Fresno Planning Commission (10/4/23)

Documented by Ntsa Iab Vang

Here’s what you need to know

• The city of Fresno’s Planning Commission discussed and approved the planning development proposed by Living Spaces to construct an approximately 104,867-square-foot furniture showroom located on the east side of North Abby Street, between East Minarets/East Alluvial and East Spruce avenues.
• The Planning Commission also authorized the upgrade from a California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Type 20 alcohol license to a Type 21 alcohol license for an existing Johnny Quik Food Store franchise. 
• The Planning Commission denied an authorization to extend the hours of operation for Locked In Sports Bar with alcohol sales with a California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Type 47 alcohol license (on-sale general – eating place). However, the commission voted to extend the hours of  live performances until 10 p.m. 
• The commission approved Scannell Properties’ planning development of four office/warehouse buildings with a total gross floor area of about 901,438 square feet located on North Marks Avenue and West Nielsen Avenue.

Follow-up questions

• Will Living Spaces reconsider its landscape development to accommodate wildlife as requested by members of the public? 
• Will the new franchise owners of the Johnny Quik Food Store be responsible for any disturbance caused by the new license?
  

Attendance

Peter Vang, chair

Brad Hardie, vice chair

Lourdes Monica Diaz, commissioner

Jacqueline G. Lyday, commissioner

Haley M. Wagner, commissioner

Kathy Bray, commissioner

Rev. David Criner, commissioner/ ABSENT

Important Notes:

• Vice Chair Hardie recused from the following items: ID 23-1438, ID 23-1456 and ID 23-1431 due to unstated personal conflicts.

New Matters/ Recommendations By Planning Staff

• VIII-A ID 23-1438: Consideration of Development Permit Application P22-04122, and related Environmental Assessment P22-04122 pertaining to about 8 acres of property located on the east side of North Abby Street, between East Minarets/East Alluvial and East Spruce avenues (Council District 6)
  • 1. RECOMMEND ADOPTION (to the City Council) of the environmental assessment, dated May 5, a mitigated negative declaration for the proposed project pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act guidelines; and,
  • 2. DENY the appeals and UPHOLD the action of the Planning and Development Department director to approve the development permit application, authorizing the construction of an approximately 104,867-square-foot furniture showroom, subject to compliance with the conditions of approval dated July 24.
    • Bray questioned if landscape work could be enhanced to accommodate wildlife, addressing the letters of concerns. The applicant representative of Living Spaces said it would not be impossible.
    • Diaz asked how many jobs will be available to local residents.. The representative said a job fair will be held before the opening to hire approximately 70-100 people.. 
    • Public comment: Lisa Flores questioned the setbacks for greening along the roadway, employment descriptions and traffic concerns.
    • The representative said that the business gives opportunity in employment growth, with the majority of positions in sales and product placements.

Vote: Motion to deny the appeals and uphold the action was approved 5-0. Hardie recused himself from this item but did not state why. 

• VIII-B ID 23-1432: Consideration of an appeal filed regarding the denial of Conditional Use Permit Application P23-00593, requesting authorization to upgrade from a California Alcoholic Beverage Control Type 20 alcohol license (off-sale beer and wine) to a Type 21 alcohol license (off-sale beer, wine and distilled spirits) for an approximately 2,576-square-foot Johnny Quik Food Store  under construction at 6940 West Barstow Ave., on the northeast corner of West Barstow and North Grantland avenues. (Council District 2)
  • 1. DENY the appeal and UPHOLD the action of the Planning and Development Department director to deny the CUP application requesting authorization to upgrade from a California Alcoholic Beverage Control Type 20 alcohol license (off-sale beer and wine) to a Type 21 alcohol license (off-sale beer, wine and distilled spirits) for an existing Johnny Quik Food Store.
    • The applicant representative said no letters of protest were received from residents and the team had also attended District 2’s committee meeting to present the licensing.
    • Vang questioned whether an existing Type 21 license would have to be purchased, since the city will no longer be distributing the license. He also asked if the applicant had contacted the daycare center located 400 feet away from the business. The applicant said the business will be upgrading from Type 20 to 21 once they find a seller and the business has the daycare’s support.

