SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA
SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA
SEDA
SEDA
SEDASEDA
SPECIFIC PLAN
southeast development area
SPECIFIC PLAN DRAFT
Alternate formats of this document
will be provided by the City upon request.
To request alternate formats contact:
Planning and Development Department at
(559) 621-8084
www.fresno.gov/seda
CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Urban Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Housing Choice and Affordability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Open Space, Schools and Public Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Community Farming and Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Economic Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Cultural and Historic Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
1. 2.
3. 4.
5. 6.
7. 8.
9. SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA
SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA
SEDA
SEDA
4 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The Southeast
Development Area
With a population of approximately 543,660, the
City of Fresno is the 5th largest City in the state of
California and the 34th in the nation. It is located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, one of the
most productive agricultural regions in the world.
Fresno is known for its proximity to national parks
and the coast, its friendly and diverse population, its short commute times, and it’s relatively affordable
housing. Now, however, the housing crisis occurring
across the nation and state has come to Fresno. In
recent years, rent increases in Fresno were among the
top 10 highest in the nation. In addition, both renter
and owner households are cost-burdened, paying over
30% of household income for housing.
The Southeast Development Area Specific Plan is
being planned in order to create more housing supply
within complete, walkable communities in a fiscally
sustainable, environmentally sound, climate-friendly
and equitable manner.
Addressing Our Challenges
The Fresno Region is unique to many localized
challenges as it pertains to affordability and housing, air quality, climate change, traffic, water availability, agricultural operations and economic activity. As a
result, the Southeast Development Area Specific Plan
must address these challenges and more.
Affordability and Housing. While the Fresno Region
is known for relatively affordable housing and rent
costs compared to many other cities and counties
across California, many of Fresno’s families can no
longer make ends meet through rising inflation costs
for rent, food, energy, gasoline, and water prices.
Communities where most trips are made by car, and
where jobs are distant from housing, face higher fuel
and other transportation costs. In addition, while the
Fresno market is dominated by single-family housing,
these types of homes often require greater spending
on heating, cooling, and water bills than smaller more
efficient homes and multi-family housing.
Air Quality. Recent studies completed through a
California Health Interview Survey show that more
than one in five children living in the Central Valley
suffer from asthma, the highest rate in California.
Although grim, understanding how air pollution in our
city and across the Central Valley can endanger our
is the first step to overcoming these challenges. The
SEDA Plan addresses air quality through its unique
Mixed-Use District land use pattern, which puts jobs,
schools and housing within walking distance in order to reduce vehicular emissions.
Climate Change. The worldwide trend of climate
change, caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,
has the potential to affect us on the local level.
Warmer temperatures could critically affect growth
cycles and productivity of crops creating heat islands, drought and flooding. New state laws require cities
to initiate deep cuts in GHG emissions, most of
which come from our cars, homes, and businesses.
Reducing how much we drive and improving the
energy efficiency of our buildings are key components
of the SEDA Plan to help the Fresno Region meet
GHG reduction requirements and reduce climate
change risks.
5 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Traffic. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) on our roads
is increasing, bringing with it associated congestion,
unhealthy air quality and climate concerns – all of
which have the potential for increased negative
health outcomes. Senate Bill 743 required the Fresno
Region to establish a 13% reduction in VMT to address
these issues. The SEDA Plan seeks to reduce VMT by
locating homes, schools and jobs in proximity to one
another and by providing high quality amenities for
walking, biking and transit.
Water. Fresno has a low groundwater supply and
must compete for limited surface water supplies.
In standard suburban development, 60% of water
consumption is used to water lawns and gardens.
Development within the SEDA will be designed
to be water efficient through higher density
mixed-use design.
Farmland. The SEDA includes land designated
as Prime Farmland, Farmland of both Statewide
and Local Importance and Unique Farmland. The
emphasis of the Plan is to prevent further conversion
of farmland outside of the Sphere of Influence. The
SEDA Plan introduces a land use intended to create
a buffer along the eastern edge of the Plan Area
to ensure that urban growth will not extend beyond
existing Plan boundaries in the future. In addition, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires
mitigation for the loss of agricultural land within the SEDA footprint.
Economic Growth. Job growth in the San Joaquin
Valley is outpacing all regions in California, but most new jobs are not in the innovative sectors that hold the greatest potential for economic stimulation. Despite
strong assets to attract emerging industries, Fresno
needs more investment in the burgeoning renewable
energy and agricultural technology sectors – those of
which that can produce high-quality jobs at all levels.
Project Location and Boundaries
The City of Fresno is located in the heart of
California’s San Joaquin Valley, approximately 190
miles southeast of San Francisco and 220 miles
northwest of Los Angeles. Located very near the
geographical center of California, Fresno is also the
gateway to Yosemite National Park, Sierra National
Forest, Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia
National Park. Regional access to Fresno from the
north and south is provided by State Routes 99 and
41, from the west by State Route 180, and from the
east by State Routes 168 and 180. The Specific Plan
Area is located in the southeast area of Fresno’s
Sphere of Influence as shown in Map 1.1 Regional
Context and covers approximately 9,000 acres. It is
bounded on the west by Minnewawa, Temperance
and Locan Avenues, on the east by McCall,
Highland and Temperance Avenues, on the north
by the Gould Canal, and on the south by North and
Jensen Avenues.
Planning Context
In 2006, the Local Agency Formation Commission
(LAFCO) approved the SEDA (previously known as
the Southeast Growth Area - SEGA) for incorporation
into the City of Fresno’s Sphere of Influence. As a
result, the City was required to prepare a Specific Plan and conduct associated environmental review before
allowing any development. The City initiated the
process of preparing a Specific Plan for SEGA, but put
it aside amidst the uncertainty of the recession in 2010.
At that point, a draft specific plan had been developed, shaped through a collaborative public outreach process.
Concepts from the Draft SEGA Plan were then rolled
into the current Fresno General Plan that was adopted
in 2014.
The Fresno General Plan includes the SEDA as one
of several growth areas. Located in Growth Area II,
the SEDA was phased after other infill initiatives and
Growth Area I to align with the General Plan’s policy of balancing growth with infill development. SEDA’s later
time frame is reflected in the General Plan’s buildout
numbers, which include one third of SEDA’s residential
capacity (approximately 15,000 dwelling units) in order to accommodate Fresno’s anticipated 2035 population.
The remaining residential capacity of 30,000 dwelling
units would be developed after 2035.
As the land in Growth Area I (which includes the
Southwest Fresno and the West Area Neighborhoods
Specific Plan areas) is planned and developed, the
acceleration of the current housing crisis has prioritized 6 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 1.1 Regional Context
7 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
completion of the SEDA Plan. The planning process
involves adoption of the Specific Plan and certification of the Environmental Impact Report. In addition,
the Fresno General Plan and Development Code
will be amended to reflect new land use and zoning
designations created as part of the Plan. Financing
options will also be presented to the City Council to
determine how public infrastructure improvements
could be funded. All of this will be done to ensure
development occurs in alignment with the goals and
objectives created in the SEDA Specific Plan.
Public Workshop for the SEGA
Plan Preparation Process
The SEGA Plan
During the initial SEGA planning process, several
stages of public input and engagement were held.
From the winter of 2006 to the summer of 2008,
a series of listening sessions, advisory committee
meetings, City meetings, presentations and
workshops were held to inform the public about the
SEGA planning process and design principles, obtain
community feedback and help guide the development
of the SEGA Plan.
The SEDA Plan
Upon re-initiation of the SEDA Plan, additional
community outreach events were held to re-engage
the public. A series of three public meetings were
held throughout May of 2022 in addition to a listening
session in June 2022. Each outreach event, which
received in total approximately 243 attendees, served
to update the public on the SEDA Plan status and
receive community feedback on Plan updates. In order
to ensure a robust community outreach process, the
City hosted three additional in-person Summer Drop-
ins and one Zoom webinar during the summer of 2023.
The purpose of these outreach efforts was to inform
the public of the draft Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) and 45-day public comment period, share how
to comment on the EIR and answer questions on
the Draft Specific Plan. The events were formatted
open house style, where attendees could drop-in to
the events during the allotted time and visit various
stations and boards throughout the event room. In
total, these outreach events garnered approximately
232 attendees.
8 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
SEDA Specific Plan Goals
Land use plans begin with goals: vision statements
that direct the development of the Plan. Below are the
goals that guided preparation of the SEDA Specific
Plan (these are described as the Plan objectives in the Environmental Impact Report):
Quantified Objectives
• Accommodate between 40,000
and 45,000 dwelling units of
varying types, sizes, densities,
and affordability levels.
• Accommodate between 30,000
and 37 ,000 jobs.
Fiscal Responsibility
• Provide self-financing for the
development and ongoing
maintenance of the SEDA that
does not reduce City of Fresno
resources dedicated to other
areas of the City or burden
Fresno residents outside of
the SEDA.
• Holistically coordinate
infrastructure to integrate
efficiencies that piecemeal
planning cannot.
• Invest in resource conserving
techniques for stormwater
systems, water supply, and
trail and open space networks
to save on infrastructure and
mitigation costs.
Social Equity
• Promote health by reducing
harmful emissions from cars
and industry.
• Foster healthy physical activity
and community interaction by
providing easy, safe walking and
bicycle access to parks, schools,
and retail centers.
• Sustain the diversity of Fresno’s
population by providing a wide
varie
ty of housing choices and
business opportunities.
• Respect the major economic
and cultural role of agriculture
in the Central Valley by
accommodating growth within
the confines of a smaller urban
footprint and directly integrating
community-scale agriculture
into the design of community
centers, neighborhoods, and
open spaces.
Environmental Sustainability
• Emphasize the efficient use
of energy, water, and other
resources in SEDA design and
policies. Strive to produce a
self-mitigating plan that reduces
the environmental impacts of
growth and can sustain and
even serve to improve or repair
natural systems.
• Reduce energy and water
consumption through more
efficient land use patterns,
smarter building standards,
and environmentally sensitive
infrastructure to help Fresno
meet standards for greenhouse
gas emissions, and well as air
pollution and water quality.
Housing Choice
• Provide land uses which allow
for a variety of housing choices
that could be made available to
a mix of incomes, age groups,
and lifestyles.
9 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
High Quality Transit Service
• Provide convenient and frequent
transit service to connect
SEDA’s Town Centers to jobs
and housing in the Plan Area and
across the region.
