Tulare Sets New Building Record in 2007

By Rick Elkins

Tulare - While building activity slowed across most of the nation and county in 2007, the city of Tulare set a record for total valuation.

Building officials issued permits for 504 new homes and 43 commercial ventures with a combined valuation of $148.7 million, an increase of 2 percent over 2006.

“2007 was a good year for us,” said Mark Kielty, city planning director, referring to new home construction.

The 504 new home permits were the third highest in the city's history. The record was set in 2006, when 675 permits were issued. In 2005, the number was 520.

The totals drop off considerably prior to 2005, with only 336 new home permits issued  in 2004, 288 in 2003 and 310 in 2002.

Kielty does not expect 2008 to be as robust.

“I'd have to expect it to be less,” he said, explaining he sees the number of new home permits falling back into the 275-300 range, which he called historical levels.

The value of the 504 homes built last year was $69.8 million, second highest only to the $90.7 million logged in 2006.

Remodeling of existing homes was brisk in 2007 with the city issuing 506 permits for home additions, repairs or alterations that had a value  of more than $5 million.

Commercial Strong

Offsetting the slight drop in new home construction was an increase commercial building, which got a $10 million boost when the owners of Preferred Outlets of Tulare took out a permit for its Phase IV expansion.

Although construction is not expected to begin until spring, the company took out its permit in December to avoid having to redo plans because of the many state building code changes that went into effect on Jan. 1. While the outlet center was the biggest project to pull a permit, there were several others, including a $1.6 million tractor supply store on East Prosperity Avenue, IHOP, Big Brand Tire Store and the two hotels under construction on Hillman Street behind Smart and Final.

In all, the city issued 43 new commercial permits last year, with the total valuation topping $49.7 million.

Remodeling of the Monte Vista Shopping Center, which now includes the 99-Cent and Smart and Final stores, contributed to the $6.8 million spent on renovating or remodeling existing stores.

While 2008 will not be anywhere near a record year, officials with the city say building activity will still be strong.

On tap are two large additions to United States Cold Storage. The company plans to add an 119,000-square foot dry storage facility and a 144,000-square foot cold storage building to its newest plant on Walnut Avenue, off of Blackstone Street.

Those plans are expected to go to the Planning Commission this month. “They're real hot to get it started,” said Rob Hunt, a senior city planner. Land O'Lakes' plans to replace two 103-foot milk driers at its creamery also will add to the valuation. “It's a pretty big project,” said Hunt, explaining the company is upgrading equipment that has become old. Another project expected to begin this year is Love's Trucking, a large truck stop planned for the extension of Blackstone Street at Paige Avenue.

Site work has already begun on the Del Lago Professional Center on the northwest corner of Hillman Street and Covina Avenue. Bonnie Simoes, senior planner, said several projects have already been approved for the 7.57-acre site and she expects those to be started this year.

Kielty did not expect work to begin this year on the meat packing plant planned for West Bardsley Avenue or on the motor sports complex proposed for 700 acres adjacent to the International Agri-Center. A decision on the raceway could come this year, with construction beginning in 2009.

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Excitement for Hannah Montana Contest, Movie Builds

Tulare - You may think the world can handle only one Hannah Montana, aka Miley Cyrus, the popular Disney television star and musical phenon, but the folks at Preferred Outlets at Tulare have a different vision.

They want to see a sea of blonde and brunette wigs on Saturday, Jan. 26, when the center hosts a Hannah Montana Day parade and look-a-like contest.

The event will herald the coming of the new “Hannah Montana 3-D Concert Movie,” which will have a seven-day showing Feb. 1 -7 at the Galaxy 10 Theatres at the outlet center, 1407 Retherford St.

“We've had a lot of people coming up buying tickets the last three weeks already,” theater manager Nathan Paul said. “We think it will sell out.”

Far removed from his 'tween years, Paul admits he had not heard of Hannah Montana until recently, when he learned the movie was going to be released Feb. 1 for a one-week nationwide showing only at theaters with 3-D digital screens. The Galaxy has two.

Meanwhile, Sherri Frazer, marketing manager for the outlet center and the mother of  a “huge” Hannah Montana fan, explains for those of us clueless about the Disney star: “One of the secrets about her is she's a normal child [Miley Stewart and brunette] during the day and a rock star [Hannah Montana with a blonde wig] at night.”

There is much to like about Hannah Montana, she said. “She's very grounded and she depicts a wholesome 'tween,” Frazer said. “I think it's important our girls have a positive role model.”