Vote: Motion to deny the appeal and uphold the action was approved 5-1. Vang voted no.

• VIII-C ID 23-1456: Consideration of an appeal filed regarding Conditional Use Permit Application P23-00244, and related environmental assessment for property at 3045 West Bullard Ave. on the southwest corner of West Bullard and North Marks avenues (Council District 2).
  • 1. ADOPT the environmental assessment, dated July 1, a determination that the proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) through Section 15301/Class 1 categorical exemption.
  • 2. DENY the appeal and UPHOLD the action of the Planning and Development Department director to approve the conditional use permit application, authorizing the extension of the hours of operation for an existing restaurant with alcohol sales with a California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Type 47 alcohol license (on-sale general — eating place), subject to  conditions of approval dated Aug. 7.
    • The applicant said the prohibition of live music performances will be a problem for her business. 
    • Staff said a different license will have to be acquired to cater private banquets.
    • The Fresno Police Department made a presentation, telling the commission that from July 10, 2022-Sept. 26, 2023 the public had complained of disturbance or loud music on nine different occasions.
    • Public comment: none

Vote: Motion to approve staff’s recommendation was denied 2-3, with Hardie excused from the item.

Bray made a motion to approve live music performances until 10 p.m. The motion was approved 5-0. 

• Item VIII-D: ID 23-1431 Hearing to consider Development Permit Application P21-02699, Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 2021-09, and related Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), State Clearinghouse (SCH) 2022050265, regarding an office/warehouse project located on about 48 acres of property at the northeast intersection of North Marks and West Nielsen avenues (Council District 3)
  • 1. CERTIFY the final environmental impact report for the proposed project;
    • a. Adopt the Water Supply Assessment (WSA) attached to the FEIR as Appendix K in compliance with Section 10910 of the California water code and Section 15155 of CEQA guidelines; 
    • b. Adopt findings of fact pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15091; 
    • c. Adopt a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15097; 
    • 2. APPROVE development permit application that requests authorization to construct four office/warehouse buildings with a total gross floor area of approximately 901,438 square feet, subject to compliance with the conditions of approval dated Oct. 4, 2023; 
    • 3. APPROVE the vesting tentative parcel map that  requests authorization to subdivide the property into four parcels: Parcel A, 11.68 acres, Parcel B, 5.38 acres, Parcel C, 5.14 acres, Parcel D, 26.15 acres, subject to compliance with the conditions of approval dated Oct. 4.
  • Proposal by Scannell Properties, a real estate development specializing in industrial, office, and multifamily markets. 
  • The ‘Heavy Industrial’ zone district allows for the broadest range of industrial uses including manufacturing, assembly, wholesaling, distribution and storage activities.
  • Proposed construction of four office/warehouse buildings will be leased to regional and local users, small/big companies. The applicant has not identified a user for the project yet.
    • Building 1: Approximately 468,812 square feet/122 loading dock doors.
    • Building 2: Approximately 248,786 square feet/46 loading dock doors.
    • Building 3: Approximately 93,074 square feet/18 loading dock doors.
    • Building 4: Approximately 90,766 square feet/15 loading dock doors.
  • The Scannell Properties representative shares that the development will open job opportunities such as logistics, advanced manufacturing, warehousing and many more. 

Vote: Motion to approve staff’s recommendation passed 5-0 with Hardie recused. 

Reports by Commissioners

• Vang recognized “Breast Cancer Month Awareness” and urged the public to take precautions for their health.
• Vang and Bray acknowledged the well-organized American Planning Association Conference, with 100 in attendance.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m. The commission’s next meeting is slated for Oct. 18.

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