Walkable Neighborhoods
• Provide for nearly all residences
to be located within walking
distance of a Neighborhood
Town Center with an elementary
school, recreation areas,
community gardens, and
small shops.
Parks, Open Space, and Trails
• Create a variety of natural open
spaces and parks for recreation
in all areas of the SEDA.
• Through future development
of a SEDA Parks and Trails
Master Plan, create trail systems
and bicycle paths that make
traveling without a car safe and
convenient.
• Ensure that schools and major
town centers can be reached
safely with or without a car.
Mixed Use Town Centers
• Mix shopping, housing, and jobs
in vibrant Regional Town Centers
and Community Town Centers
that are easily accessible to most
residents via a short walk, bike
ride, drive, or transit trip.
Innovative Employment Areas
• Attract opportunities in green
technology and energy systems,
ag-related industries, modular
housing, and other emerging
fields to provide jobs for
Fresno residents.
Community Farming
and Agriculture
• Integrate small farms, community
gardens, and farmers’ markets
into neighborhoods, schools, and
town centers.
• Create a buffer that includes
rural homes, organic farming,
and open spaces to serve as a
transition between the SEDA
and commercial agriculture to
the east.
Implementation
• Develop the SEDA in an
organized and phased manner
based on housing needs,
infrastructure availability, and
minimization of impacts.
• Ensure appropriate infrastructure
is developed and installed
prior to commencement
of construction.
10 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
An Overview of the Southeast
Development Area Plan
The SEDA Plan has the potential to lead the way in the
Central Valley as an example of good urban design for
lower vehicle miles traveled, reduced traffic congestion and air pollution, and the efficient use of limited energy and water resources. Building the “same old thing” no
longer provides a viable solution toward meeting these
challenges. Although typical suburban single-family
homes and auto-oriented commercial development
may comprise a significant part of the Fresno market,
there is growing market demand for walkable, mixed-
use urbanism like that included in the SEDA Plan. The
smarter, more efficient land use planning of the SEDA
Specific Plan provides an essential alternative to typical suburban development patterns.
Integrating Land Use and Transportation
Creating a well-rounded plan for the 9,000 acres that
comprise the SEDA Plan presents opportunities to
positively impact environmental, fiscal, and quality
of life measures in ways that would not be doable
with smaller, more fragmented planning. The SEDA
Specific Plan links communities and Mixed-Use
Districts with a multi-modal transportation network
that connects people to destinations within and
beyond the Southeast Development Area—including
the Kings Canyon Corridor, Downtown Fresno and
other key destinations. Chapter 2, Urban Form,
discusses land use and transportation.
Vibrant Mixed-Use Districts
The SEDA Plan complements and supports walkable
Mixed-Use Districts that are made possible through
a transportation network that includes walkable and
bikeable opportunities. Each of these town centers are
designed with a common theme in mind – to serve as
a commercial focal point that includes a variety of uses which highlight the diverse nature of the Southeast
Development Area community. Integral to the fabric
of the SEDA, the Town Centers will also incorporate
living and working opportunities with entertainment,
cultural activities, and shops serving the daily needs of residents and employees.
Regional Town Center
The Regional Town Center areas are the most
prominent centers within the Southeast Development
Area, as they aim to serve 40,000 to 60,000
households across the Plan Area and within the
surrounding communities.
The Regional Town Center features region-serving
retail and office activity, as well as medium- and higher density housing, all supported through a high quality
transit service.
Community Town Centers
Seven Community Town Centers are dispersed across
the SEDA Specific Plan and provide commercial, civic,
and other services to meet the needs of Community
Town Center residents and employees, as well as
those of surrounding neighborhoods. Community
Town Centers aim to serve between 5,000 and 10,000
households, featuring a variety of medium-density
housing options, with some focused around major
transit stations.
Neighborhood Town Centers
Neighborhood Town Centers are dispersed throughout
the Southeast Development Area and serve as focal
points of adjacent residential areas. Neighborhood
Town Centers include some employment and
residential uses but serve primarily to provide a majority of SEDA residents with essential walk, bike, transit,
and short-drive access to civic services and amenities, including elementary schools, local parks, community
gardens, and other services.
Each Neighborhood Town Center serves
approximately 1,500 to 2,000 households and
includes a range of medium- to lower-density
housing options.
Diverse Residential Districts
The SEDA Plan includes a rich and complete fabric
of residential communities that support Mixed-Use
Districts and include a diversity of housing types. The SEDA Specific Plan distributes a variety of housing
types across the Plan Area to accommodate a variety
of housing needs. The range of housing products
integrated throughout each of these communities
11 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
provides current and future residents with a variety
of housing options to meet the needs of households
within the region.
Mixed Residential
Mixed Residential Districts support the Regional and
Community Town Centers with a variety of medium-
and higher-density housing, including a diverse
mix of attached and detached single family and
multi-family homes.
Neighborhood Residential
Neighborhood Residential Districts surround
Neighborhood Town Centers and support retail,
employment, and other services provided throughout
the Plan Area. It is common in these areas to
include a diversity of detached and attached single
family housing types, as well as some multi-family
housing options.
Rural Cluster Residential
Rural Cluster Districts, located along the eastern edge of the SEDA, concentrate residential lots within a
small, clustered area of a larger parcel or grouping of parcels. This clustering of homes serves to preserve
the continuity and viability of the surrounding land for agricultural uses and open space conservation. Rural
Cluster Districts serve as a transitional buffer between urban uses within the SEDA and the commercial
agricultural operations outside the Plan Area.
Rural Residential
There are approximately 1,800 acres in the SEDA
currently developed as very low-density rural
residential homes and ranchettes that have been
designated in the SEDA Specific Plan as Rural
Residential. This land use was chosen to align with and support the existing rural residential neighborhoods.
Innovative Employment Districts
One of the opportunities of the Southeast
Development Area is the ability to attract a diversity
of high-quality employers and job opportunities.
SEDA jobs will be located within a short walk of
amenities in the Regional and Community Town
Centers, Office Centers, and Flexible Research &
Development Districts.
These locations can be closely linked to regional
transit service and trail systems. The SEDA
Specific Plan highlights the importance of locating
SEDA residents within walking distance to major
employment areas and high-capacity transit service
that links to regional employment centers, including
Downtown Fresno.
Reducing reliance on the automobile for work trips will significantly reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled, playing a
significant role in meeting the SEDA’s sustainability
goals and creating a healthier community for future
generations to come.
Office Center
Office Center Districts are located adjacent to
Regional and Community Town Centers or along
regionally significant transportation corridors (e.g.
State Highway 180, Kings Canyon Boulevard, Clovis
Avenue). The goal of Office Centers within the Plan
Area is to accommodate professional office and
compatible commercial uses such as restaurants,
coffee shops, cafes, banks, book shops, and dry
cleaners. Some residential uses could be permitted in
Office Centers.
Flexible Research & Development
Flexible Research and Development Districts are
primarily located west of the Briggs Canal and/ or
south of Jensen Avenue and are intended to promote
uses such as research and development, light
manufacturing, product testing centers, and office
development. This area could also include compatible
commercial uses such as restaurants, coffee shops,
cafes, printing and publishing, dry cleaners, and other supporting businesses. Having access in these areas
to regional transportation corridors (both road and
rail) is critical, however, residential uses will not be allowed in Flexible Research and Development areas.
12 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Transportation Choices
The multi-modal circulation network in the SEDA Plan
provides a variety of transportation options, ensuring that residents have real choices for their daily travel needs.
Transit Corridors/Arterials with high-capacity public
transit serve as a framework for major centers, while
collectors and local streets provide safe, convenient
options for local trips.
Arterials
Arterials are multi-functional roadways designed
to complement and support Mixed-Use Districts,
employment areas, and higher density neighborhoods.
They provide options for dedicated median space for
high-capacity rapid transit service such as light rail, streetcars, or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Collectors
Collector streets form a finer grid of approximately
one-quarter mile spaced roadways within and
between neighborhoods. These connections, more
frequent and continuous than standard suburban
collectors or local streets, provide multiple routes
for direct access to the Mixed-Use Districts of the
Southeast Development Area.
Bicycle / Pedestrian Trails
Trail systems connect regional and sub-regional
destinations for bicyclists, pedestrians, and
equestrians (where appropriate). As part of the future
Parks and Trails Master Plan, locations of multi-use
trails and other open space networks within the
Southeast Development Area will be contemplated.
Parks, Open Spaces and Green Infrastructure
The SEDA Plan features a well-coordinated system of
natural and developed open spaces that serve many
vital uses, from recreation to community farming and
agriculture, to stormwater management. As part of the
future Parks and Trails Master Plan, locations of multi- use trails and other open space networks within the
Southeast Development Area will be contemplated.
Parks and open space are discussed in Chapter 4,
Open Space, Schools and Public Facilities.
Sustainable Infrastructure
Focusing on sustainability pillars so important to the
SEDA Plan, “sustainable infrastructure” components
capture and retain runoff, then treat the water by
allowing it to move slowly through natural systems
such as constructed wetlands and rock filters.
Stormwater management systems like these help
to reduce impacts on the environment and regional
infrastructure systems and can also be designed as
visual and active amenities for the residents of the
SEDA. Stormwater, water, wastewater, and recycled
water infrastructure are discussed in Chapter 6,
Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Conservation.
Community Farming and Agriculture
The Plan Area is rich in agricultural open space. An
important aspect of the SEDA Plan is ensuring farming
and agricultural activities remain an integral part of
the Southeast Fresno community. The SEDA Plan
integrates community-scale farming and agriculture
into the urban fabric by providing for a variety of
agricultural activities from neighborhood gardens to
agricultural education, to small farming operations on
the rural cluster edge. This topic is further discussed in Chapter 5, Community Farming and Agriculture.
13 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Next Steps: Setting the Stage
for Implementation
The goal of the SEDA Plan is to set a clear vision for
how the Southeast Development Area will develop over
time. Part of achieving this vision is to define where
mixed-use, residential neighborhoods, and employment
areas will be located and the types of travel options,
transit and roadway infrastructure that will serve and
connect these areas. It’s also important to identify how districts are to be organized and how streets are to be designed to enhance walkability and meet the needs
of all users, while understanding community needs
and concerns surrounding traffic congestion and the
public and private integration of local trails through a future Parks and Trails Master Plan. The SEDA Specific
Plan creates a guide in which the policies established
at the state and federal level that address water and
energy conservation, improved air quality and reduced
greenhouse gases, parks and open space, housing,
and many other important elements are created in
harmony with the local characteristics that represent
the Southeast Development Area.