Katelynn Ballesteros, a Garden School third grader, wants to see the new movie for another reason: “I like her because she's a very good singer and I like to sing,” the 8-year-old Tulare girl said, adding that she has been a fan for a couple years and has the “Hannah Montana Pop Star Profile” movie.

Registration for the look-a-like contest will be 9 a.m. at Preferred Outlets and contestants must purchase clothing or accessories at Preferred Outlet stores to enter, Frazer said.

The parade will start at 10 a.m., followed by the contest's semi-finals at 11 a.m.

 “We will have 10 semi-finalists who will qualify to win a $250 shopping spree for first place and a $100 shopping spree for runner-up,” Frazer said. “All 10 semi finalists will get two tickets to the Hannah Montana VIP Party Bash private movie showing on Feb. 2 at which time the winner and runner-up will be announced. Local celebrities will do the judging.

Those interested in participating should call the outlet center office at 684-9091 for the official rules. Center stores with Hannah Montana products are: Claire's, Paper Factor and KB Toys.

Hannah Montana Day will also feature a karaoke hour at 1 p.m. and the opportunity to register for more than 50 prizes, Frazer said. Details regarding the VIP Party Bash also will be announced the day of the contest. Tickets for that event are not available at the theater.

Paul said he did not know yet whether Galaxy will show the Hannah Montana concert movie on one or two screens. Five show times are currently scheduled each day at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m.  The theater has an automatic ticket machine for after hours and tickets also can be purchased at the Galaxy Theater web site at www.galaxytheatres.com.

Admission is $15. “That's regulated by Disney,” Paul said.

None of the shows have “absolutely sold out,” but the first show on Friday is getting “pretty close,” he said.

Tulare's Galaxy is one of only a handful of theaters in the Valley with 3-D capability, Paul said, adding the technology for that type of viewing has improved greatly since it was first introduced many decades ago.

 “You still need glasses…but you don't get the headaches from it …you don't get the red and blue haze,” he said.

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Small Family-Owned Business Big on Giving

Tulare - Those who know how the Lange family has quietly supported many sports, cultural and community improvement projects in Tulare over the years were not surprised to hear Lange Plumbing Supply was named the Chamber of Commerce's 2007 Small Business of the Year.

Members of the Lange family, however, are a different story.

“We were quite surprised—and pleased,” Curt Lange said. Then, the unassuming president and general manager of the 71-year-old company quickly added: “None of this could happen without our customers. They're loyal people. They're all friends.”

Lange Plumbing will be honored at the chamber's annual awards banquet on Friday, Jan. 25, at the Heritage Complex at the International Agri-Center. The event also will recognize Paul Daley and Cathy Mederos, the Man and Woman of the Year, and Sturgeon and Beck, the Large Business of the Year. For tickets: 686-1547.

The selection committee for the 2007 Small Business of the Year award was made up of past winners who reviewed the company's long-time charitable giving and community involvement.

“We found they were very worthy to receive such an honor,” said accountant Lance Morris, who represented Adair and Evans, the 2006 winner of the award, on the committee.

“They're what I call a quiet contributor,” said accountant Mike Irwin, another partner in Adair and Evans. “They don't make a big brouhau over what they do.”

And what they have done and continue to do is a lot.

Curt Lange and son, Jared, a driver and member of the fourth generation to join the business, volunteered at Tulare Cycle Park for years to help get it off the ground when it reopened in the early 1990s. The business also donated restroom fixtures.

Lange also worked hard with others and the Tulare Joint Union High School District to get a swimming pool at Tulare Union High School and replace the one at Tulare Western.

The business also has donated plumbing fixtures to many projects, including the Tulare Rotary Skate Park, Happy Trails Therapeutic Riding Academy, and others.

“We kind of follow around behind Paul Daley,” Lange said. Daley, a building contractor, was named the chamber's 2007 Man of the Year for all the volunteer construction projects he has spearheaded in Tulare and other county areas.

Lange's Plumbing also has supported Lighthouse Rescue Mission, Little League and other youth sports, music concerts in Zumwalt Park and Encore Theater.

 “As long as there are worthwhile things like that, it's great to do it,” Curt Lange said. “This is a great town for getting things done.”

Ken Lange, Curt's father and company vice president, also has spent considerable time, energy and money to find, repair and put musical instruments into the hands of youths who want to participate in school or Salvation Army music programs. He is a past recipient of the Tulare Volunteer Bureau's Volunteer of the Year award for his efforts.

Company History

Lange Plumbing Supply has operated in Tulare since the summer of 1936, when a then 9-year-old Ken Lange suggested to his father, Fred F. Lange, and uncle Albert Lange that they open a plumbing supply store in Tulare.

