CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT HG00020
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: City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
747 R Street, 2
nd Floor, Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT LOCATION: The proposed project is located on the southeast corner of Van Ness Avenue and Merced Street
(Council District 3)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project includes remodeling an existing building and making minor modifications to the adjacent parking structure. The remodel will include, in part, demolition of a bank teller window.
Parking structure modifications are needed to enhance safety and accessibility. Trenching and backfill along the sidewalk near the building will be necessary to install communication conduits.
This project is exempt under Section(s) 15301/Class1 of the State of California CEQA Guidelines. None of the exceptions to Categorical E xemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
EXPLANATION:
The Class 1 exemption applies to projects involving the operation repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanica l equipment, or topographical features, involving neg ligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determina tion. Examples include, but are not limited to, interior or exterior alterations involving such thi ngs as interior partitions, plumbing, and electrica l conveyances. This project is exempt under Class 1 because it involves minor alterations to existing infrastructure and will not expand use of any facility beyond current capacity.
The project site is an existing building formerly u tilized as a banking facility by Wells Fargo, the adjacent parking structure, and the sidewalk near t he building. The building will be remodeled to facilitate the relocation of staff members from Com munity Development, Housing Production, Housing Finance, Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART), and Homeless Divisions under Planning & Development. The project includes demolition within the building that includes removal of a teller window assembly, non-structural walls, work counters, floor veneer and floor transitions as required to accommodate new construction. The im provements include new flooring that includes polished concrete, carpet, ceramic floor t ile, and sealed concrete. The project encompasses the installation of wall structures to partition the various areas within the designated space. The mechanical upgrade within the building i ncludes necessary alterations to the existing HVAC system, especially involving modification to t he ductwork. The plumbing upgrades in this project will involve the installation of new hot-wa ter and cold-water lines, as well as sewage lines.
These upgrades are necessary to accommodate the rel ocation of the water heater and lavatory within the building. The sprinkler system shall be modified in accordance with the applicable versions of NFPA-13 and all local authorities. As part of the electrical upgrades to the building, the project entails the installation of new lighting fi xtures, security cameras, card readers, electrical receptacles, and wireless access points.
The existing parking garage, which is connected to the south face of the building, will undergo minor modifications. These modifications include th e installation of bollards and guardrails, restriping of parking spaces to include accessible parking spots, and the establishment of a designated path of travel leading to the office area.
Apart from the modifications to the existing buildi ng space, the project intends to bore communication conduits from the corner of Fresno Street and Van Ness Avenue to the project site along Van Ness Avenue right-of-way. This necessitat es trenching and backfill along the public sidewalk, with the commitment to subsequently restore the surface to its original state.
Based on the evaluation of the project components i n relation to the CEQA categorical exemptions, it is determined that the proposed proj ect qualifies for exemption from CEQA review. This project falls within the criteria of C lass 1 (Section 15301) and none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Therefore, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
No adverse environmental impacts will occur as a re sult of the proposed project.
Date: February 06, 2024
Prepared By: Harlavpreet Brar
Licensed Professional Engineer
Submitted By: Harlavpreet S. Brar
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
(559) 621-8616