Cesar Chavez Family Apartments project at E. Cesar Chavez Boulevard and S. Seventh Street

2025041315

City of Fresno

NOE - Notice of Exemption

4/28/2025

4/28/2025

Keng Lee

City of Fresno

Project Manager

Lead/Public Agency

2600 Fresno St., 3rd floor
Fresno, CA 93721

(559) 621-8050

keng.lee@fresno.gov

E. Cesar Chavez Boulevard between S. Seventh Street and S. Eighth Street

93702

3.41

470-052-02T; 470-05-03T; 470-052-01T

Categorical Exemption

Section 15332/Class 32 In-Fill Development

Under Section 15332/Class 32, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA requirements when the project is characterized as in-fill development meeting the following conditions: a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations. The project is consistent with the following Fresno General Plan goals, objectives and policies related to residential land use and the urban form: Goals Goal 7: Provide for a diversity of districts, neighborhoods, housing types (including affordable housing), residential densities, job opportunities, recreation, open space, and educational venues that appeal to a broad range of people throughout the city. Goal 8: Develop Complete Neighborhoods and districts with an efficient and diverse mix of residential densities, building types, and affordability which are designed to be healthy, attractive, and centered by schools, parks, and public and commercial services to provide a sense of place and that provide as many services as possible within walking distance. The site is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations. Goal 11: Emphasize and plan for all modes of travel on local and Major Streets in Fresno. Facilitate travel by walking, biking, transit, and motor vehicle with interconnected and linked neighborhoods, districts, major campuses and public facilities, shopping centers and other service centers, and regional transportation such as air, rail, bus and highways. Objectives Objective LU-1 establishes a comprehensive citywide land use planning strategy to meet economic development objectives, achieve efficient and equitable use of resources and infrastructure, and create an attractive living environment. Objective LU-2 plans for infill development that includes a range of housing types, building forms, and land uses to meet the needs of both current and future residents. Objective LU-6 retains and enhances existing commercial areas to strengthen Fresno’s economic base and site new office, retail, and lodging use districts to serve neighborhoods and regional visitors. Objective D-4 preserves and strengthens Fresno’s overall image through design review and create a safe, walkable, and attractive urban environment for the current and future generations of residents. Policies Policy LU-1-a promotes new development, infill, and rehabilitation of existing building stock in the Downtown Planning Area, along BRT corridors, in established neighborhoods generally south of Herndon Avenue, and on other infill sites and vacant land within the City. Policy LU-6-a fosters high quality design, diversity, and a mix of amenities in new development with uses through the consideration of guidelines, regulations, and design review procedures. Development Code Residential Housing uses are permitted uses in NMX Zone Districts in accordance with Fresno Municipal Code (FMC)Table 15-1102. The project proposes to construct 54 units of farm labor housing and commercial retail space. The project also proposes off-site improvements such as curb, gutter, sidewalks, and driveways as needed. Therefore, it is staff’s opinion that the proposed project is consistent with respective general and community plan objectives and policies, and the applicable zoning designation and regulations of the Development Code and will not conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of the City of Fresno. b)The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than fiveacres substantially surrounded by urban uses. The proposed project is located within the city limits, occurs on a site of approximately 3.41 acres total (less than the five-acre maximum) and is substantially surrounded byurban uses. c)The project has no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species. The project site is currently a vacant parcel, and substantially surrounded by urban usessuch as commercial developments. Therefore, the site has no value as habitat forendangered, rare, or threatened species. d)Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise,air quality, or water quality. Traffic The City of Fresno VMT Thresholds adopted a screening standard and criteria that can beused to screen out qualified projects that meet the adopted criteria from needing to preparea detailed VMT analysis. As explained below, staff believes this project will have a lessthan significant impact on traffic because of the site’s location within 0.5 mile of a TransitPriority Area as well as the high level of affordable housing units The City of Fresno VMT Thresholds Section 3.0 regarding Project Screening discusses avariety of projects that may be screened out of a VMT analysis including specificdevelopment and transportation projects. For development projects, conditions may existthat would presume that a development project has a less than significant impact. Thesemay be size, location, proximity to transit, or trip-making potential. For transportationprojects, the primary attribute to consider is the potential to increase vehicle travel,sometimes referred to as “induced travel.” The proposed project is eligible to screen out pursuant to the City of Fresno VMTThresholds Section 3.0 (Project Screening). Using the Fresno COG VMT Calculator Tool,it indicated the Transportation Analysis Zone in which the subject property is located within would generate 8.029 VMT per capita. As the City’s established VMT threshold is 11.4 VMT per capita, the Project’s impact to VMT is less than the 13 percent minimum threshold, resulting in a less than significant impact. In summary, this project will not result in any significant traffic impacts or will have a less than significant impact on Regional VMT. Noise The project is for the construction of affordable housing consisting of 54 units of farm labor housing and commercial retail space. The project site is surrounded by commercial/residential uses. Housing developments typically generate low noise levels due to limited automotive speeds within the complex and limited use of open space areas. Furthermore, noise from the existing adjacent major streets would exceed the noise levels produced within the development, assuring the proposed development would not cause a nuisance in exceeding noise decibel standard of the Fresno Municipal Code. In any case, the project is conditioned to comply with all applicable noise standards of the Citywide Development Code, Air Quality The project is conditioned to comply with any applicable regulations and conditions from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the project is subject to review by the agency in regard to air quality during construction and operation. The project, as described, will not occur at a scale or scope with potential to contribute substantially or cumulatively to existing or projected air quality violations or impacts. Water Quality The project is conditioned to comply with any applicable regulations and conditions from the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District and the project is subject to review by the agency in regard to water quality during construction and operation. The project, as described, will not occur at a scale or scope with potential to contribute substantially or cumulatively to existing or projected water quality violations or impacts. e)The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services. The surrounding properties and neighborhood have been substantially developed andutilities and public services already exist in the area and the site can be adequately servedby all required utilities, including sewer, water, and solid waste, as well as public services. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to the project. Furthermore, the proposed project is not expected to have a significant effect on the environment. A categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project and the area is not environmentally sensitive.