They had planned to open a supply store in Fresno or Bakersfield, Ken said, explaining he had been out on the road with his father and knew Tulare—with a population of only 5,200 at the time—was about half way between the two.

The company's first location was in a 9,000-square-foot building at 155 North L St., for which the business paid $90 a month rent, he said.

In 1945, what was then called Lange Pipe and Supply Company moved to 251 North K St., which is now part of Tower Square. Ken Lange joined the company in 1946. His uncle died the same year.

In 1950, the business—now called Lange Plumbing Supply—moved to 420 East Cross Ave., leasing a building from Merle Soults. Curt joined the business in 1972.

When Fred Lange died in 1973, Ken became owner of the business and got Curt involved immediately in running the operation.

“I was pretty young and we kind of learned a lot together,” Curt said.

In 1976, the Langes bought the land their business was on and constructed a new addition. Ken's daughter, Margo Lange Pliksis, who is secretary of the company and oversees the showroom, joined the operations in 1979.

The business moved in 1983 to its current location at 510 East Cross Ave., which was remodeled and includes a large showroom.

“Curt had the vision of the showroom when he came to work and I didn't get in the way,” Ken said.

Jared Lange began working part-time for the business when he was a Tulare Union High School student and “sort of got the itch to want to keep going,” he said.

While he began working full-time in 2003, he continued with his college studies and earned a business management degree from the University of Phoenix just three weeks ago.

“I'm very proud of Jared not sitting here behind a desk,” Curt said. “We're very big believers in learning from the ground up. He's a great driver and we're going to move him up obviously.”

The business has 14 employees, who Lange family members credit will helping them succeed.

“We have a good group of people who work with us and for us,” Pliksis said.

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Growth Plan Would Trigger 'Significant' Impacts

Tulare - A proposed General Plan that would add about 17,300 acres to the city's 21,400-acre planning area would significantly impact agriculture, air quality, global warming and other environmental factors, even with mitigation measures, according to a draft impact report.

The city is circulating the draft environmental impact report (EIR) on the 2030 General Plan through various local and state agencies and the community to gather comments.

In addressing agriculture, the EIR notes the general plan would convert 16,372 acres of the 27,918 acres of “important” farmland in the planning area to non-agricultural uses.

The conversion would include about 14,000 acres of prime farmland and there is no “feasible mitigation” available to prevent the net loss of farmland, the report prepared by Matrix Design Group said.

“Anything you do, you're going to take out agricultural land,” city Planning Director Mark Kielty said, pointing to a map in the report that indicates the developed area of Tulare is surrounded by mostly prime farmland.

Unlike Kingsburg and a few other communities that have decided not to grow, Tulare has welcomed growth but not with an “anything goes” attitude, Kielty said.

“We want to grow in a way that fosters economic development and quality of life and creates powerful, attractive neighborhoods that people want to live in,” he said.

He pointed to newer developments, such as Del Lago, Palm Ranch, KCOK Ranch and west Tulare in the area from Bardsley to Prosperity avenues and Enterprise to West streets, as examples of the type of residential neighborhoods the city is seeking.

The city outlines policies in its proposed general plan—such as those discouraging leap frog development—that are identified in the EIR to protect ag land.

 “It [the EIR] does very clearly elevate the policies to a higher level,” Kielty said. “We not only have to follow our policies … but if we weren't following them for some reason, we have to have alternative policies.”

Traffic Impacts

General Plan consultants also looked at how development will affect traffic. Based on 2005 land uses, they estimated Tulare generated 222,400 trips daily and attracted 191,600 more trips from those living elsewhere.

“The 30,800 trip imbalance (13 percent) indicates that some city residents leave the city to satisfy their employment and shopping needs,” the report said, adding that under ideal conditions the number should be equal.

By time of build out of the 2030 plan, those numbers will have changed dramatically. Consultants estimate Tulare would generate 619,100 daily trips and the city would attract 788,900 trips, which means Tulare will attract more traffic than it generates from within its planning area.

Air Pollution

Traffic increases projected under the 2030 plan will be the primary contributor to a significant boost of PM-10 (particulate matter) in the air, consultants said.  The city currently “seriously” exceeds federal limits for PM-10 and fails to meet state standards as well.

An estimated 508 tons of PM-10 is currently emitted into the air. That will increase to 1,110 tons under the proposed 2030 plan, according to the EIR.

Greenhouse gas emissions—a major contributor to global climate change—are expected to more than double under the plan. Current estimates place the amount emitted into the air annually at 336,327 metric tons, an amount expected to increase to 758,921 metric tons by 2030.