It is important to note that this plan is a first step on the path towards implementing the SEDA vision. The
following next steps will need to occur:
Public Facilities Financing Options Report
The Public Facilities Financing Options Report will
accompany the Specific Plan and will provide options
for various financing mechanisms to fund upfront
infrastructure costs necessary to support development
in the SEDA. The City Council will direct which financing options to pursue. The City of Fresno will work in
coordination with all applicable agencies as future
development in the Plan Area commences.
Amend the General Plan and Development
Code to Implement the Land Use and Zoning
Described in the Plan
Concurrent with the adoption of the SEDA Specific
Plan, the City of Fresno General Plan will be amended
to reflect the new land use designations included as
part of the Plan. After the General Plan Amendment,
the Development Code will then be updated to
include the new zoning districts created as part of
the SEDA Plan, to ensure Plan consistency with local
planning and zoning documents.
Complete a Parks and Trails Master Plan to
Determine Locations for Parks and Trails
Opportunities and constraints for location of parks
and trails need to be explored in detail prior to
determining final locations
Address Annexation with Fresno County and the
Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO),
and the State of California
The vision of the SEDA Specific Plan can best be
implemented through incremental annexation into the
City. The current practice of fragmented annexation
on a project by project basis does not result in the
type of cohesive, connected mixed-use, walkable
neighborhoods envisioned in the SEDA.
Construct Backbone Infrastructure (to include
wet utilities, dry utilities and major streets)
Water, wastewater, stormwater and recycled water
infrastructure planning and major streets and
construction need to occur prior to new development
in the SEDA, as well as the planning and construction
of dry utilities such as electricity and communications infrastructure.
14 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 2.1 Sphere of Influence
15 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 2.2 Regional Context
16 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 2.3 SEDA Existing Land Use
Butler
McCall
California
Church
Jensen
North
Tulare
Olive
McKinley
Clinton
Shields
Dakota
Thompson
·|}þ180
TemperanceLocan
Peach
ClovisMinnewawa Sunnyside
Belmont
Kings Canyon
Highland
Armstrong
Fowler
Airways
LeonardDe Wolf
[
0 0.5 1
Miles
Southeast Development Area
EXISTING LAND USE MAP
Source: City of Fresno, SEDA Illustrative Plan
derived from community and stakeholder meetings.
Rural Residential
Single Family Residential
Commercial
Public Facility
Industrial
Parks
Open Space/ Agriculture
Vacant Parcel
SEDA Plan Area
City Limits
Fresno Sphere of Influence
Flood Control
Basin
Legend
17 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 2.4 SEDA General Plan Land Use (Existing)
Butler
McCall
California
Church
Jensen
North
Tulare
Olive
McKinley
Clinton
Shields
Dakota
Thompson
·|}þ180
TemperanceLocan
Peach
ClovisMinnewawa Sunnyside
Belmont
Kings Canyon
Highland
Armstrong
Fowler
Airways
LeonardDe Wolf
[
0 0.5 1
Miles
Southeast Development Area
GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP
Source: City of Fresno, SEDA Illustrative Plan
derived from community and stakeholder meetings.
RESIDENTIAL
Low Density (1-3.5 D.U./acre)
Medium Density (5.0-12 D.U./acre)
Urban Neighborhood (16-30 D.U./acre)
EMPLOYMENT
Office
Business Park
Regional Business Park
MIXED USE
Corridor/Center Mixed Use
Regional Mixed Use
OPEN SPACE
Community Park
Open Space
Ponding Basin
PUBLIC FACILITIES
College
School with Park
BUFFER
Buffer
SEDA Plan Area
City Limits
Fresno Sphere of Influence
Flood Control
Basin
18 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 2.5 SEDA Proposed Land Use
Butler
McCall
California
Church
Jensen
North
Tulare
Olive
McKinley
Clinton
Shields
Dakota
Thompson
·|}þ180
TemperanceLocan
Peach
ClovisMinnewawa Sunnyside
Belmont
Kings Canyon
Highland
Armstrong
Fowler
Airways
LeonardDe Wolf
[
0 0.5 1
Miles
Southeast Development Area
PROPOSED LAND USE MAP
Source: City of Fresno, SEDA Illustrative Plan
derived from community and stakeholder meetings.
Ponding Basins
SEDA Plan Area
City Limits
Fresno Sphere of Influence
Legend
Mixed Residential
Neighborhood Residential
Rural Residential
Rural Cluster Residential
Institutional
Office Center
Flexible Research & Development
Community Town Center
Neighborhood Town Center
Regional Town Center
19 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 2.6 SEDA Proposed Major Street Circulation
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Butler
McCall
California
Church
Jensen
North
Tulare
Olive
McKinley
Clinton
Shields
Dakota
Thompson
·|}þ180
TemperanceLocan
Peach
ClovisMinnewawa Sunnyside
Belmont
Kings Canyon
Highland
Armstrong
Fowler
Airways
LeonardDe Wolf
[
0 0.5 1
Miles
Southeast Development Area
PROPOSED MAJOR STREET CIRCULATION
Source: City of Fresno, SEDA Illustrative Plan
derived from community and stakeholder meetings.
Freeway
Expressway
Scenic Expressway
Super Arterial
Arterial
YYYY Scenic Arterial
! ! ! Scenic Drive
Collector
Scenic Collector
City Limits
SEDA Plan Area
Fresno Sphere of Influence
Flood Control
Basin
Legend
20 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Map 2.7 Dual Designation
Butler
McCall
California
Church
Jensen
North
Tulare
Olive
McKinley
Clinton
Shields
Dakota
Thompson
·|}þ180
TemperanceLocan
Peach
ClovisMinnewawa Sunnyside
Belmont
Kings Canyon
Highland
Armstrong
Fowler
Airways
LeonardDe Wolf
[
0 0.5 1
Miles
Southeast Development Area
Proposed SEDA Amendment to Fresno General Plan Dual Designation Diagram, Figure LU-2.
Source: City of Fresno, SEDA Illustrative Plan
derived from community and stakeholder meetings.
Regional Town Center
Community Town Center
Neighborhood Town Center
Flexible Research & Development
Mixed Residential
Neighborhood Residential
Rural Residential
OPEN SPACE
Community Park
Neighborhood Park
Open Space
Ponding Basin
PUBLIC FACILITIES
Public/Quasi-public Facility
Special School
PG & E Substation
SEDA Plan Area
City Limits
Fresno Sphere of Influence
Legend
21 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
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22 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 2
URBAN FORM
The SEDA Plan proposes to incorporate
new land use and zoning designations
that will provide for smarter, more
efficient land use planning as compared
to the typical suburban patterns that
have been the norm in Fresno.
Under this Plan, the City has the ability to become a
role model for Central Valley communities in creating
a unique approach to neighborhoods, establishing
environmental sustainability and resource efficiency
and planning for long-lasting economic vitality.
The SEDA Plan will address a number of important
community concerns, including unhealthy air
quality, environmental and community health issues,
residential growth patterns that negatively impact
natural resources and deplete strategic farmland and
land use inefficiencies.
In addition, this Plan will continue to maintain the
objectives and policies identified for the SEDA in the
Fresno General Plan, in that it will facilitate multi-
modal connectivity, promote walkability and develop
complete neighborhoods with a diverse mix of
residential densities and building types.
This Chapter provides a framework of development
policies and regulations that will achieve the proposed community design, enhance the transition between
uses, and subsequently help the SEDA Plan meet
sustainability goals.
Urban Form in the SEDA
The Urban Form Chapter describes how mixed-use
areas, residential areas, employment zones, and public
facilities can be woven together to create complete
neighborhoods. The proposed SEDA Land Use Map
(Map 2.5) establishes the general concept for the
distribution and location of these land uses, while Map
2.6, the SEDA Proposed Major Street Circulation,
establishes major transportation infrastructure.
The 4 Ds: The Relationship Between Land Use
and Travel Behavior
How and where we travel is influenced by the way
communities are planned and the distances and
transportation choices available between housing
and key destinations like schools or job centers. If
distances are short and bike, pedestrian and transit
facilities are available, walking, bicycling, and transit trips will increase, resulting in reductions in auto trip generation, reduced costs related to traffic congestion and air quality and increased health outcomes for
our communities.
Four critical characteristics of land use (the 4 Ds) drive these trip reductions: a mix of land uses (diversity),
residential and commercial densities (density), a
connective street and pedestrian network (design),
and accessibility to regional destinations (destination).
Diversity: Land use diversity means a good mix of
land uses that support a balance of jobs, housing,
shopping, education, and recreation within a short
walking or cycling distance.
23 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Density: Land use density means encouraging higher
numbers of residents and employees per acre.
Design: Design refers to the layout and appearance
of blocks. Well-connected streets and pedestrian
networks encourage walking and bicycling.
Destination: Destination accessibility describes the
relationship between communities and other critical
activity centers in the region.
Creating a Flexible Development Framework
One of the goals of the SEDA Specific Plan is to
create a framework that provides the tools to adapt
to future economic changes. Flexibility is built into the land uses in SEDA, as they allow a broader variety of
uses than typical single-use frameworks. In order for
this flexible land use vision to occur, a Development
Code update (an update to the City’s zoning code)
is required to occur. This update will consist of a new set of zone districts tailored to implement the SEDA
vision. In the end, the goal is to provide flexibility for the City, land owners, and developers to adapt to
changes within future economic cycles.
How this Section is Organized
This Chapter is divided into two sections: Objectives
and Policies and the SEDA Development Code.
The Objectives and Policies section contains the
policies that define the land use and transportation
plan for the SEDA, including general principles that
guide design and development decisions. The SEDA
Development Code section provides a description of
the regulations and guidelines for how land uses and
streets are envisioned within the Plan Area. For ease
of readability, the term Urban Form will be abbreviated as “UF” in this section.
Objectives and Policies
OBJECTIVE UF-1
Create complete that integrate housing, business
and retail amenities. Balance and mix housing, jobs,
commercial businesses, services, and public facilities
to help meet existing thresholds for lower vehicle
miles traveled, reduced air pollution, and the efficient use of groundwater resources.
POLICY UF-1.1 LAND USE DIVERSITY.
