Matheny Tract Wins Critical Victory at Tulare LAFCO

TULARE – Yesterday, in what Tulare LAFCO Commissioner’s Juliet Allen and Steve Worthley repeatedly referred to as an “issue of environmental justice” the commission voted unanimously to condition the annexation of 500 acres for an industrial park on the extension of water and sewer services to the community of Matheny Tract. Matheny Tract, a low-income, primarily minority community just south of the City of Tulare, has been without potable water, sewer services and other basic infrastructure since it was founded in the 1940’s.

The Commission is also requiring the City of Tulare to inform all property owners in the community of any proposed development in the new industrial park, versus the legal requirement that only homes within 300 feet of development be notified. Additionally, the City must process an application for annexation to the City if 25% or more property owners in Matheny tract sign a petition for annexation; typically the law requires 50%. Tulare LAFCO also announced plans to consider formulating a policy of waiving annexation fees by 50% for communities similar to Matheny Tract.

At the hearing, residents also described the hazardous conditions they face daily from decades of lack of investment by the County and City’s lack of regard for their safety and input in decisions that impact them, including zoning the community “light industrial” in the 2030 general plan. When asked by LAFCO Commissioners why the City zoned a residential community with over 900 residents as industrial, Mark Kielty-the City’s Planning and Building Director, stated that the zoning was changed because the City was “mad” at the County and that he knew it “would come back to haunt [the City].”

After LAFCO announced its decision Commissioner Allen praised the community for all of their hard work. Despite the hearing being held during working hours, over 20 residents of the community attended the LAFCO hearing to express concerns about the health and safety of their community. Twelve community members spoke of the negative effects of city development around them which now includes light and heavy industry both to the East and West of the community, where a sewage treatment plant that spews a horrible stench lies less than a mile away from the community and soon will include a large slaughterhouse-all of which residents were unaware of until decisions to construct them were finalized.

The application process for grants to extend water services to the community is underway. Extension of sewer services is also expected to come primarily from grants.

Elated by the victory, Doris McMillan, who grew up in Matheny Tract, says that “the community is deserving of this justice because since the 40’s the community has suffered the injustice of being caught between county and city.”