Kohl's talks progress

A special Porterville City Council meeting will take place Tuesday so councilmen and city representatives can meet in closed session with Henderson Prospect Partners, the developers associated with Kohl’s Department Stores, and also to move forward with potentially approving plans that would bring water to North Beverly Street residents.

Kohl’s has opened 56 stores nationwide in 2009, the majority of which were in former Mervyns stores, primarily in California. An empty Mervyns building stands at 1275 W. Henderson Ave.

The store, which was opened in 1991, went out of business this time last year.

“At this time, we’ve not announced any plans to open a new store in the Porterville community. Kohl’s has an ongoing real estate assessment process. At any given time, Kohl’s is reviewing sites in communities nationwide.  We do not comment on real estate speculation. When we have firm details, we are happy to share it at that time,” Elizabeth DeLuca, a Kohl’s spokeswoman, wrote in an e-mail Nov. 3.

In a meeting open to the public, city staff and council members will review a proposal to install an 8-inch water line along North Beverly Street, between West North Grand Avenue and West Castle Avenue, as approximately 30 of the residents are drawing water from unreliable wells.

It will cost the city $320,000 to complete the project, and would be paid back by the residents during a span of about 30 years.

At open forum about the lack of water held Nov. 24, the residents expressed support for the city’s proposed plan. The city council will need to approve it, before planning can begin.

If approved, the city’s engineering staff proposed the project could be completed by summer.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall, located at 291 N. Main St.

--Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or -- jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.