CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT APPLICATION NO. P21-06568
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: Brandon Chacon
Department of Public Works
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT LOCATION: The half -mile block bou nded by South Walnut Avenue, East Church Avenue, South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulev ard, and East Jensen Avenue as outlined in Exhibit A.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Environmental Assessment Application No. P21-06568 was filed by Kamaldeep Chahil of The City of Fresno - Public Works Department. This project will consist of curb, gutter and sidewalk, the placement of new asphalt paving, installation of new ADA compliant curb ramps where needed, new signing and pavement striping, adjustment of water valve lids and sewer manhole covers to finished grade, landscaping, traffic signal modification and other design elements necessary and specific to the project location. A Class I trail will be installed on the north side of Jensen, from south Knight Avenue to MLK Jr. Blvd. and the south side of Church from Walnut to MLK Jr. Blvd. A Class II bike path will be installed on Church Avenue, Jensen Avenue, Walnut Avenue and MLK Jr. Blvd, and concrete sidewalks along the west side of MLK Jr. Blvd. between Church and Grove Avenues and along the east side of Walnut Avenue between Church and Grove Avenues.
This project is exempt under Sec tion 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 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. This includes
alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle lanes and other similar alterations that do not create additional automobile lanes.
Under Section 15303/Class 3, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA requirements when the project 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. This includes street improvements of reasonable length to serve such construction.
Under Section 15304/Class 4, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA requirements when the project 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 is consistent with the Class 1, Class 3, and Class 4 exemptions because the project is requesting to make improvements to existing public facilities to reconstruct pavement, install curb, gutter, and ramps to meet ADA regulations, add signage and striping to include both Class I and Class II bike lanes, adjustment of water valve lids and sewer manhole covers to finished grade, landscaping, and traffic signal modification. 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. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existing use and will have substantially the same purpose.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exem ptions 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 17, 2022
Prepared By: Erik Young, Planner II
Submitted by:
Ralph Kachadourian
Ralph Kachadourian
Supervising Planner
City of Fresno
Planning & Development
Department
(559) 621-8277
Exhibit A