Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Planning Commission approved a rezone with conditions at West Bullard and North Del Mar Avenues, opening up the possibility that Marjaree Mason Center will purchase the property for a future shelter.
  • The conditions are a minimum 6 feet wall along the southern property line, limited access to Del Mar to emergency and services vehicles with no public access, and allowing social services facilities and emergency shelters. 
  • Priscilla Aguayo stated the need to revert the property to the original zoning for schools and colleges if the Marjaree Mason Center does not purchase the property.
  • McKenzie Perez has been named the Provisional Planning Manager to replace Will Tackett. 

The Scene 

The Planning Commission takes action on various planning issues. The Commission meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month (unless otherwise noted) at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at 2600 Fresno Street, 2nd floor. 

Meetings are open to the public and also air on television. For air times, please visit http://cmac.tv. For additional information, please call (559) 621-8277.

Fresno City Planning Commissioners present:

  • Chairperson Peter Vang  
  • Vice-Chair Brad Hardie 
  • Commissioner David Criner
  • Commissioner Haley W. Wagner
  • Commissioner Kathy Bray
  • Commissioner Monica Diaz
  • Commissioner Robert Fuentes

Others Present:

  • Director of Planning and Development Jennifer K. Clark
  • Planning Manager Will Tackett
  • Aubrey Richardson
  • Brady McGuiness
  • Pricilla Aguayo
  • Manuel Duran
  • Aubrey Richardson
  • Nasreen Johnson
  • Marcia Vanderpool
  • Leland Vanderpool
  • Jodi Austin
  • Brandy Villegas
  • Jo LoFresco

Discussions/Actions

The Planning Commission (7-0) approved and adopted the following items in the consent agenda.

VII-A ID 22-1110   (Continued To July 20, 2022)  

Consideration of Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6410; and related Environmental Assessment No. T-6410 for approximately 11.23 acres of property located on the north  

side of East Church Avenue, east of South Peach Avenue (Council District 5).  

#1 Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for Environmental Assessment No. P22-00958/T-6410 dated May 20, 2022, for the proposed project under California  

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.  

#2 Planned Development Permit Application No. P22-00958 proposes allowing for a density transfer and the entirety of the proposed subdivision to be developed consistently to the RS-5 zone district development standards.  

#3 Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6410, proposing to subdivide approximately 11.23 acres of the subject property into a 73-lot single-family residential development subject to compliance with the Conditions of  

Matters to be continued from June 15, 2022, consist of:

  • Consideration of Rezone Application No. P22-00451, about ±5.57 acres of property located on the southwest corner of West Bullard Avenue and North Del Mar  

Avenue (Council District 4).  

#1 The Planning Commission (7-0) adopted Environmental Assessment No. P22-00451, dated May 18, 2022, determines that the proposed project complies with Section 15183 (Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning) of the California Environmental Quality Act.

#2. The Planning Commission (7-0) approved with conditions to the City Council of Rezone Application No. P22-00451, requesting authorization to rezone the 

The rezone requests authorization to rezone the subject property from PI/CZ (Public and Institutional/with the condition of zoning) to the PI (Public and Institutional ) or PI/CZ (Public and Institutional /with the condition of zoning) zone district, to remove or modify the zoning condition.

Previously, R-00-041 was approved on May 10, 2001, and rezoned the property from R-1-C (Single-Family Residential) zone district to the C-P (Administrative and Professional Office) zone district, which included one condition of zoning:

  • The use of the subject property described here-in-above shall be limited to the development of a school or a college.

City Council adopted a citywide rezone on December 3, 2015, through Ordinance No. 2015-39. 

The citywide rezone application rezoned the subject property to PI/CZ.

Examples of allowed uses in the PI zone district are daycare centers, community gardens, utilities, major, farmer’s markets, social service facilities, student housing, schools (private and public), and waste transfer facilities. 

Staff received substantial communications voicing concern about transparency, traffic, and noticing.

The Public Institutional zone district is consistent with the General Plan Public Facility land use designation.

The property owner held a neighborhood meeting on June 29, 2022. Section 15-5007 of the FMC requires notices sent to property owners within a thousand feet of the subject property. 

Notices were sent to property owners and tenants on June 10, 2022. 

The three conditions are a minimum 6 feet wall along the southern property line, limited access to Del Mar to emergency and services vehicles with no public access, and allowing social services facilities and emergency shelters. 

On behalf of the property owner Austin Enterprises, Brady McGuiness hoped the property would be “productive.”

Through the neighborhood meeting last week, he disclosed that the prospective buyer is the Marjaree Mason Center. 

Jessie Almeda remarked about the lack of “communication and transparency” regarding rezoning and the severe effect on property values. 

After meeting with Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and Marjaree Mason Center, she feels that the organization that would like to purchase the property will be a “reasonable” option.

However, she was concerned that rezoning restrictions are modified if the Marjaree Mason Center does not purchase the property. 

Hence, she urged a stipulation to be incorporated in the rezoning, if Marjaree Mason Center does not purchase the property, to include:

  • Removal of the land use regulations as previously discussed on May 18th and shared with Councilmember Tyler Maxwell on June 21st at the neighborhood community meeting, such as but not limited to substance abuse center, emergency shelter, multi-unit residential OR
  • Revert rezone classification to its original zoning state. 

She stated that the rezone must not cause a “bait-and-switch” situation, wherein the surrounding neighborhood will be affected. 

Likewise, Priscilla Aguayo, Manuel Duran, and Jo LoFresco stated the need to revert the property to the original zoning for schools and colleges if the Marjaree Mason Center does not purchase the property. 

Marjaree Mason Center Executive Director Nicole Linder said the property’s location is “highly accessible.”

Marcia and Leland Vanderpool supported Marjaree Mason Center in acquiring the property and urged the city planners and staff to be transparent. 

Nasreen Johnson would like to see the fence along the south and east side of the property raised to 6 feet. 

Brandy Villegas supported Marjaree Mason Center and remained hopeful for the rezone. 

Chairperson Peter Vang reminded the public that city staff could only disclose limited information due to a non-disclosure agreement. 

McKenzie Perez has been named the Provisional Planning Manager to replace Will Tackett. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:01 pm. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at 6 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers 2600 Fresno Street.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line. 

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