Documenter: Heather Halsey Martinez
Here’s what you need to know:
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The Fresno Planning Commission moved forward a 73-lot single-family Granville Homes subdivision in the Parc West development located to the west of N. Grantland Ave. between Ashlan and W. Gettysburg Avenues.
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An item regarding an appealed biomass cogeneration plant and wood pellet mill was referred back to staff because “the appellant group and applicant group are communicating.” Staff said they would give notice again if the item needs to come back on the agenda in the future.
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For the second time, a decision on a development agreement between the city of Fresno and Parc West Development, Inc. was continued to Dec. 15. The project pertains to approximately 160 acres located on the west side of Grantland Avenue between West Ashlan and West Gettysburg Avenues.
The meeting (in full)
The Scene
The Fresno Planning Commission meeting took place on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Some of the commissioners met in the council chambers, while others joined via Zoom. The agenda states that public comments can still be submitted electronically or via Zoom or call in. Meetings also continue to be viewable on CMAC.
Names of officials:
Peter Vang, Chairperson (also Associate at Thiesen Dueker Financial Consulting Group)
Brad Hardie, Vice Chair (also President of Regency Property Management)
Kathy Bray, Commissioner (also owner of Denham Resources)
David Criner, Commissioner (also pastor of Saint Rest Baptist Church)
Monica Diaz, Commissioner
Haley Wagner, Commissioner (also insurance agent for the Arthur J. Gallagher brokerage)
Robert Fuentes, Commissioner (also a staff attorney for the U.S. District Court in Fresno)
Hardie, Fuentes and Diaz were in chambers. Wagner was present via Zoom and Criner was present via audio. Vang and Bray were absent.
Vice Chair Hardie served as chair for the meeting in Vang’s absence. Had he been present, this would have been Vang’s first time serving as chairperson since he was elected by the commissioners on Nov. 17. He replaces former Chair Bray.
Director of Planning & Development Jennifer Clark was also in council chambers.
Planning Manager Will Tackett addressed the commissioners and requested that item VIII-B regarding a biomass cogeneration plant and a wood pellet mill be referred back to staff because “the appellant group and applicant group are communicating.” He said they would notice again if the item needs to come back on the agenda in the future.
Actions
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Approved the minutes of the Aug. 4 and 18 meetings.
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As noted in the agenda prior to the meeting, a hearing to consider a Parc West development agreement has been further continued to Dec. 15. The project pertains to approximately 160 acres located on the west side of Grantland Avenue between West Ashlan and West Gettysburg Avenues.
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Approved a Granville Homes tract map and environmental assessment needed to move forward a 73-lot single-family residential development on 14.57 acres located to the west of N. Grantland Ave. between Ashlan and W. Gettysburg Avenues.
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Chris Lang from the Planning and Development Department presented the item.
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The Parc West EIR analyzed impacts for 844 single-family residential homes.
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Fuentes asked if the loop road and trail is already present. Lang said they were not and needed to be constructed prior to occupancy of homes.
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A representative from Granville Homes was in council chambers.
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“This is the next step in the Parc West project,” he said.
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He said they received unanimous approval from the District 1 project review committee.
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He said that President & CEO Darius Assemi was also present via Zoom.
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No members of the public commented in favor or against the project.
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Approved unanimously.
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Referred back to staff-items related to adding a biomass cogeneration plant and a wood pellet mill to the existing West Coast Waste Material Recovery Facility in West Fresno at 3077 S. Golden State Road.
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Tackett addressed the commissioners prior to the item being heard and requested that it be referred back to staff because “the appellant group and applicant group are communicating.”
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He said they would notice again if the item needs to come back on the agenda in the future.
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Located on the south side of East North Avenue, between S. Cedar Ave. and S. Golden State Boulevard.
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As stated on the agenda:
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Staff was recommending denial (to the City Council) of the appeal and uphold the action of Clark to approve the CUP subject to conditions of approval dated Sept. 30, 2021.
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An appeal letter dated Oct. 14 was sent on behalf of Central California Environmental Justice Network, Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, Center for Biological Diversity and Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability.
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“West Coast Waste Co. is seeking to add two major public health- and environmentally-damaging components to its waste recovery facility.”
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“Both components—herein collectively referred to here as the “Fresno Wood Combustion Project,” or “the Project”—will emit harmful air pollution such as nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, and particulate matter (PM10), as well as climate change-worsening greenhouse gases (GHGs). As a result, the Project will worsen air quality and environmental injustice in communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley.”
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Supplemental comments were sent in a letter dated Nov. 19.
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In closing, Clark said they anticipate a full agenda on Dec. 15 and asked commissioners to let them know if they would not be available.
Hardie opened the meeting for unscheduled comments and no comments were made.
The meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 15. They usually occur on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@thefresnoland.com with “Correction Request” in the subject line.