Update the Citywide Development Code to include
the new SEDA zone districts and associated
development standards to encourage land use
diversity within the Plan Area.
POLICY UF-1.2 JOBS-HOUSING BALANCE.
Maintain a target jobs-housing balance of at least
1 job to 1.25 housing units within the Plan Area.
POLICY UF-1.3 EMPLOYMENT CENTERS.
Promote employment-generating development
within the Plan Area to expand Fresno’s employment
base beyond traditional industries (as specified in the policies of the Economic Opportunity Chapter).
POLICY UF-1.4 HOUSING CHOICES.
Encourage a variety of housing types that could
support more affordable options accessible to a range
of Fresno residents by implementing the housing
policies identified in Chapter 3 – Housing Choice
and Affordability.
POLICY UF-1.5 PUBLIC FACILITIES AND
OPEN SPACES.
Support the development of public infrastructure,
facilities, and parks that meet the needs of Plan Area
residents according to the policies and standards
set in the Open Space, Schools and Public Facilities
Chapter and the General Plan.
24 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY UF-1.6 RIGHT-TO-FARM.
Establish right-to-farm practices in accordance with
the Fresno County Right-to-Farm Ordinance to allow
the continued operation of agricultural activities which occur adjacent to new residential developments.
Require buffers between new residential development
and existing farmlands.
POLICY UF-1.7 BUFFERS BETWEEN USES.
Require buffers between new industrial development
and existing neighborhoods. Investigate opportunities
to develop resilient green buffers between existing
industrial and residential uses. Light industrial areas may serve as buffers between heavy industrial and
other land uses.
OBJECTIVE UF-2
Provide a mix of Regional, Community, and
Neighborhood Town Centers where individuals
can live, work and play.
Create a system of Mixed-Use Districts supported
by a multi-modal transportation network. Centers
are designed to include a mix and intensity of uses
and serve as commercial and civic focal points for
the SEDA. Centers will be smaller scaled and defined
by quality design features and a rich mixture of uses
that incorporate living and working opportunities with
entertainment, cultural activities, and shops serving
the daily needs of residents and employees.
The Regional Town Center will feature region-serving
retail and office activity, as well as medium- and
higher- density housing. Community Town Centers
will support the daily commercial and business needs
of the SEDA neighborhoods. Neighborhood Town
Centers will accommodate local-serving retail, civic,
and educational uses.
POLICY UF-2.1 NETWORK OF TOWN CENTERS.
The SEDA will include Mixed-Use Districts of Regional,
Community, and Neighborhood Town Centers that
form a network of complementary employment,
commercial, cultural, and civic opportunities linked by multi-modal transportation systems.
POLICY UF-2.2 DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE.
The size, density, composition, and building character
of Mixed-Use Districts will be consistent with the
new zone district standards set forth in the SEDA
Development Code update. In addition, the Plan will call upon the City of Fresno’s Department of Public Works
Standards, the Active Transportation Plan, and the
Fresno Area Express (FAX) transit plans to implement
streetscape design and non-auto circulation elements.
POLICY UF-2.3 DESIGN AND
DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES.
The following principles are provided to guide the
creation of public and private spaces within the
Plan Area. More specific guidelines and regulations
regarding many of these elements are found in
the SEDA Development Code update section of
this Chapter.
Pattern of Streets, Blocks, and Buildings
The centers will be designed with pedestrian oriented
streets, blocks, buildings, and public spaces based on
the block connectivity and size standards specified
in the SEDA Development Code update, including a
transportation network which will be based on a high-
density grid system. Public spaces and civic buildings
shall be arranged along streets in order to create a
network of civic spaces of varying size and function.
Building Character and Orientation
The character, massing, and orientation of
buildings will contribute to a cohesive urban fabric
that reinforces public spaces, creates a sense of
intimacy, and visually distinguishes the center from
surrounding districts.
As shown in Figure 2.1 regarding building orientation,
the front edges of buildings shall meet or approach
front and side property lines. Visual diversity will be created through variations in setback, massing, and
architectural details. In addition, solar exposure and
orientation shall be considered in the layout and
design of all streets, blocks, and buildings to maximize energy and resource efficiency.
25 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Figure 2.1 Building Orientation Center Core
Each town center will feature a core that provides
a common gathering place not only within the
center, but surrounding districts as well. The core
will accommodate the highest capacity for retail,
employment, civic, and pedestrian activity of each
center, and will design streets and buildings with
pedestrian comfort and visual interest at the forefront.
Location and Orientation of Commercial Activity
Commercial activity is permitted throughout Regional
and Community Town Centers, but the highest-
intensity commercial uses (and/or ground floor
commercial) will be located along all Arterials and
Collector Streets and in the core area of the town
center. Small convenience retail establishments, such
as corner stores, can also occupy a portion of the
ground floors of residential and office buildings outside of the core of centers. Ideally, office uses should be
clustered around public transit stations.
Location and Orientation of Large-Format
Retail Activity
Large-format retail establishments (i.e., “big box”
retail) may be located in the Regional Town Center but
are discouraged in Community or Neighborhood Town
Centers in order to preserve the local neighborhood
character of those areas. The urban design and
parking standards of large-format retail stores will be consistent with the standards and policies of these
districts. Large-format retail establishments served
by surface parking will be located at the edges of the
Regional Town Center, preferably adjacent to major
regional roadways or highways.
Character, Location, and Orientation of
Public Spaces
Public gathering places that provide visual relief and
passive recreation should be located in Mixed-Use
Districts and should be surrounded by civic buildings
and any commercial or mixed-use buildings located in
the town center.
Location and Orientation of Civic Buildings
Major civic buildings (e.g., libraries, schools, and
government offices) will serve as focal points of public spaces within centers. Providing attention to distinctive building details, entry features and varying setbacks will allow civic buildings to stand out from other structures in the center. Wherever possible, civic buildings will be located in proximity to and open onto public spaces.
OBJECTIVE UF-3
Foster a community of tight knit
residential districts.
Create a fabric of complete residential communities
that support mixed-use areas and include a diversity
of housing types. The SEDA Specific Plan distributes
a variety of housing types across the Plan Area to
accommodate future housing needs. Neighborhood
Town Centers will form the heart of many residential
neighborhoods, placing civic and institutional facilities within walking distance of each home.
POLICY UF-3.1 VARIETY OF RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICTS.
The SEDA will include a variety of residential
districts composed of a mixture of housing product
types necessary to meet the evolving needs of
Fresno residents. Residential Districts include:
Mixed Residential, Neighborhood Residential, Rural
Residential, and Rural Cluster Residential Districts.
26 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY UF-3.2 DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE.
The size, density, composition, and building character
of Residential Districts will be consistent with the new SEDA zone district standards implemented through
a Development Code update. Streets and non-auto
circulation elements will be implemented according to
the standards set in the Development Code.
POLICY UF-3.3 EXISTING RURAL
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
There are approximately 2,160 acres in the SEDA
Plan Area currently developed as very low-density
rural residential homes and ranchettes - the majority
of which have been designated in the Plan as Rural
Residential. Upon annexation into the City, the existing land use on these parcels will remain protected under
the Annexed Rural Residential Transitional Overlay
District as referenced in Fresno Municipal Code (FMC)
Section 15-1606, which allows rural residential uses to continue upon annexation to the City until such time
as the properties are further developed consistent
with the Base District.
POLICY UF-3.4 HORSE KEEPING.
As part of the Development Code update, potential
locations for allowing horse keeping will be identified and protected through the Equine Overlay District, as
referenced in FMC Section 15-1607 .
OBJECTIVE UF-4
Attract high-profile businesses to create bustling
and desirable Employment Districts.
Develop Employment Districts that provide a variety
of research, office, and industrial employment
opportunities in the SEDA. The highest concentrations
of employment activity will be located in close
proximity to housing and retail services and well-
integrated into and around Mixed-Use Districts along
primary road and/or transit corridors to facilitate non- auto access to job centers.
POLICY UF-4.1 EMPLOYMENT DISTRICTS.
The SEDA will provide a variety of land uses that
could support employment opportunities to meet
the needs of residents and employers. Employment
activity will be located in the Mixed-Use Districts,
as well as Office Centers and Flexible Research and
Development Districts.
POLICY UF-4.2 DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE.
The size, density, composition, and building character
of Employment Districts will be consistent with the
proposed SEDA zone district standards set forth in
the SEDA Development Code update. Streets and
non-auto circulation elements will be implemented
according to the standards set in the Development
Code.
OBJECTIVE UF-5
Provide a well-balanced transportation network
accessible to all users.
Create a balanced, complete network of multi-
modal corridors and local circulation that provides a
range of transportation options for all residents and
employees. The SEDA transportation network will
shape the travel choices of residents and employees in
and around the SEDA, reinforcing the environmental,
fiscal, and community goals of the Specific Plan.
Arterials incorporating high-capacity public transit
and safe bicycle and pedestrian routes will serve as
a strong framework for site land uses, while other
Arterials, Collectors, and Local Streets will provide
safe, convenient access for local trips. Representative of the walkable and bikeable nature of this Plan, non-
auto options are integrated throughout the Plan Area,
with dedicated bicycle/pedestrian trails and a network
of bicycle-priority “Bicycle Boulevards.”
POLICY UF-5.1 CIRCULATION PLAN AND
STREET STANDARDS.
Implement a circulation plan which provides a variety
of transportation options necessary to meet the needs
of residents and employees within the SEDA.
In order to promote connectivity throughout the Plan
Area, all SEDA street rights-of-way shall be publicly
accessible and shall not include gates or access
controls, except where permitted through special
review by the City of Fresno.
27 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY UF-5.2 TRANSIT SERVICE.
Safe, convenient and frequent transit service will be
provided to and within the SEDA via regional transit
connections along the Kings Canyon Boulevard
alignment and potentially, along existing rail right-
of-ways. Local service will be provided along primary
internal circulation corridors, including Arterials
and Collectors.
Regional Transit Planning
Thoughtful transit planning must occur in order
to incorporate the primary centers, particularly
the Regional Town Center along Kings Canyon. A
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension study including
planning, design and environmental analysis should
be completed to evaluate the potential costs and
benefits of extending the BRT to the SEDA Plan Area.
Station Location
The location of transit stations and stops will better
serve local community members if they are placed
within or adjacent to major activity centers, schools,
medical facilities, public places such as libraries, parks, senior centers, and recreation facilities, commercial uses and high-density residential and employment areas.
