CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR
EA NO. P18-02371
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(S): John Everett
City of Fresno
Department of Public Works
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT LOCATION: The intersection of S Orange Ave and E Central Ave, including the northern side of E Central Ave to the east of S Orange Ave.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Fresno Department of Public Works proposes intersection improvements including: widening the intersection approaches to construct left turn pockets on S Orange Ave northbound, on E Central westbound and on E Central eastbound, as well as a right turn lane on E Central Ave westbound. The widening would occur on the northern edge of E Central Ave due to the presence of the Fresno Irrigation District's Central Canal directly to the south. In order to construct a left turn lane on S Orange Ave northbound, the box culvert crossing through Fresno Irrigation District's Central Canal would be widened. Modification of traffic signal to facilitate protected left turns. Manhole and water valve lids would be raised/lowered, and utility poles would be relocated. Mature Mulberry, Ash and palm trees would need to be removed along the east side of S Orange Ave, south of E Central Ave. As currently designed, the project does not include any land acquisitions and all construction will occur in the ultimate right of way.
This project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines as follows:
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 /Class 1 which exempts existing facilities under certain conditions. Staff found that the conditions are met:
Section 15301/Class 1 exempts projects consisting of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of an existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical featu res, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. Examples include but are no limited to existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facil ities as well as existing facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services.
Furthermore, Staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exem ptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
Date: January 31, 2019
Prepared by:
Nina Rizzo, Planner
Development and Resource Management Department
559-621-8091