SOUTH CENTRAL SPECIFIC PLAN
UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
STATUS UPDATE - TIMELINE
Fall
2017 -
Winter
2018
Spring
2018 –
Fall
2018
Fall
2018 –
Winter
2019
Spring
2019 –
Summer
2019
Summer
2019 –
Fall
2019
Winter
2020 –
Summer
2020
Fall
2020 –
Winter
2021
Spring
2021 –
Summer
2021
Fall
2021 –
Winter
2022
Spring
2022 –
Summer
2022
2 PRIOR TO INITIATION
FALL 2017 – FALL 2018
Approval of D-15-109
Development Permit to create an industrial business park Up to 7 buildings
Sizes ranging from 124,200 sqft to 1 million sqft
Project Appealed and Upheld by City Council
Project Challenged
Period of Negotiations
Project Entitlement Revoked by City Council
3 INITIATION OF SPECIFIC PLANNING PROCESS
FALL 2018 – FALL 2019
General Plan – Figure IM-1: Priority Areas for Development Incentives Evaluate and Analyze Cumulative Impacts of “Full Buildout” Selection of Ascent Environmental to complete EIR
Publication of Drafts of Cumulative Planning Documents Public Open Houses
Scoping Meeting
Technical Studies commenced
4 FOUNDATIONAL PLANS
5 North Avenue
Industrial Triangle
Specific Plan
(1973)
Roosevelt
Community
Plan (1992)
Fresno General
Plan (2014)
Downtown
Neighborhoods
Community
Plan (2016)
Southwest
Fresno Specific
Plan (2017)
Draft South Industrial
Priority Area Specific Plan
(March 2019)
ORIGINAL SOUTH CENTRAL
SPECIFIC PLAN AREA
6 Encompasses the south industrial priority area
6,150-acre area, including 1,208 acres in
unincorporated county
Approximately 630 businesses and almost
13,000 jobs
1 school and 460 homes within the plan area
Communities of Malaga and Calwa are located
just outside the plan area
ORIGINAL SOUTH CENTRAL
SPECIFIC PLAN AREA
Predominantly industrial
due to its proximity to the
railroad and highways
Businesses include
manufacturing, recycling,
and distribution
Southern portion of the
plan is identified for the
HSR maintenance yard
High levels of poverty and
unemployment
7 RENAMING OF PLAN TO SOUTH CENTRAL SPECIFIC PLAN
FALL 2019 – FALL 2020
Resolution by City Council to rename Plan to South Central Specific Plan Avoid and minimize adverse impacts to existing sensitive land uses Study standards and procedures for annexation of existing neighborhoods in and near plan area Facilitate and promote economic development that advances community priorities More robust community engagement
Establishment of two advisory groups
Mayor Brand created an ad-hoc advisory committee
A resident and stakeholder group
Public workshops resulting in recommendation of Vision, Guiding Principles and Policies Consideration of three alternative land use maps
8 REVISED DESCRIPTION OF THE
SPECIFIC PLAN AREA
• Plan Area (5,600 acres)
̶ Mostly includes acres within the City limits
̶ Includes land use designations for business park, industrial, mixed use, open space, park, public use, and residential uses ̶ Over half of the plan area is currently developed
• The Specific Plan is intended to:
̶ Designate future land uses
̶ Consolidate/streamline City processes, policies, and
implementing actions
̶ Establish a planning framework
̶ Establish development standards
OVERARCHING GOAL
GOAL
To maximize economic benefit and job growth for
residents, while reducing impacts on the
environment and improving quality of life.
POTENTIAL STRATEGIES
Expand employment opportunities
Number and quality of jobs
Job/Skills training
Transportation improvements
Physical improvements
Landscape improvements
Buffers
Development standard modifications
Building setbacks
10 GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES
Being a Good Neighbor. Neighboring uses should develop and participate in a “Good Neighbor” policy to provide neighbors with clear and transparent access to information regarding community development and assist in addressing disputes or concerns.
High Intensity Land Uses in the Core. New development should be located so that heavy industrial and other high intensity uses are located away from existing residential uses and other sensitive uses. Diverse Employment. Development creates a diverse aggregation of employment opportunities, including an accessible and resilient employment zone.
Buffers for Existing Residential. Water efficient landscape buffers should be established adjacent to existing residential uses to reduce impacts on the community.
Avoid Environmental and Neighborhood Impacts. Existing development trends and circulation patterns should be considered to avoid potential environmental and neighborhood impacts. Highways 99 and 41 as Gateways. Highways 99 and 41 should be transformed as gateways into the City.
Landscaping and architectural design can improve the visual quality when entering into the plan area. 11 LAND USE CONCEPTS
12 EXISTING PLANNED LAND USE STAFF RECOMMENDATION
LAND USE ANALYSIS
Land Use Acreage Comparison - September 1, 2020
Land Use Existing
General Plan
Staff
Recommendation
City Undeveloped
Land
SOI Undeveloped
Land
Commercial 10 47.55 9.45 19.89
Business Park 152 665.94 64.02 497.37
Regional Business Park 351 336.13 250.22
Heavy Industrial 3482 2641.58 475.19 100.14
Light Industrial 674 730.04 194.92 80.23
Neighborhood Mixed Use 0.25 0.25
Residential <= 1 acre 85 104.42 0.37 6.09
Residential > 1 acre 165.72 20.80
Public 100 151.66 5 48.49
Ponding Basin 157 147.85 22.41 30.51
Rail 41 25.09
Total 5052 5016.23 771.36 1053.74
Note: Acreage calculations are approximate and may vary due to rounding.
LAND USE CONCEPTS
14 EXISTING PLANNED LAND USE COMMUNITY RECOMMENDATION
LAND USE CONCEPTS
15 EXISTING PLANNED LAND USE BUSINESS RECOMMENDATION
APPROXIMATE LAND USE ACREAGE COMPARISON
Land Use Map Comparison
Existing
General Plan
Community
Recommendation
Business
Recommendation
Staff
Recommendation
Commercial 10 2105 12 45
Business Park 152 600 42 751
Regional Business Park 351 248 341 341
Heavy Industrial 3482 22 3037 2635
Light Industrial 674 1468 1080 642
Residential 85 234 24 214
Public 100 26 78 61
Ponding Basin 157 78 148 148
Rail 41 14 25 25
PLAN COMPONENTS TO BE EVALUATED IN EIR
FALL 2020 – FALL 2021
Evaluation of changes to the EIR preparation were discussed first with Mayor Brand and later with City Manager Esqueda Discussions with Mayor Brands ad-hoc committee regarding the three land use maps and comparative policies and
regulations
Extension of Ascent contract for time and minor tasks Direction to evaluate all three alternatives and revise contract
REVISIONS TO EIR CONTENT AND ADDITIONAL STUDIES
FALL 2021 – FALL 2022
To accomplish a review of three alternative prior to re-initiating the EIR, additional studies were needed Full build out capacity on each parcel for all three alternatives Reasonable capacity based upon objective market criteria Sewer capacity analysis
A draft specific plan document to include all three alternatives including design criteria Updated and revised contract with Ascent to accomplish the following:
Re-evaluate the initial technical studies commenced in 2019 Complete a traditional CEQA EIR based on a preferred land use alternative and three alternatives Sixth Amendment to Ascent Environmental contract will be considered on October 13, 2022 18 THANK YOU
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: WWW.FRESNO.GOV/SCSP
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