TRAVER – The next housing boom for Tulare County families looking for less expensive options outside the city limits may be Traver.
At its Feb. 11 meeting, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors amended its General Plan to expand the existing Urban Development Boundary for Traver, located in the northwest corner of the county. In its last General Plan Update between 2012-2014, the supervisors made a concerted effort to promote development in unincorporated communities like Goshen and Traver to improve the quality of life for residents living there. General Plans guide growth in communities over the course of 20-30 years.
The amendment includes adding 238 acres directly east and south of the unincorporated community and changes the zoning from “Valley Agriculture” to “Mixed Use” allowing the community to expand.
The proposed changes to the land use designation and zoning would allow a mixture of non-agricultural uses, predominantly residential uses with supporting light industrial and commercial, open space and public facilities uses.
The staff report says with “faster project processing resulting from an expanded UDB for the Traver community, increased employment opportunities are more likely to be provided by the private sector as future proposed project developments can be approved as expeditiously as possible.”
Traver (population 730) in northern Tulare County has a few industries including the big Foster Farms feed mill just south of the proposed rezone area. The community is best known for its Bravo Farms eatery, gift shop and recreation area off Highway 99.