Station Connectivity and Accessibility
To provide opportunities for the highest possible
transit use, stations will feature a convenient and
accessible path of travel and will include pedestrian
and bicycle connections to the surrounding street
network and transit transfer points. Bus stops and
stations will be oriented toward major streets and
public spaces, with primary commercial entrances
opening directly toward bus stops. Important to
ensuring all members within the SEDA community
have access to transit opportunities, bus stops and
stations will comply with the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
POLICY UF-5.3 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL.
As part of the future Parks and Trails Master Plan, a
network of pedestrian and bicycle routes, including
dedicated trails, multi-purpose paths, and priority
Bicycle Boulevards will serve work, school, and
recreational trips and provide options for healthier
outcomes within the community. In addition,
both existing and proposed regional trails will be
coordinated in tandem within this walkable and
bikeable network. The Fresno General Plan Figure MT-
2: Paths and Trails and the Active Transportation Plan
(ATP) identify active trails.
POLICY UF-5.4 SAFE STREETS.
Streets are designed for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users within the Southeast Development
Area and will enhance safety within the community.
SEDA street design will reflect best practice
standards as included in the City of Fresno Complete
Streets Policy.
POLICY UF-5.5 RANKING OF TRAVEL MODES.
In order to create a cohesive network between
all modes of travel within the SEDA, the Plan will
prioritize the following travel modes:
• Pedestrian
• Bicycle
• High-capacity transit
• Automobile
POLICY UF-5.6 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
AND EVALUATION.
The following criteria shall guide the evaluation of
facilities within the SEDA.
Transit
Transit will be provided as demand warrants. Upon
Plan buildout or when warranted, 10-minute peak-
period headways will be provided along the BRT
corridor (e.g., Kings Canyon), and 15-minute peak-
period headways shall be provided for high-priority
transit routes (e.g., De Wolf, Clovis).
In addition, all other transit routes in the planning
area shall be operated at 30-minute headways upon
Plan completion.
Extended hour or late-night service shall be provided
at 60-minute headways.
28 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Bus stop locations are generally placed at ¼ mile
spacing. Bus stop placement will be prioritized at:
• Schools and medical facilities
• Libraries, parks, senior centers, and recreation
facilities
• Concentrated commercial areas
• Concentrated residential and employment areas
Bicycles
A user-friendly bicycle network will be provided to
welcome all riders throughout the entire Plan Area.
Bicycle lanes including Class II and Class IV facilities should be provided on all Super Arterials, Arterials,
and Local Streets. A designated bicycle network
should be designated on Neighborhood or Local
Streets. Ensuring the safety of vulnerable users will be an important priority, as the Plan will seek to create
a network of easy to use, lower stress amenities
that provide the ability to connect riders to key
destinations throughout the City, as described in the
Fresno Active Transportation Plan.
Pedestrians
As part of the future Parks and Trails Master Plan,
a first-class pedestrian system shall be provided,
including sidewalks on all streets, bicycle/pedestrian
trails, and other design elements that prioritize safety and convenience for pedestrians, as described in the
Fresno Active Transportation Plan.
Vehicles
A highly connected, grid-based roadway system
shall be provided for efficient vehicular travel. Please see Section 13-206 of the Fresno Municipal Code,
the Complete Streets Policy 240.3 and the City
of Fresno's Department of Public Works Standard
Drawings for additional information.
POLICY UF-5.7 LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS).
To promote complete streets and provide safe
mobility for all users throughout the entire SEDA,
streets will be designed with no more than four
through lanes and a continuous two-way left-turn
lane (portions of Jensen and Temperance Avenues
may have more than four lanes). In addition, these
LOS standards are complemented by several other
transportation related policies to reduce overall
vehicle miles traveled (such as complete streets and
transportation demand management). The following
LOS standards apply to SEDA roadways:
• LOS ‘E’ for Arterials, Collectors, and Local (both
intersection and segment operations) during peak
traffic hours.
• LOS ‘F’ Exception. LOS ‘F’ in areas with ample
transit, pedestrian, and/or bicycle options, including
in and around the Mixed-Use Districts of the SEDA,
particularly if achieving a LOS with less delay would
violate the four-lane maximum as described above.
OBJECTIVE UF-6
Integrate urban form with a multi-modal
transportation network.
Thoughtfully integrating land use and transportation
systems in combination with one another is essential
to meeting the goals of the SEDA Plan.
The SEDA will be characterized by a variety of Mixed-
Use Districts, Residential Districts, and Employment
Districts that provide local and regional destinations, capturing a majority of work, shopping, recreation, and service trips. By purposefully linking the multi-modal
transportation network to this wide array of land use
types and intensities, the Plan will maximize active
transportation opportunities and minimize energy,
air pollution, transportation cost, and greenhouse
gas impacts.
29 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY UF-6.1 LAND USE AND
CIRCULATION INTEGRATION
The network of streets within the Mixed-Use
Districts, Residential Districts and Employment
Districts will link districts to one another throughout the Plan Area. Table 2.1 below shows the variety of
street classifications that will be present in each
of the Districts located throughout the Southeast
Development Area.
Table 2.1 Network of Streets
Arterial Collector Local
Mixed-Use Districts
Regional Town Center X X X
Community Town Center X X X
Neighborhood Town Center - X X
Residential Districts
Mixed Residential X X X
Neighborhood Residential - X X
Rural Residential - X X
Rural Cluster Residential - X X
Employment Center
Office Center X X X
Flexible Research and Development X X X
Institutional X X X
30 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
OBJECTIVE UF-7
Create a parking strategy to address current
and future needs.
While it is important to respond to and provide for
parking demand, the Plan must also support a variety
of transportation options with parking requirements
that encourage non-automotive travel modes within
the SEDA.
POLICY UF-7.1 PARKING STUDY AND POLICY
DEVELOPMENT.
Develop, facilitate, and monitor an ongoing and
comprehensive parking program within the SEDA.
The City of Fresno Planning and Development
Department should take a hands-on approach to
understanding the parking needs of the SEDA in
order to establish accurate parking maximums that
cap the number of parking spaces associated with
certain land uses or developments. Less demand for
parking will reduce VMT and align with the City’s VMT
Guidelines. A parking study will be completed through
the Development Code update.
POLICY UF-7.2 PARKING PROVISIONS.
Encourage tight knit, walkable communities by
capping the quantity of parking a development is
required to provide based on parking demand for
future development.
Parking Reductions
The parking study to be completed by the City of
Fresno shall establish and adopt parking reduction
standards to encourage a variety of transportation
options. Reduction standards shall be applied to, but
not limited to:
Transit. Applicable to all land uses within one half mile of major transit infrastructure.
Mixed-Use Districts. Applicable to all land uses
within Regional, Community, and Neighborhood Town
Centers as well as other mixed-use zones as defined
by the SEDA Specific Plan.
Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDM).
Applicable to all land uses with TDM policies.
On-Street Parking Inclusion
All on-street parking stalls may be counted towards
meeting parking requirements if they achieve the
following criteria:
• On-street parking stalls must be publicly accessible
and meet City of Fresno and SEDA standards
for parking.
• Stalls must not already be counted toward another
development’s parking supply total.
• At least 50% of the area of the on-street stall must
be located in front of the project, calculated from the front (street-side) corner of the development parcel,
perpendicular to the closest adjacent street centerline. • Where on-street parking is provided on the block
perimeter and the parking is marked, metered,
or parking pay stations are provided, accessible
parking spaces shall be provided in accordance
with the Pedestrian Rights of Way Accessibility
Guidelines (PROWAG).
• Stalls must obtain designation as “counted” supply
by the City of Fresno Planning and Development
Department, but will be retained as property of,
and subject to regulation, maintenance, redesign,
and operation by the City of Fresno; subsequent
elimination by the City of a “counted” on-street
stall shall not translate into additional parking
requirements so long as that development remains
in the same use.
POLICY UF-7.3 PARKING DESIGN.
Support vibrant, walkable, and accessible communities
by successfully integrating and managing parking
facilities within the urban fabric.
Surface Lot Standards
Integrate a site design that is pleasant, convenient,
and unobtrusive to the streetscape.
Connecting walkways shall be provided to afford
convenient pedestrian access from the interior of
parking areas to nearby buildings or open spaces.
Landscaped setbacks with a minimum width of 10
feet shall be provided wherever a surface parking lot
abuts a street; this may include the use of landscape
31 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
material, land forms, rockeries, trellises, colonnades, and other elements.
Pedestrian walks shall be striped across drive lanes.
Landscaped islands shall be installed at the ends of all on-grade parking bays and shall contain one tree per
adjacent stall.
Landscaped medians shall have a minimum width of 8
feet from back of curb to back of curb.
Paving and planting materials shall be approved
by the Planning and Development and Public
Works Directors.
Structured Lot Standards
Enable structure design similar to the surface
lot standards that is pleasant, convenient, and
unobtrusive to the streetscape.
Residential parking structures should be shielded from
the street on all sides by other uses.
Public parking structures within one block of Super
Arterials and Arterials of the Regional or Community
Town Centers shall provide ground floor retail,
commercial, office, or other pedestrian-compatible
uses for at least 70% of their street frontage (except
to the extent that frontage minimums interfere with
minimum access requirements).
Minimize Heat Island Effect and Urban
Stormwater Runoff
Install planting, shading and paving techniques to
minimize environmental impacts of parking facilities.
For vegetative shading, please refer to City of Fresno
Performance Standards for Parking Lot Shading
(Fresno Development Code Section 15-2421).
Soil and planting materials on surface lots shall
serve to:
• Suppress sediment movement
• Trap sediment-attached substances
• Encourage infiltration
• Encourage nutrient-fixing and absorption of
flushed surface contaminants during detention
and infiltration
• Enhance water-cooling effect by shading runoff
during detention and infiltration
Paving in high-density and commercial areas should
consist of pervious pavement systems or equivalent
technology, achieving a reduction of not less than
50% net impervious cover, for at least 50% of total
pavement area as compared to a typical concrete or
asphalt paving system.
Materials with a minimum Solar Reflectance Index
(SRI) of 29 should be used on at least 50% of all
impervious parking surfaces (including roofing over
covered parking stalls).
Accessible Parking
The Plan Area will provide for accessible parking
in accordance with the ADA Standards, Title
24 California Building Code and best practices
of the Pedestrian Rights of Way Accessibility
Guidelines (PROWAG).
