New Morgue at Hillman Center
Summary
SCH Number
2024040239
Public Agency
Tulare County
Document Title
New Morgue at Hillman Center
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/4/2024
Document Description
The current Tulare County Sheriff’s Office morgue is 980 sq. ft. and was opened in the 1980's. The building originally housed the office of Weights and Measures. It was retrofitted to accommodate the needs of a Coroner's Office at the time. The facility has not had a significant remodel in over thirty (30) years. The Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office is considered a high-volume “busy” office and is currently forced to hold bodies at mortuaries throughout the County. The new facility will help eliminate additional operating expenses and transport charges and will store all the bodies in one location. The project includes the design of a new, single-story morgue building of approximately 6,000 square feet on an existing site adjacent to other Sheriff’s facilities in Tulare, California. The building will contain an autopsy suite with six sinks supporting twin carriers to create three separate cutting stations, histology room with controlled storage, radiology suite for cat-scan and portable x-ray, refrigerated storage for fifty bodies, secure loading area, staff support facilities, administrative areas including three private offices, and public lobby with separate counseling room. Related site improvements will include on-site utility connections, parking, and limited landscaping.
Contact Information
Name
Mark A Van Fossen
Agency Name
County of Tulare, Resource Management Agency
Job Title
Capital Projects Coord III
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Tulare
Counties
Tulare
Regions
Citywide
Township
20S
Range
24E
Section
14
Other Location Info
1225 South O Street, Tulare, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Class 3 Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, and Class 32, Section 15332
Reasons for Exemption
This action is consistent with Section 15303 Class 3, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures and Section 15332 Class 32, In-fill Development Projects. Tulare County General Services will be constructing the New Morgue to provide a modern facility that can accommodate the County’s need for storage of bodies in one facility. The proposed facility is less than 10,000 square feet and will comply with Tulare County Environmental Health Division regulations, including a Hazardous Materials Business Plan if necessary. The proposed new morgue will be located within the existing Hillman Center campus in the City of Tulare. The project is consistent with the 2035 Tulare General Plan land use and zoning designations. The project site is currently developed and has no value as habitat for special status species. The site is currently served by utilities and public services and will not result in significant impacts to special status species, traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality. As such, Sections 15303 and 15332 are applicable and appropriate for this project.
County Clerk
Tulare
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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