“The state will issue a set of guidelines on how we will address global warming on a project-specific basis,” Kielty said. “We may have to initiate new policies.”

The city is already attempting to reduce its carbon footprint by supporting the new ethanol fueling station that is expected to open here soon, using hybrid vehicles and taking other measures, he added.

Boundary Changes

The city's proposed General Plan includes land both inside and outside the city limits that could be developed by 2030.

The plan describes the changes to the city's planning area boundaries as follows:

· The new eastern boundary would extend to Road 132. The existing boundary is Oakmore Street from Avenue 240 to Avenue 208.

· The western boundary expands to Palm Street/Road 76. The existing boundary is generally along a rural road less than a half-mile west of Enterprise Street between Prosperity Avenue and Avenue 208.

· The southern boundary expands, following an irregular pattern to both the southeast and southwest. The existing boundary generally follows Avenue 208. The proposed expansion in the southwest is being proposed to accommodate industrial growth.

· The northern boundary remains at Avenue 264 but adjustments are made west and east to square off the northwest sector. Expansion is to Palm Street/Road 76 to the west and to the railroad tracks in the east. The proposed planning area juts out a short distance in the north to take in the Tagus Ranch interchange.

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J.D. Heiskell Makes Prestigious Forbes List

Tulare - J.D. Heiskell & Company, owned by the Hillman family and headquartered in Tulare, is on Forbes Magazine's list of America's largest privately held companies.

“We found out at the end of November when someone saw it in the magazine,” said Scot Hillman, chairman of the board for the company. “We didn't know. Forbes didn't notify us.”

J.D. Heiskell, which is now global, was ranked 217.

The ranking is based on several factors, but at the top of the list is revenue. J.D. Heiskell, among the top five feed manufactures in America, had sales of $1.9 billion in 2006, the magazine reported.

“It was a nice surprise. My brother Bret (the company's attorney as well) pointed out there was only one other company on the list with fewer employees. That's a pretty good testament to our employees and their hard work,” Hillman said.

J.D. Heiskell was founded in 1886 by Jefferson Davis Heiskell. Today, the company has 10 operations across seven states. Besides the mill in Tulare, J.D. Heiskell has mills in Pixley, Ontario, Wendell, Idaho, Bliss, Idaho, Mountain Home, Idaho, Wiggins, Colo., Friona, Texas and Portales ,New Mexico. It has trading offices in Elkhorn, Neb. and Minneapolis, Minn.

The company has gone through significant growth the past decade, most recently opening the trading office in Minneapolis. In September, the company expanded overseas when it began trading and shipping commodities to Pacific Rim countries.

“It's a new business for us. The demand has grown in that part of the world. We're a new player,” Hillman said. “We've had three profitable months. We procure it here, store it, load it into shipping boxes and ship it,” he said of the corn, soybean and distillers dried grain they ship to China, Taiwan and other countries.

The company sold a couple of mills it owned in Washington in 2003, and then added the mills in Texas and New Mexico. In 2004, it did a joint venture with J.R. Simplot, called Double J Milling, in Mountain Home. It recently built the facility in Bliss, Idaho.

“It's easy to say we've grown by 300 percent in the last eight years. I'd call us a trading company that has these mill assets,” Hillman said.

The company experienced significant growth with the expansion of the dairy industry in Tulare County the past 20 years.

“We've gone where the cows are,” Hillman said. “That business has been our bread and butter. That's what got us into these other ventures.” He stressed dairy remains an important part of the company's business.

The company's president and fourth generation member of the family-owned business said higher costs for grain and feed helped the company increase its sales revenue. He did point out that the amount is not net. “It's the sales, more than revenue.”

The company's sales revenue for 2007 is higher than in 2006, “so maybe we'll move up on the list,” he said.

The company actually made the list in 2002 when gross sales exceeded $1 billion for the first time, but has not been included again until now.

This year, the company will take another giant step forward when it becomes the exclusive supplier of grain for the ethanol plant being constructed in Pixley, next door to its mill. That plant should start up later this year.

He said they will deliver 300 train cars of grain—that's 30,000 tons—a month to the plant once it is at full production. The mill will receive 45 to 50 truck loads a month of distillers dried grain, a by-product of ethanol that will be used in dairy feed.

Forbes said businesses must pass through a gauntlet to qualify for the largest privately held companies list. The companies must have revenues between $5 million and $750 million and share prices above $5 as of Oct. 1, as well as sustained sales and net profit growth over 12-month and five-year periods.

The only other company in the Central Valley on the list is Save Mart, which is headquartered in Modesto.

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