Preferential Parking
Provide preferential parking to encourage more
sustainable travel behavior.
Develop pro-rata requirements for the provision of
preferential non-residential parking for, but not limited to, all of the following modes of transportation in order of importance (high to low):
• Bicycles
• Motorcycles
• Carshare vehicles
• Electric vehicles
• Carpools/vanpools
32 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY UF-7.4 PRICING AND FEE SHARING.
Develop a comprehensive fee and pricing strategy
for parking within the SEDA that uses market pricing,
a variety of financing strategies, and incentives to
support non-auto travel and encourage the efficient
use of land.
Pricing. Support metering, variable pricing,
differential pricing, and other market mechanisms to
efficiently use parking resources.
Incentives. Enable in-lieu fees and consolidated
parking provisions (i.e., public lots and garages) to
efficiently utilize land within commercial, retail, and Mixed-Use Districts.
Affordability. Allow unbundling, cash-out programs,
and density bonuses to encourage developers
and/or employers to reduce their parking load and
increase affordability.
OBJECTIVE UF-8
Manage transportation demand as it occurs.
Use a comprehensive set of transportation demand
management (TDM) strategies to increase overall
system efficiency through design improvements, land
use planning, and single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trip
reduction programs. Policies will be flexible and utilize incentives to reduce unnecessary trips, shift flexible
trips, and lower development costs while making the
most efficient use of land and streets. Implementing
TDM policies will help reduce emissions and roadway
impacts in not only the SEDA, but beyond.
POLICY UF-8.1 SEDA TRANSPORTATION DEMAND
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
Develop a comprehensive TDM strategy for the SEDA
as follows:
Develop a TDM Plan consistent with the City’s VMT
program. A mix of uses are intended in the Plan which
seek to create a more compact lifestyle and reduce
VMT to meet state requirements.
The program should include physical design credits
(i.e. bicycle storage, on-site showers, shared parking), lifestyle credits (i.e. on-site childcare, telecommuting, flex hour programs), and credits for auto-alternative
programs (i.e. shuttle service, subsidized transit,
guaranteed ride home programs).
Bicycle parking facilities at Fresno State University
Transportation Demand
Management Programs
With its focus on Mixed-Use Districts, diverse
residential neighborhoods, and rich multi-modal
transportation options, the SEDA Plan significantly
reduces reliance on the automobile for many daily
trips. A Transportation Demand Management
Plan further reduces vehicle trips by ensuring that
employers and other major users in the Plan Area
provide programs and incentives to facilitate non-
auto travel. TDM policies provide disincentives to
driving alone and incentives to using other modes of
transportation for commute and other daily trips. Such
policies are implemented in cities across the United
States and are a safe and cost-effective means of
reducing demands on roadway infrastructure, making
best use of transit service, and reducing pollution and other harmful effects of automobile travel.
33 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
SEDA Development Code Update
This section of the SEDA Specific Plan provides a
description of the regulations and guidelines for
how the development of land uses and streets are
envisioned within the Plan Area in addition to how
these regulations will be implemented.
Application of the Development Code Update
New standards and requirements set forth in the
SEDA Specific Plan Development Code update will
guide how this Specific Plan is implemented. All
development proposals will be required to adhere to
these new standards and requirements.
The standards and regulations of the Development
Code update govern land uses and development
within the Plan Area. These standards and regulations
should supersede and/or replace any previous
zoning designations, allowable use designations, and
block, parcel, or lot/site design standards. Processes
currently included within the City of Fresno Municipal
Code, such as those including but not limited to Site
Plan Reviews, Conditional Use Permits and Variances,
which are not addressed by the Development Code
update shall remain processes which are allowed to
occur within the SEDA.
If a conflict arises between the requirements of the
SEDA Specific Plan and the Development Code, the
more stringent and regulating standard shall apply. In
compliance with the Fresno Municipal Code Section
15-104-B-4, in the event of a conflict between this
Development Code update and any other operative
plans, the Development Code shall supersede
the General Plan and applicable Specific and
Community Plans.
Components of the SEDA Development
Code Update
As part of this amendment, four interrelated
components are to be included within the SEDA
Specific Plan: the Land Use Map, new zone district
standards, street and circulation standards, and a
description of the development process. Each of
these components are described throughout the
remainder of this Chapter.
Land Use Map
The Land Use Map (Map 2.5) identifies various land
use designations throughout the Plan Area, which
would be described and regulated by a set of zoning
standards that describe the appropriate mix of uses,
compatibility of uses, maximum block size, and other
standards impacting the public realm within each
district.
Land Use, Zone Districts and Standards
Land use designations and associated zone district
standards establish the type and mix of uses
permitted in each district. Parcels within the Specific Plan Area shall be occupied by land uses allowed for
the district in which they are located, however, existing legal uses which have previously been operating within
the SEDA before the updated Plan adoption are
permitted to remain in perpetuity.
These zone district standards also regulate how blocks
are created and developed visually. New standards
are to be created with each separate district in mind
and as such, vary according to each zone district
designation. They define general block characteristics
including maximum block size, building height,
setbacks and building features.
Block Standards and Guidelines
The following standards provide guidance for the
layout of the blocks within all the proposed SEDA
zone districts. They are critical in creating well-
designed urban spaces to ensure a highly connected
and walkable block and street pattern throughout the
Plan Area.
Connectivity
Street connectivity is essential to the successful
implementation of the SEDA Plan. To ensure this
success, it is important that streets are not only
interconnected within the Plan Area itself, but outside the SEDA as well. The connection and alignment of
arterials and collectors are designated on Map 2.6,
the SEDA Proposed Major Street Circulation and are
shown with no greater than 1/2-mile spacing between
alignments.
34 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Street Stub-Outs
Street stub-outs must be provided when adjacent
sites are vacant and must be coordinated with
adjacent landowners and developers.
Cul-de-Sacs
In order to promote connectivity throughout the
Plan Area, cul-de-sacs are discouraged. Approval
by the City of Fresno is required for all cul-de-sacs.
Ownership boundaries are not considered a physical
condition that would otherwise allow a cul-de-sac.
Alleys
Alleys are allowed within all districts except Rural
Cluster. Alleys may cross a pedestrian pass- through,
but alley pavement must be raised at the crossing to
the level of the pass-through.
Block Layout
Block layout should meet the criteria defined for
blocks within each zone district, including maximum
block size.
Maximum Block Lengths (feet)
Blocks should be less than 500 feet long (measured
from street centerline to street centerline). Blocks
longer than 500 feet must provide a public,
pedestrian pass- through, at least 25’ in width. A pass- through should be perpendicular to the long block-
face, centered on that face to the extent possible, and connected to other circulation elements through and
adjacent to the block.
Edge Blocks
Blocks adjacent to significant open space features
such as parks, canals, or trails should face the
natural feature.
Gated Neighborhoods
Residential developments should not be isolated
from the adjacent community by fencing, walls,
or gates. In limited circumstances, gating of
vehicle circulation may be allowed, but bicycle and
pedestrian connectivity to the public realm must
remain unobstructed.
Allowable Uses
Uses within the SEDA will abide by the use categories
for each zone district proposed pursuant to this
Plan as part of the subsequent Development Code
update. If a use is not listed, it is not allowed within the Specific Plan Area. Similarly, if a land use is not listed within a specific district, it will not be allowed within that district. However, existing legal uses that have previously been operating within the SEDA area
before the updated Plan adoption are permitted,
pursuant to FMC Section 15-404.
35 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Regional Town Center
Typical Size: 100 - 175 acres
Description
The Regional Town Center is at the top of the Mixed-
Use District hierarchy in the SEDA, serving 40,000
to 60,000 households across the site and within the
surrounding communities. There are approximately
310 acres of Regional Town Center in the SEDA.
The Regional Town Center will be located south
of State Highway 180 along the realigned Kings
Canyon Arterial. The center will be focused around
one or more major transit stations linked to the
regional rapid-transit network. The Regional Town
Center will be given priority as the primary mixed-
use employment center, retail destination, and host
to major cultural attractions in the SEDA. Region-
serving civic amenities and medium to higher-density
housing will help to foster a complete and vibrant
mixed-use environment in the Regional Town Center.
Maximum Average Net Density
70 dwelling units per acre
Recommended Block/Building Types
Mixed-Use (Office/Retail, Residential/Retail),
Commercial (Office, Retail), Multifamily Residential,
Townhome, Live/Work.
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the
extent possible and placed internal to the block, or
along secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Each block-face shall have a maximum of one non-
alley curb-cut.
Additional curb-cuts shall be permitted for public and
private parking structures.
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas) should be
sited in central and prominent locations.
Semi-private civic spaces (e.g., community gardens,
pocket parks, tot-lots) should be sited at the heart
of a neighborhood in order to be protected by, and
accessible to, their users.
Regional Town Center blocks longer than 500’ should
incorporate a perpendicular, mid-block pass-through
for pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades should face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
36 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Community Town Centers
Typical Size: 40 - 75 acres
Description
The SEDA Specific Plan includes seven Community
Town Centers dispersed across the Plan Area. Each
center will provide commercial, civic, and other
services to meet the needs of multiple neighborhoods
and Community Town Center residents and
employees. Community Town Center services will
support between 5,000 and 10,000 households.
There are approximately 290 acres of Community
Town Centers in the SEDA.
Community Town Centers will feature grocery stores
and personal and business services, and a variety of
medium- density housing options. Some Community
Town Centers are focused around major rapid-
transit stations. Community Town Centers will be
located based on surrounding population density and
proximity to other centers.
Maximum Average Net Density
55 dwelling units per acre
Recommended Block/Building Types
Mixed-Use (Office/Retail, Residential/Retail),
Commercial (Office, Retail), Multifamily Residential,
Townhome, Live/Work, Single Family (Green Court/
Paseo Court, Small Lot)
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
On streets where parallel parking is provided,
accessible parking for people with disabilities will also be provided, in accordance with the best practices
of the Pedestrian Rights of Way Accessibility
Guidelines (PROWAG).
Access
Each block-face should have a maximum of one non-
alley curb-cut.
Additional curb-cuts should be permitted for public
and private parking structures.
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas) should be
sited in central and prominent locations.
Semi-private civic spaces (e.g., community gardens,
pocket parks, tot-lots) should be sited at the heart
of a neighborhood in order to be protected by, and
accessible to, their users.
