City of Fresno Housing Element Update
Summary
SCH Number
2025010155
Public Agency
City of Fresno
Document Title
City of Fresno Housing Element Update
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/7/2025
Document Description
The City of Fresno has updated its Housing Element as part of the Fresno County Multi-Jurisdictional 2023-2031 Housing Element. The update identifies current and projected housing needs, shows potential housing locations, and sets goals, policies, and programs to meet the community's housing needs. The City must plan to accommodate 36,866 housing units under Fresno Council of Government's Regional Housing Needs Plan, including 4,720 low-, 5,884 moderate-, and 15,904 above moderate-income units. The City of Fresno has identified suitable sites with adequate development capacity, with existing land use regulations and zoning designations.
Contact Information
Name
Sophia Pagoulatos
Agency Name
City of Fresno
Job Title
Planning Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Fresno
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
Citywide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15061(b) Common Sense Exemption
Reasons for Exemption
The City of Fresno has reviewed the proposed project pursuant to: (1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15002(k) - General Concepts, the three-step process for deciding which document to prepare for a project subject to CEQA; and (2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 - Review of Exemption, procedures for determining if a project is exempt from CEQA. Since it can be seen with certainty that the proposed project has no potential to have a significant adverse effect on the environment, the City of Fresno has determined that the proposed project is considered to be exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3)- Common Sense Exemption.
Analysis: The proposed Housing Element is strictly a policy document that does not
provide entitlements to any specific development projects. All development in the city
must comply with the General Plan. The existing General Plan has sufficient capacity to accommodate all of the assigned Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
allocation; therefore, there is no change from the existing development potential. The
proposed goals and policies are either informative or would mirror existing State law
that already applies to the City.
Pursuant to Housing Element Program 25, Municipal Code Amendments for
Compliance with State Law and to Reduce Barriers to Housing Development, the City
plans to amend the Municipal Code to address development standards and barriers to
special-needs housing opportunities, which includes amending the density bonus as
well as incorporating emergency shelters, low-barrier navigation centers, residential
care facilities, and supportive housing. The proposed amendments to the Municipal
Code would not result in significant environmental impacts as these development
standards and facilities would still be required to comply with the City's General Plan
and its zoning and land use designations. Further, the provisions of State law already
apply to the City and could be requested by an applicant regardless of whether the
Municipal Code is amended.
Table 3-1, Program 25 Zoning Code Amendment Actions and CEQA Determination in
Exhibit G shows that each major action in Program 25 intends to update policies to
comply with State law. New development would occur on land currently designated and zoned to allow residential uses to occur under the City's General Plan. Furthermore, all future development in the city would require housing sites to comply with local regulations, including the City's General Plan and Zoning Code.
Subsequent amendments to the City's land use or zoning regulations, such as those
discussed in Program 25 would be subject to separate CEQA review at the time the
amendments are prepared. In addition, future by-right development would still be
subject to federal, State, and local regulations related to land use, such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, wetland conservation, and construction air quality permitting. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from further CEQA analysis. See Exhibit G, Environmental Assessment, for the complete CEQA analysis and justification for the finding.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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