Planning Commission
TL;DR
The Fresno Planning Commission approved a new multi-family residential development project near Woodward Park, recommending changes to land use designations that would allow a 48-unit apartment complex. The project involves rezoning approximately 3.78 acres from office to medium-high density residential land use.
Key Decisions
- Change Land Use Designation from Office to Residential Passed
- Rezone Property from Office to Multi-Family Residential Passed
- 48-Unit Residential Development Permit Approved as Amended
- Environmental Assessment for Project Recommended Adoption
Agenda
- THE PLANNING COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT CITY HALL, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Any interested person may appear at the public hearing and present written testimony or speak in favor or against the matters scheduled on the agenda. Public participation during Fresno City Planning Commission meetings is always encouraged and can occur by attending a meeting in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721. When called to speak during a meeting, you may approach the speaker podium upon the Chair’s call for public comment. All public speakers will have up to 3 minutes to address the Commission pursuant to Rule No. 13 of the Planning Commission Bylaws of the City of Fresno (available in the City Clerk’s Office). SUBMIT DOCUMENTS / WRITTEN COMMENTS – 1. E-mail – Agenda related documents and comments can be e-mailed to the Planning & Development Department. Unless otherwise required by law to be accepted by the City at or prior to a Commission meeting or hearing, no documents shall be accepted for Commission review unless they are submitted to the Planning and Development Department at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the Commission meeting at which the associated agenda item is to be heard. All comments received at least 24 hours prior will be distributed to the Planning Commission prior and during the meeting and will be a part of the official record, pursuant to Article 4 (3). a. Email comments to PublicCommentsPlanning@fresno.gov. b. Emails should include the agenda date and item number you wish to speak on in the subject line of your email. Include your name and address for the record, at the top of the body of your email. VIEWING PLANNING MEETINGS (non-participatory) – For your convenience, there are ways to view Planning Commission meetings live: 1. Community Media Access Collaborative website: https://cmac.tv/ 2. Cable Television: Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T Channel 99 3. Participate Remotely via Zoom: https://fresno.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_JRC95sI1SW6vrTmNwLLrPw a. The above link will allow you to register in advance for remote participation in the meeting via the Zoom platform. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing additional details about joining the meeting. Should any of these viewing methods listed above experience technical difficulties, the Commission meeting will continue uninterrupted. Commission meetings will only be paused to address verifiable technical difficulties for all users participating via Zoom or in the Chambers. The City of Fresno’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Anyone requiring reasonable ADA accommodations, including sign language interpreters, or other reasonable accommodations such as language translation, should contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 or clerk@fresno.gov. To help ensure availability of these services, you are advised to make your request a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.
- PAGE BREAK
- ROLL CALL
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- PROCEDURES
- For each matter considered by the Commission, there will first be a staff presentation, followed by a presentation from the project applicant. Testimony from supporters of the project will then be taken, followed by testimony from those in opposition. The applicant will have the right to a final rebuttal presentation prior to closing the public hearing. In accordance with section 13 of Article 2 of the Planning Commission Rules and Regulations governing length of public debate, all public testimony from those in support and in opposition of the project will be limited to three minutes per person. The three lights on the podium next to the microphone will indicate the amount of time remaining for the speaker. The green light will be turned on when the speaker begins. The yellow light will come on with a soft bell ring when one minute is remaining. The speaker should be completing the testimony by the time the red light comes on with a final bell indicating time has expired. All public testimony must be presented to the Commission at the podium. Any testimony that references race, religion, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, or any other classification protected under state or federal law in a derogatory manner shall be deemed irrelevant and will not be considered by the Commission in making its land use determinations. If you challenge these land use matters in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in oral or written testimony or before the close of the hearing.
- IV. AGENDA APPROVALAction: APPROVED Passed
On motion of Commissioner Criner, seconded by Commissioner Diaz, the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
- V. CONSENT CALENDARAction: APPROVED Passed
On motion of Commissioner Diaz, seconded by Commissioner Criner, the CONSENT CALENDAR was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
- V-A June 4, 2025 Planning Commission Regular Meeting MinutesAction Item
- REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS
- CONTINUED MATTERS
- NEW MATTERS
- VIII-C Consideration of Plan Amendment Application No. P20-00213; Rezone Application No. P20-00213; Development Permit Application No. P22-03749; Planned Development Permit Application No. P23-03173; and related Environmental Assessment No. P20-00213/P22-03749/P23-03173 for approximately 3.78 acres of property located on the west side of North Chestnut Avenue, between East Behymer and East International Avenues. (Council District 6) - Planning and Development Department 1. RECOMMEND ADOPTION (to the City Council) of the Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for Environmental Assessment No. P20-00213/P22-03749/P23-03173 dated May 16, 2025, for the proposed project pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. 2. RECOMMEND APPROVAL (to the City Council) of Plan Amendment Application No. P20-00213 proposing to amend the Fresno General Plan and Woodward Park Community Plan to change the planned land use designation for the subject property from Employment - Office to Medium High Residential Density. 3. RECOMMEND APPROVAL (to the City Council) of Rezone Application No. P20-00213 proposing to rezone the subject property from the O/UGM/cz (Office/Urban Growth Management/conditions of zoning) zone district to the RM-1/UGM/cz (Multi-Family Residential, Medium High Density/Urban Growth Management/conditions of zoning) zone district. 4. RECOMMEND APPROVAL (to the City Council) of Development Permit Application No. P22-03749 proposing to construct a 48-unit private multi-family residential development, subject to the Conditions of Approval. 5. RECOMMEND APPROVAL (to the City Council) of Planned Development Permit Application No. P23-03173 proposing to modify the development standards of the RM-1 (Multi-Family Residential, Medium High Density) zone district to allow for a reduction in the minimum parking setback from back of sidewalk, subject to the Conditions of Approval.Action ItemAction: APPROVED AS AMENDED Passed
On motion of Commissioner Calandra, seconded by Commissioner Lyday, that the above Action Item be APPROVED AS AMENDED. The motion carried by the following vote:
- REPORT BY SECRETARY
- SCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
- UNSCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
- You may address the Planning Commission at the conclusion of the Commission meeting regarding matters of public interest that are not listed on the agenda and that are within the Commission's jurisdiction. Please be present at the conclusion of the meeting if you wish to be heard. Anyone wishing to be placed on the Planning Commission Agenda should contact the Planning and Development Department (telephone: 559-621-8277) at least 10 days before the desired appearance date.
- ADJOURNMENT