Community Town Center blocks longer than 500’
should incorporate a perpendicular, mid-block pass-
through for pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades should face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
37 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Neighborhood Town Centers
Typical Size: 20 - 30 acres
Description
Neighborhood Town Centers are dispersed
throughout the SEDA and serve as focal points
of adjacent residential areas. Neighborhood Town
Centers will include some employment and residential
uses, but primarily provide the majority of SEDA
residents with essential walk, bike, transit, and short- drive access to civic services and amenities, including elementary schools, local parks, community gardens,
and other services.
The spacing and frequency of Neighborhood Town
Centers will be based upon requirements for the
provision of elementary schools as determined by
surrounding school districts. Each Neighborhood
Town Center shall serve approximately 1,500 to 2,000
households. There are approximately 520 acres of
Neighborhood Town Center in the SEDA.
Maximum Average Net Density
30 dwelling units per acre
Recommended Block/Building Types
Mixed-Use (Office/Retail, Residential/Retail),
Commercial (Office, Retail), Multifamily Residential,
Townhome, Live/Work, Single Family (Green Court/
Paseo Court, Small Lot)
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas) shall be sited in central and prominent locations.
Semi-private civic spaces (e.g., community gardens,
pocket parks, tot-lots) should be sited at the heart
of a neighborhood in order to be protected by, and
accessible to, their users.
Neighborhood Town Center blocks longer than 500’
should incorporate a perpendicular, mid-block pass-
through for pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades shall face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
38 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Mixed Residential
Typical Size: 20 - 120 acres
Description
Mixed Residential Districts will support the Regional
and Community Town Centers with a variety of
medium- and higher-density housing, including a
diverse mix of attached and detached single family
and multifamily dwellings. There are approximately
1,090 acres of Mixed Residential in the SEDA.
Maximum Average Net Density
25 dwelling units per acre
Recommended Block/Building Types
Mixed-Use (Residential/Retail), Multifamily
Residential, Townhome, Live/Work, Single
Family (Green Court/ Paseo Court, Small Lot),
Accessory Units
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas) should be
sited in central and prominent locations:
Semi-private civic spaces (e.g., community gardens,
pocket parks, tot-lots) should be sited at the heart
of a neighborhood in order to be protected by, and
accessible to, their users.
Mixed Residential blocks longer than 500’ shall
incorporate a perpendicular, mid-block pass-through
for pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades shall face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
Gated and/or access restricted neighborhoods are
prohibited in Mixed Residential Districts.
39 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Neighborhood Residential
Typical Size: 20 - 120 acres
Description
Neighborhood Residential Districts will surround
Neighborhood Town Centers and support the retail,
employment, and other services provided throughout
the SEDA Plan. Neighborhood Residential areas
include a diversity of detached and attached single
family housing types, as well as some multifamily
housing options. There are approximately 1,520 acres
of Neighborhood Residential in the SEDA.
Maximum Average Net Density
20 dwelling units per acre
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas) should be
sited in central and prominent locations.
Semi-private civic spaces (e.g., community gardens,
pocket parks, tot-lots) should be sited at the heart
of a neighborhood in order to be protected by, and
accessible to their users.
Neighborhood Residential blocks longer than 500’
shall incorporate a perpendicular, mid-block pass-
through for pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades should face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
40 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Rural Residential
Typical Size: 1-10 acres
Description
There are approximately 2,160 acres in the Plan Area
currently developed as very low-density rural residential homes, small farms, and ranchettes, the majority
of which have been designated in the plan as Rural
Residential. Upon annexation into the City, the existing land use on these parcels will remain protected under
the Annexed Rural Residential Transitional Overlay
District as referenced in Fresno Municipal Code (FMC)
Section 15-1606, which allows rural residential uses to continue upon annexation to the City until such time as the properties are further developed consistent with
the Base District.
Maximum Average Net Density
1 dwelling unit per lot
Recommended Block/Building Types
Single Family
Street and Frontage Standards
No loading should be permitted on a public road,
street or highway.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Vehicular access should be provided from a dedicated
and improved road or approved private road to off-
street parking facilities on the property requiring
off-street parking.
Adequate turning area should be provided on lots
facing on and having access to Collector or Arterial
roads or expressways to permit motor vehicles to
enter the roadway in a forward direction.
Public Realm Standards
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to
link residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
41 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Rural Cluster Residential
Typical Size: 20 - 120 acres
Description
Rural Cluster Districts, located along the eastern edge of the SEDA, will concentrate residential lots within a small, clustered area of a larger parcel or grouping of parcels. This clustering of homes serves to preserve
the continuity and viability of the surrounding land for active recreation, habitat conservation, and agricultural uses. Rural Cluster will be used as a transitional buffer between more intense urban uses within the SEDA,
and the commercial agricultural operations outside the
Plan Area. There are approximately 810 acres of Rural
Cluster Residential in the SEDA.
In Rural Cluster Districts, the property area typically covers 20 – 40 acres, but homes cluster on lots (less
than 1 acre) on a small portion of the property.
Maximum Average Net Density
0.5 dwelling units per acre
Recommended Block/Building Types
Single Family (Medium Lot, Cluster Lot)
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle thru-
ways should be encouraged, especially to link residential nodes within short distances from one another.
42 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Office Center
Typical Size: 50 - 120 acres
Description
Office Center areas will be located adjacent to
Regional and Community Centers or along regionally
significant transportation corridors (e.g. State
Highway 180, Kings Canyon Avenue, Clovis Avenue).
Office Centers will accommodate professional office
and compatible commercial uses such as restaurants,
coffee shops, cafes, banks, book shops, and dry
cleaners. There are approximately 160 acres of Office
Center in the SEDA.
Recommended Block/Building Types
Mixed-Use (Office/Retail), Commercial
(Office, Retail)
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Each block-face should have a maximum of one non-
alley curb-cut.
Additional curb-cuts should be permitted for public
and private parking structures.
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas, etc.) should be sited in central and prominent locations.
Semi-private civic spaces (e.g., community gardens,
pocket parks, tot-lots, etc.) should be sited at the
heart of a neighborhood in order to be protected by,
and accessible to their users.
Office Center blocks longer than 500’ should
incorporate a perpendicular, mid-block pass-through
for pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades should face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
43 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Flexible Research and Development
Typical Size: 50 - 300 acres
Description
Flexible Research and Development areas will primarily
be located west of the Briggs Canal and/or south of
Jensen Avenue and are intended to contain uses such
as research and development, light manufacturing,
product testing centers, and office development. The
area could also include compatible commercial uses
such as restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, printing and
publishing, dry cleaners, and supporting businesses.
Access to regional transportation corridors (both road
and rail) is critical. Residential uses will not be allowed in this District, however, buffer standards will be
included between uses as needed to ensure land use
compatibility. There are approximately 1,380 acres of
Flexible Research and Development in the SEDA.
Recommended Block/Building Types
Mixed-Use (Office/Retail), Commercial (Office/
Retail), Research and Development/Light Industrial
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets should include street right-of-way
adequate for inclusion of parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas, etc.) should be sited in central and prominent locations.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades should face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
44 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Institutional
Typical Size: 3 - 40 acres
Description
Institutional districts include existing and planned
educational facilities.
Institutional districts could also located at the
edges of Regional and Community Town Centers
along medium- and high-capacity transportation
connections. Institutional areas could house K-12
schools and university or state community college
functions, while providing a limited but compatible
series of commercial uses. There are approximately
280 acres of institutional in the SEDA.
Recommended Block/Building Types
Civic, Educational
Street and Frontage Standards
All streets must include parallel parking.
Parking lot frontage should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed internal to the block, or along
secondary or side street infrastructure.
Parking lot frontage should be broken or screened as
much as possible with buildings, plantings, stormwater
elements, plazas, public art, or other design features.
Access
Curb cuts should be minimized to the extent
possible and placed along secondary or side
street infrastructure.
Access drives should be shared between multiple
uses, where possible.
Access drives should be aligned across streets,
where possible.
Public Realm Standards
Public civic spaces (e.g., squares, plazas) should be
sited in central and prominent locations throughout
each center.
Institutional blocks longer than 500’ should
incorporate a perpendicular, mid-block pass-through
for pedestrian and bicycle circulation.
Connective, multi-block pedestrian and bicycle
thru-ways should be encouraged, especially to link
non-residential nodes within short distances from
one another.
Buildings should be oriented parallel or nearly parallel to adjacent streets.
Primary facades should face civic plazas and/or the
most active street. For streets, the general order of
highest to lowest intensity and use is:
• Arterial
• Collector
• Local (with Bicycle Blvd. status)
• Local (standard)
45 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Street And Circulation Standards
The Proposed Major Street Circulation Map (Map
2.6) identifies alignments and connectivity for
Arterials and Collectors. Each roadway type is
subject to City of Fresno's Department of Public
Works Standards.
The public right-of-way includes the area between
parcel boundaries and sidewalks, landscaping, and
streets. All streets in the Plan Area will need to utilize the City of Fresno's Department of Public Works
Standards for the planning and design of streets.
Multi-Modal Circulation System
The SEDA Proposed Major Street Circulation (Map
2.6) also defines the major circulation elements
of the SEDA Plan for Arterials and Collectors.
Alignments for Local Streets, while not defined
by the Circulation Plan Map, must adhere to the
dimensions and connectivity standards of the City of
Fresno's Department of Public Works Standards or as
specified in the Development Code update for SEDA.
Bicycle / Pedestrian Trail
Trail systems connect regional and sub-regional
destinations for bicyclists, pedestrians, and
equestrians (where appropriate) and seek to provide
safe, comfortable paths, which accommodate
recreational activity and non- automobile travel for
daily trips. In addition, multi-use trails will be located next to canals and other open space networks within
the SEDA and will further help to direct storm water
runoff into natural basins.
Bicycle Routes (Bicycle Priority Streets)
Bicycle Routes are located on either Collector or Local Streets and will aim to optimize bike travel and improve bicycle safety through traffic calming, intersection
control, special signage and street markings. Bicycle
Routes provide direct, prioritized routes for bicyclists, minimizing stop signs, discouraging auto travel and cut- throughs, and providing traffic light and curb extensions to help bicyclists cross busy streets. Crossing elements and other traffic calming features slow vehicular
traffic and allow both experienced and young riders to
ride safely and comfortably. Distinctive signage and
pavement markings also help to alert automobiles that
the route prioritizes for bicyclists.
