gas station. Central – Water park, state-of-the-art golf range, and parking. Southwest—Light Industrial uses consist of contractor storage yards, tool rental and equipment, truck repairing and overhauling shops, welding, metal fabricating, blacksmith shops, wholesale businesses, storage buildings and warehouses, and light manufacturing. Southeast—Heavy Industrial use consisting of alcohol and alcoholic beverages manufacture, automobile and truck parts manufacturer, freighting and trucking yards and terminals, and glass product manufacture (Section 17.31.020 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code). Currently, the Project site is accessed from Hageman Road and Mohawk Street. However, the proposed Project would also complete the remaining west portion of the newly constructed Landco Drive along the Project’s eastern boundary, as well as the extension of Krebs Road, which bisects the Project from east to west. The proposed Project would also create a series of internal streets to provide access to future parcels. The provision of internal roads and driveways would be required to be engineered and constructed in accordance with design standards set forth by the City of Bakersfield. The City of Bakersfield has established design specifications in order to reduce the potential for conflict between vehicular traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists crossing driveways and intersections. During Project development and operation, the proposed Project would be required to comply with all City of Bakersfield emergency access requirements. The Bakersfield Municipal Code (BMC) establishes emergency access requirements in the General Provisions for Fire Safety section. BMC Section 15.65.190 (Appendix D, Section D103.5 Fire Apparatus Access Road Gates – Amended) identifies requirements associated with emergency access. These specific requirements will be included in the Project design and would require verification by the City of Bakersfield Fire Chief prior to the approval of any aspect of the overall Project. Additionally, during the construction of the proposed Project, construction contractors would be required to maintain adequate emergency access routes on site. The proposed Project will provide adequate parking spaces to accommodate employees, visitors/customers, and loading/freight vehicles.

2 documents in project