Documented by Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know:
- The City of Fresno Planning Commission recommended the approval (to the City Council) of a conditional use permit application requesting authorization to construct a 219,216-square-foot Costco warehouse retail building with an approximately 4,800-square-foot car wash and a 13,000-square-foot fuel canopy with 32 fuel pumps.
- The commission recommended the approval of the development permit application requesting authorization to build a multi-unit housing development composed of 112 affordable dwelling units for seniors.
- The commission recommended the approval of the development permit application requesting authorization to construct an approximately 11,360-square-foot medical office building and one pad for a future 5,010-square-foot medical office building.
Follow-up questions:
- How will the proposed Costco project and medical office affect residents?
The scene
The city of Fresno Planning Commission meeting occurred on Feb. 21, 2024, at 6 p.m. The commission meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month (unless otherwise noted) at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 2600 Fresno St., 2nd floor.
The commission makes decisions and recommendations on city planning issues and reviews proposals for compliance with the general plan to make recommendations to the City Council.
Commission members present:
- Chair Peter Vang
- Vice Chair Brad Hardie
- Commissioner Kathy Bray
- Commissioner Monica Diaz
- Commissioner David Criner
- Commissioner Jacqueline Lyday
Commissioner not present:
- Commissioner Haley Wagner
Others present:
- Senior Deputy City Attorney Kristi Costa
- Supervising Planner Robert Holt
- Planner Steven Martinez
- Brian Poke
- Tommy Meza
- Perry Holiday
- Daniel Brannick
- Doug Jensen
Discussions/actions
The board (7-0) approved the agenda.
New matters include:
VIII-A Hearing to consider Text Amendment Application P23-03987 and related environmental findings:
1. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the finding of no possibility of significant adverse effect as prepared for the environmental assessment dated Dec. 27.
2. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the text amendment application amending Section 4304 of Chapter 15 of the Fresno Municipal Code relating to the language of the required findings for subdivision map revisions.
Holt said that the ordinance states that the review authority shall not amend the approved tentative map or tentative parcel map or conditions of approval unless it first finds that:
- There was a material mistake of fact in the deliberations leading to the original approval and;
- There has been a change of circumstances related to the original approval.
He said the amendment changes the word from “and” to “or.”
Major revisions to an approved tentative map, tentative parcel map or amendments to conditions of approval may be approved by applying with the appropriate department if:
- The amendments are consistent with the intent of the original tentative map or tentative parcel map approval.
- There are no resulting violations of the municipal code.
The amendment was presented to all county district project review committees.
VIII-B Consideration of rezone application, development permit application and related environmental assessment about approximately 1.96 acres of property on the north side of East Gettysburg Avenue between North First and North Second streets.
1. The commission (7-0) recommends the adoption of an environmental assessment dated Jan. 26, a mitigated negative declaration for the proposed project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines.
2. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the rezone application requesting authorization to rezone the subject property from the O/CZ (office/conditions of zoning) zone district to the office zone district to remove conditions of zoning tied to the approximately 1.96 acres of property located at 3147 East Gettysburg Ave.; and
3. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the development permit application requesting authorization to construct an approximately 11,360-square-foot medical office building and one pad for a future 5,010-square-foot medical office building on the subject property.
The subject property is surrounded to the east by single-family development and an adjacent day care center and in the west and south by commercial and retail development.
The development proposal includes 11,360 square feet of medical office for dialysis treatment, 5,010 pads for future medical offices, 74 required parking spaces, office development standards and ingress/egress on Gettysburg.
Rezone requires the removal of conditions of zoning that restrict development, such as floor area, open space and building setbacks.
Staff received one email concerning traffic congestion traveling westbound on East Gettysburg Avenue, and suggested adding a westbound travel lane on East Gettysburg Avenue.
Applicant Poke from CenterLine Designs said that building setbacks make it infeasible to develop another building and allow a vehicle to transverse east to the rear parking lot. He stated that the dialysis clinic will have 32 stations.
