Zone Change No. ZC-24-0003

DeWalt Corporation, acting on behalf of property owner 5801 Morning Drive LLC, has requested a zone change for approximately 12.1 acres located southeast of the intersection of Morning Drive and Paladino Drive in Bakersfield, California. The request seeks to transition the property from R-3/PUD (Medium Density Multi-Unit Dwelling/Planned Unit Development) to R-4 (High Density Multi-Unit Dwelling) to facilitate the development of 320 multi-family residential units on Assessor Parcel Number 531-011-02. The project is managed by the City of Bakersfield Development Services under Zone Change No. ZC-24-0003. Comprehensive environmental reviews have been conducted to ensure compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. These include a Phase I cultural survey that found no significant impact to historic properties, a biological survey that detected no blunt-nosed leopard lizards, and an air quality impact analysis. A traffic study evaluated the impact on six intersections through 2045, and a will-serve letter from the California Water Service Bakersfield District confirmed water availability for the project. The City of Bakersfield has issued a Mitigated Negative Declaration, indicating that the project will not have a significant environmental effect provided that specific mitigation measures for air quality, biological resources, and traffic are implemented. The project timeline includes site preparation from January 1 to January 14, 2027, grading from January 15 to February 25, 2027, and building construction from February 26, 2027, through April 20, 2028. Key requirements for the developer include participation in the Regional Transportation Impact Fee program and adherence to state protocols regarding the discovery of human remains. Public review for the project was scheduled from July 31 to August 31, 2026.