Here’s what you need to know:
- The Fresno Planning Commission continued four items from the meeting agenda to May 4. Three of the items were continued due to lack of a quorum, including an appeal of an 80-foot Verizon telecommunications tower, workshop on the Housing Element annual progress report with public comment and an overview of the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan.
- The fourth item was continued due to resident concerns that they were not provided any notice about a proposed amendment to a development agreement for the West Creek Village Project, which would remove the number of units dedicated to specific residential housing types, while retaining the overall number of 481 residential units.
The meeting (in full)
The Scene
The Fresno Planning Commission meeting took place on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. 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.
The commission currently has two vacant seats after former Chair Kathy Bray resigned in November 2021, reportedly with the intention to run for the Fresno Unified School Board, and Robert Fuentes resigned in January 2022 to move back to his hometown of Porterville.
Names of officials:
Peter Vang, Chairperson (also Associate at Thiesen Dueker Financial Consulting Group)
Brad Hardie, Vice Chair (also President of Regency Property Management)
David Criner, Commissioner (also pastor at Saint Rest Baptist Church)
Monica Diaz, Commissioner
Haley Wagner, Commissioner (also insurance agent for the Arthur J. Gallagher brokerage)
Vang and Diaz were in council chambers. Criner and Hardie were present by audio and Wagner was absent.
Director of Planning & Development Jennifer Clark was also in council chambers.
There were no changes to the agenda.
Actions
- Approved the minutes of the Oct. 20, 2021, Jan. 19 and April 6, 2022 meetings.
- Continued due to area residents’ concerns that they were not notified about the adoption of an addendum to the environmental assessment and amending the development agreement between the City of Fresno and 2500 MLK, LLC. for the West Creek Village Project by removing the number of units dedicated to specific residential housing types, while retaining the overall number of 481 residential units.
- Located on the west side of South Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., south of East Church Ave.
- Addendum proposes to remove the number of units respective to specified residential housing types while retaining the overall total number of residential units at 481.
- The prior agreement read 92 single-family detached, 25 single-family attached, 264 multi-family and 100 lofts over ground floor retail.
- A woman is in council chambers. She said that she lives in Southwest Fresno and was not given notice about the amendment or meeting.
- Another resident of West Fresno, was also in council chambers. She said she has not received any material to read.
- She said all they know is that the project is in Southwest Fresno.
- “I don’t agree on anything you’re going to vote on tonight, if you do vote on it it’s because you haven’t given the community these types of opportunities,” she said.
- Vang said that he thinks they should continue the item to May 4 due to the concerns of the residents not being notified.
- Hardie asked why they weren’t notified.
- Planning Manager Will Tackett said it is not an amendment to the amount of homes or land, just gives the developer more flexibility about the types of homes.
- In response, Hardie said that since it’s not changing anything he’d be comfortable approving it tonight.
- Vang said that he would still like to continue the item to allow the residents to get more information.
- Hall said that they will lose a quorum in 14 minutes and all additional items will be continued to a later date.
- Due a lack of a quorum, Vang moved to continue the appeal of a Conditional Use Permit application and upheld the approval of the CUP authorizing the construction of an 80-foot mono-pine Verizon telecommunications tower and facility with ground equipment located on Mono and R Streets abutting Highway 41.
- Steven from the Planning & Development Department presented the item.
- Applicant is Tricia Knight of TEK Consulting Inc. on behalf of Verizon Wireless.
- Located at 640 R. Street in Council District 3 (Arias).
- Received six letters in opposition, including from the Huntington Park Condominium Village Board of Directors, and one in support.
- The Planning & Development Department said there would be a visual impact from Highway 41 for less than three seconds.
- Vang asked how many other sites the applicant looked at before selecting this site.
- He was told that the Planning & Development Department wasn’t sure the exact number, but Verizon does have a report available with that information.
- Peter Ferreri and Tricia Knight were on Zoom representing Verizon.
- Vang interrupted and said that a commissioner had to leave so they didn’t have a quorum and they would have to continue the item to May 4.
- Criner said that he will delay his engagement as long as possible so they can finish this item.
- Vang said that he wanted to continue it so that the process is fair to all involved.
- “I don’t want to rush this item and want to make it fair for all involved,” Vang said.
- Clark said that all remaining items would be heard on May 4 at the beginning of the agenda. She urged all in attendance to reach out to the Planning & Development Department with any questions or concerns.
Workshop
- Continued an update on the Housing Element 2021 Annual Progress Report with public comment.
- Continued an overview of the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan, adopted Oct. 26, 2017.
The meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for May 4. 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.
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