CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
NO. P20-01378
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
APPLICANT: Viridiana Llanos
Department of Public Works
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT LOCATION: West Gettysburg Avenue between North Vista and North Polk Avenues in the City of Fresno APN: 510-030-327T
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Environmental Assessment Application No. P20-01378 was filed by Viridiana Llanos , on behalf of the City of Fresno Department of Public Works , and pertains to
approximately 0.24 acres of property. The project
proposes the installment of approximately 690 feet of
sidewalk, curb, and gutter on the north side of West
Gettysburg Avenue. The project also consists of
extending the existing Class II bike lanes west of North Polk Avenue. High visibility bike lane transition striping will also be installed approaching the intersection of West Gettysburg and North Polk Avenues . The project
also consists of the installment of a new traffic signal with crosswalks, signal loop detectors , accessible
pedestrian equipment , and countdown heads at the
intersection of West Gettysburg and North Polk
Avenues. The project will include public right -of-way
acquisition at the northwest corner of Gettysburg and
Polk Avenues (APN: 510-030-27T, ±10,503 square feet).
This project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15303/Class 3, and Section 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines as follows:
Under Section 15301/Class 1, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA requirements when the project c onsists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use.
Specifically included in this class exemption are:
Existing facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services; and Existing highways and streets, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety) , and other alterations such as the addi tion of bi cycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes.
Section 15303/Class 3 consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. The numbers of structures described in this section are the maximum allowable on any legal parcel.
An example of this exemption includes water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility exte nsions, including street improvements, of reasonable length to serve such construction.
Section 15304/Class 4, consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes . This includes the creation of bicycle lanes on existing rights-of-way.
The proposed project consists of installing 690 feet of sidewalk, curb , extending th e existing Class II bike lanes , and installing a new traffic signal with crosswalks, signal loop detectors, accessible pedestrian equipment, and countdown. The proposed street improvements are minor, do not constitute an expansion of use, and will improve the public right-of-way without increasing road capacity.
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.
Date: May 12, 2020
Prepared By: Marisela Martínez, Planner I
Submitted by: McKencie Perez
McKencie Perez
Supervising Planner
City of Fresno
Planning & Development
Department
(559) 621-8277