CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR
CENTRAL FRESNO NEIGHBORHOOD TRUST
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: Central Fresno Neighborhood Trust
250 North Calaveras Street
Fresno, CA 93701
PROJECT LOCATION: Downtown Fresno and surrounding neighborhoods
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Acquisition and Rehabilitation of approximately existing 50 multi- family units for affordable housing.
This project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 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 consists 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.
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this Project and has determined it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 (existing facilities), which exempts projects involving negligible or no expansion of an existing facility. This exemption applies because this project involves the purchase and rehabilitation of existing multi-family housing units without expansion of the facilities. Staff determined under the CEQA Guidelines this project fits within the definition of existing facilities in Section 15301/Class 1, as Categorically Exempt from further CEQA review. However, any expansion of the scope of this project would be subject to additional CEQA review.
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.
Date: October 25, 2022
Prepared By: Chris Lang, Supervising Planner
Submitted by:
Phil Skei
Assistant Director
City of Fresno
Planning & Development
Department
(559) 621-8012