CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. P23-02518
THE P
ROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
APP
LICANT: Bret Giannetta
Giannetta Engineering
1119 S Street
Fresno, CA 93721
PRO
JECT LOCATION: Portion of APN s 579-075-34, 42, 46 and 47 which are located adjacent to North Alicante Drive and west of North Willow Avenue (see attached Exhibits).
PRO
JECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant proposes to vacate a 10-foot Public Utilities Easement abutting the western boundary of APNs 579- 075-34, ,46 and 47, and a 15 -foot Public Utility Easement abutting the southern boundary of APNs 579-0 75-42 and 47. A vacation feasibility study was completed by the Department of Public Works, and the proposal was determined to be feasible and subject to no conditions.
Thi
s project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Section15305/Class 5 (Minor Alteration in Land Use Limitations) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to this project.
EX
PLANATION: Section 15301 (Class 1/Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines exempts from the provisions of CEQA projects consisting of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, or minor alteration of exist ing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. Examples include but are not limited to , existin g 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, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for
the purpose of
public safety). All existing public utilities have been constructed within North Alicante Drive. No public utilities were ever constructed within the subject public utility easement. The adjacent property owner would like to incorporate this portion of the unused public utility easement, which no longer serves any purpose, into land for future development on the property.
EA No. P23-02158
August 18, 2023
Section 15305 (Class 5/Minor Alteration in Land Use Limitations) of t
he CEQA Guidelines exempts from the provisions of CEQA
projects c
onsisting of minor alterations in land use limitations in areas with an average slope of less than 20%, which do not result in any changes in land use or density, including but not limited to minor lot line adjustments not resulting in the creation of any new parcel.
The area proposed to be vacated is comprised of
unimproved
land, with the exception of North Alicante Drive, which crosses a portion of the easement. The proposed vacation of the above- described land
meets the criteria noted above. There is no
substantial evidence in the record that any of the
exceptions to these Categorical Exemptions, set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to this
project. Therefore, no adverse environmental impacts
will occur as a result of the proposed project.
Date: August 31, 2023
Prepared By: Matthew Woodward, Planner I
Submitted By:
Chris Lang
Supervising Planner
City of Fresno
Planning and Development
Department
(559) 621-8023