538279v1
CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. P25-PD2314
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE C ATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUM ENTS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINE S.
APPLICANT: Brian Barr
City of Fresno
General Services Department
2101 G Street, Bldg. A
Fresno, CA 93760
PROJECT LOCATION: 2314 Mariposa Street; Located on the east side of M Street, between Fresno and Tulare Streets, on the south side of the Mariposa Mall in downtown Fresno. (APN: 466-122-09)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Environmental Assessment Application No. P25-PD231 4 was filed by Brian Barr of the City of Fresno and pertains to an exisitng commercial office building located at the address noted above. Approximately ±63,035 square feet of rentable space within the building will be leased by the City of Fresno and shall be used as the Poli ce Department headquarters. This project will facilitate the relo cation of the existing Police Department headquarters which is located dir ectly across from the subject property on the north side of the Mariposa Mall. The subject ±0.60-acre parcel is located in the DTG ( Downtown General ) zone district which is consistent with the underlying Do wntown General planned land use. Pursuant to Table 15-1502 of the FMC, Government Offices, which include police department headquarte rs, are permitted in the DTG zone district.
This project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15332/Class 32 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines as follows:
Section 15301/Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private stru ctures, 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.
Section 15301/Class 1 applies because the proposed project includes the lease of approximately 63,035 square feet of floor area within an existing building for use as the new Police Department headquarters. The building was previously used for the Fresno County Human Services System – Employment and Temporary Assistance and most recently for a professional office space. The City will construct new interior alternations including inter ior partitions and electrical conveyances, however there will be no expansion of the usable floor area . The existing Police Department headquarters will relocate to the new location. Because the building will continue to be used as administrative space by a public agency, consistent with the prior use, and because the improvements consist of minor alterations, a Class 1 exemption is appropriate.
538279v1
Section 15332/Class 32 applies because the propose d project meets the conditions set forth in the Class 32 exemption as follows: a) the project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations , b) the proposed development occurs within city limi ts on a project site of approximately ±0.60 acres, which is less than the five acre maximum, and is substantially surrounded by urban uses, c) the project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species, d) approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to t raffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; in pa rticular according to CEQA Guidelines for Vehicle Miles Trav eled Thresholds (VMT) adopted by the City in 2020, development of institutional/government and public service uses that support community health, safety and welfare may be screened from subsequent CEQA VMT analysis. The proposed leased space for the Fresno Police Department facilitates their administration of public safety. Therefore additional VMT review is not required;, and e) the site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
By current standards, the subject site and surround ing areas are identified as “in-fill” within an urb an setting.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to the project. Furthermore, the proposed pro ject site is a developed property in an urbanized area and is not expected to have a significant effe ct on the environment. Accordingly, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for th e project and the area is not environmentally sensitive.
Date: July 28, 2025
Submitted by:
Phillip Siegrist, Planning Manager
City of Fresno
Planning & Development