VIII-C Hearing to consider plan amendment-rezone application for about approximately 4.83 acres of property located on the northwest corner of East Tulare Street and North Helm Avenue.
1. The commission (7-0) recommended the adoption of the mitigated negative declaration as prepared for environmental assessment dated Feb. 5, for the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
2. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the plan amendment application to change the planned land use designation for the subject property from medium low-density residential to urban neighborhood.
3. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the application to rezone the subject property from a residential single-family/medium low-density zone district to a residential multi-family/urban neighborhood zone district by the plan amendment application.
4. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the development permit application requesting authorization to construct a multi-unit housing development of 112 affordable dwelling units for seniors
Single-family residential properties surround the property.
The development covers 4.83 acres with 112 units for seniors, with 23.19 dwelling units per acre, consisting of a clubhouse with a community hall and pool, and ingress/egress on Helm Avenue.
Responding to Lyday, applicant Meza supported the project since it would provide affordable housing.
Responding to Diaz, Meza said they do not intend to sell their properties.
VIII-D Hearing to consider plan amendment and rezone application, conditional use permit application, planned development permit application and related final environmental impact report about 22.4 acres of property located on the northeast corner of West Herndon Avenue and North Riverside Drive.
1. The commission (7-0) recommended the certification of the final environmental impact report for the proposed Costco commercial center project;
a. The commission (7-0) recommended the adoption of the findings of fact and statement of overriding considerations under CEQA Guidelines.
b. The commission (7-0) recommended the adoption of the mitigation monitoring and reporting program (MMRP) under CEQA guidelines
2. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the plan amendment application requesting authorization to amend the Fresno General Plan and Bullard Community Plan to change the planned land use designation from community commercial to general commercial and reclassify West Herndon Avenue from North Riverside to North Hayes Avenue, from an expressway to a super arterial.
3. The commission (7-0) recommended the bill for introduction and adoption to approve the rezone application, requesting authorization to amend the Official Zoning Map of the City of Fresno to rezone the subject property from community commercial to general commercial zone district by the plan amendment application.
4. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of a conditional use permit application requesting authorization to construct a 219,216-square-foot Costco warehouse retail building with an approximately 4,800-square-foot car wash and a 13,000-square-foot fuel canopy with 32 fuel pumps, subject to compliance with draft conditions of approval dated Feb. 21.
5. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of a conditional use permit application requesting authorization to establish a California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Type 21 alcohol license that will allow the sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits for consumption off the premises where sold, subject to compliance with draft conditions of approval dated Feb. 21.
6. The commission (7-0) recommended the approval of the planned development permit application requesting authorization to modify parking lot development standards to allow for 36.5-foot-tall parking lot light fixtures rather than 25-foot-tall fixtures
Martinez said that the Costco project is surrounded to the west by single-family residences, the Riverside Golf Course to the north and Marketplace to the southeast.
The rezoning will allow for the development of the proposed car wash, and the site development is permitted through a conditional use permit.
The project proposes a planned land use map redesignating West Herndon Ave between North Riverside Drive and North Hazel Avenue from an expressway to a super arterial.
The proposed project of a Costco commercial center includes the following:
- 219,216 square feet for a Costco warehouse retail building with market delivery operations
- 16 pumps (32 dispensers) fuel station
- 4,800-square-foot automated cash wash facility located at the left side of the property
- 873 parking stalls
- 32 trailer parking stalls
- Seven drive approaches
- Full landscaping
Vang asked how the commercial/general is different from commercial/community. Martinez clarified that commercial/general zoning allows for heavy commercial uses such as car washes, while commercial/community zoning is for small-scale ancillary commercial uses.
Applicant Holiday clarified that the project location will be a standard-sized Costco warehouse with a last-mile delivery service. Jensen, the landowner of the property, expressed support.
Brannick said that the project impacts must be disclosed.
The meeting adjourned at 10 p.m. The Fresno Planning Commission is scheduled to meet again on March 6.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Fresnodocs@thefresnoland.com with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