46 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Development Process
This section describes the tools for how the
SEDA Development Code can be used to file an
application within the SEDA for various Subdivision,
Site Development Plans and/or Sub-Area
Implementation Plans.
Procedure for Subdividing Land
Many existing parcels within the SEDA exceed two to
six acres (excluding civic lots) and must be subdivided further to meet the requirements of the specific zone
district standards in which the parcel is located. The
following describes a process for subdividing parcels
within the SEDA in order to create a series of smaller, more connected blocks, as would be required by the
zone district standards.
Site
Parcels exceeding 2 to 6 acres should be subdivided
or provide bicycle and pedestrian circulation through
the project site.
Introduce Streets
Streets break each property into smaller blocks that
meet the standards established by the proposed zone
districts. The SEDA Proposed Major Street Circulation
Map identifies major circulation elements such as
collector street alignments.
Introduce Alleys
The interior of blocks and individual parcels are
encouraged with access primarily by alleys. Reducing
curb- cuts along block-faces promotes safer, more
attractive streetscapes that meet the standards
established by the zone districts.
Introduce Lots
Based on the type(s) of blocks created, lots or parcels should be introduced that conform to the allowable
building types.
Introduce Building Types
After each lot receives a building type, the building
should incorporate additional standards for frontage,
landscaping and architectural standards.
47 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Sub-Area Implementation Plans
Sub-Area Implementation Plans may be utilized in
cases where large areas or districts of the SEDA
undergo comprehensive, coordinated detailed
planning and design. This could occur when multiple
property owners come together to plan for larger
portions of the SEDA site and is most applicable
(though not limited) to the Regional Town Center,
Community Town Centers, and Neighborhood Town
Centers. Sub-Area Implementation Plans can ensure
that critical areas of the SEDA are planned cohesively.
Sub-Area Planning Process
In coordination with developers, builders, and
landowners, the City could participate in the creation
of Sub-Area Plans.
Planning and design teams for the Sub-Areas should
include expertise in land use and urban design,
transportation system and roadway design, transit
station design and access (where required), landscape
architecture (where required), infrastructure planning, and financing. Each team should work closely with
associated infrastructure agencies and providers
throughout the development of the Sub-Area Plan.
48 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 3
HOUSING CHOICE
AND AFFORDABILITY
As discussed throughout the Chapter 2 –
Urban Form, the way in which land uses
are designated and allocated throughout
a community affects how and where
housing is developed. As a long-range
plan, the SEDA Specific Plan presents
a rare opportunity to comprehensively
address housing needs.
The Plan accommodates a diverse range of housing
types, from medium- and higher-density multifamily
types, to small and medium-lot single family options.
It provides land uses that seek to align with the
unique housing market to better support a variety of
housing options. The Plan also builds on a definition of affordability that considers household transportation,
energy and utility bill burdens as components of
housing costs..
Housing in Fresno County
In recent years, the average sale price of a home
in Fresno has increased by upwards of 19 percent.
Although trends of overpayment in the city of
Fresno have decreased since the 2010’s, Fresno
still had a higher rate of cost burdened households
than the county as a whole in recent years, with 41.3
percent of all households in the city overpaying
for housing compared to 37 .8 percent across the
county. These factors, coupled together with a
local median household income of approximately
$53,568 compared to the California statewide median
household income of approximately $78,672, can lead
to difficult conditions for Fresno residents seeking
housing opportunities.
Responding with a Spectrum of Housing Types
The Southeast Development Area Plan calls for higher
densities across all residential and mixed-use areas
except Rural Residential and Rural Cluster. Residential development will exceed conventional suburban
development densities and will provide for a greater
spectrum of product types. A small percentage of
total development calls for lower density lots in the
Rural Cluster land use that serve as a buffer between
urban uses and conventional agricultural uses outside
the Southeast Development Area.
In addition, providing a more diverse, higher density
mix of housing in the SEDA Plan benefits major
employers, who can locate in proximity to a range of
qualified employees. Increasing the housing diversity
within the Southeast Development Area will provide
employers with a range of employee profiles that will
allow employers to fill a diverse set of jobs.
Minimizing Household Costs and Increasing
Access to Transit and Employment
A key measure of household affordability is based on
linking housing, transit and jobs in proximity to one
another in order to minimize transportation costs and
vehicle miles traveled. Communities where people
have more travel options—where they can walk, bike,
take transit, or take a short drive to where they work, play, shop, and go to school—can have a significant
impact on household transportation costs. Moreover,
communities that include smaller-lot single family
49 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
options, as well as multi-family and townhome choices,
save residents and businesses on water, energy, and
other utility bills. Measures of housing affordability
must incorporate these multiple factors into the cost
of owning and operating a home.
Protecting Agricultural Lands
The Southeast Development Area is known for its
rich agricultural history. Representative of the SEDA
today, multi-generational farming practices are still
deeply engrained in the culture of the community.
As a region, we cannot plan for the Southeast
Development Area without ensuring the agricultural
heritage is harmoniously integrated within the fabric
of new development. As part of this Plan, the Rural
Cluster Residential land use is proposed to serve as
an agricultural buffer between the developed areas
of the SEDA and the agricultural lands to the east.
In addition, the SEDA Specific Plan will incorporate
single and multi-family housing developments in close
coordination with micro-scale agricultural farms and
community gardens which not only seek to preserve
existing agricultural practices, but to provide healthier, farm-to-table food options for SEDA residents and
the surrounding region.
The objectives and policies of this Chapter reflect the priorities and vision for housing within the Southeast
Development Area. They provide measures to ensure
a variety of housing types are available to serve the
community over time. For ease of readability, the
phrase “Housing Choice” will be abbreviated to “HC”
throughout this Chapter.
OBJECTIVE HC-1
Diverse Housing Types
Mix housing types and designs throughout the
Plan Area to respond to the needs of all household
types. The Southeast Development Area Specific
Plan accommodates a diverse range of household
demographics and preferences with housing types
that range from higher-density multi-family homes to
medium-lot single family homes.
The Alegre Commons. Low-density affordable housing
located on Barstow Avenue
541 South Tower. Medium-density affordable housing
located on Fulton Street
50 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
The Link at Blackstone. High-density mixed-use
affordable housing located on Blackstone Avenue
POLICY HC-1.1 AGE IN PLACE HOUSING.
Plan for housing suitable for different stages of
life, including first-time buyers, singles, young
couples, families, and older homeowners, as well as
opportunities for multi-generational housing, housing
for seniors and long-term care/assisted living facilities.
POLICY HC-1.2 FAMILY AND LARGE
HOUSEHOLD HOUSING.
Encourage the development of housing to serve larger
households and households with children, particularly
in areas served by high-capacity transit.
POLICY HC-1.3 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
To align with State Law, continue to allow the
development of accessory dwellings or “granny flats”
to increase density and affordability while maintaining character.
POLICY HC-1.4 ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
Construct housing with practical features that provide
basic access and functionality for people of all ages
and various mobility and ambulatory capabilities.
POLICY HC-1.5 HOUSING DI VERSITY.
Encourage the inclusion of housing opportunities
which provide for a range and diversity of
housing types.
POLICY
HC-1.6 COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN USES.
Provide for urban edge transitions that protect
existing rural residential and agricultural uses from
new development.
OBJECTIVE HC-2
Affordable Housing
Provide land uses which allow for a variety of housing
choices that could be made available to a mix of
incomes, age groups, and lifestyles.
POLICY HC-2.1 PROVISION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
Provide funding assistance, partnership support,
and take other actions as necessary to support
the construction of new affordable housing within
the SEDA.
The Housing Element details a comprehensive
set of programs to provide an adequate supply of
affordable housing. Programs entail actions by the
Planning and Development Department, Fresno
Housing (previously known as the Fresno Housing
Authority), private and non-profit developers and
others as applicable. Development in the SEDA shall
be consistent with the Housing Element. Current
programs prioritizing housing affordability include, but are not limited to:
• Provide incentives for housing development
• Pursue state and federal funding sources for
housing development
• Strengthen partnerships and relationships with
affordable housing developers
• Support the establishment of local Community Land
Trusts to acquire and/or build affordable housing
• Continue to release City-owned land designated as
surplus for the development of affordable housing
51 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
and other uses consistent with the California Surplus
Lands Act
For more detailed information, please refer to the
Fresno General Plan Housing Element.
POLICY HC-2.2 PUBLICLY OWNED LAND.
The City will continue to release City-owned sites as
available for affordable housing development projects.
POLICY HC-2.3 DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSING.
Promote affordable housing opportunities that are
distributed throughout the Southeast Development
Area to avoid concentration in any one area.
POLICY HC-2.4 ECONOMIC INCENTIVES.
The City shall advocate for the provision of special
needs housing, including disabled-accessible units
and housing for persons with mental and physical
disabilities. Develop economic incentives to
encourage private sector developers and residential
developments to construct accessible units in excess
of the minimums. Economic incentives could include
density bonuses, parking requirement reductions, and
streamlined permitting.
Make incentives available to all new residential
developments that target at least 25% of new units
as accessible.
POLICY HC-2.5 SECURE AFFORDABILITY.
Maintain long-term affordability by using covenants
and deeds, equity sharing, and other mechanisms by
supporting the establishment of local Community
Land Trusts and continuing to release City-owned
sites for affordable housing development projects.
OBJECTIVE HC-3
Coordinating Housing and Transportation
Link housing and transportation together to
limit family expenditures on both housing and
transportation. The multi-modal transportation
network connects housing and jobs within the
Southeast Development Area and to other major
regional centers, facilitating internal travel by
non-automobile means. Chapter 2 – Urban Form
addresses the location, distribution, and standards for transportation infrastructure investment, combining
transportation options with appropriate development
patterns to ultimately lower travel costs for SEDA
residents and employees.
POLICY HC-3.1 COORDINATED LAND USE AND
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
Support regional and citywide planning efforts that
encourage the development of housing near new and
existing public transportation investments.
POLICY HC-3.2 TRAVEL.
Encourage accessible, mixed-use development that
incorporates housing and jobs, while lowering daily
vehicle miles traveled.
POLICY HC-3.3 SMART LAND USES.
Build smaller-lot single family and multi-family
housing types which use less energy and water than
larger units.
52 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 4
OPEN SPACE, SCHOOLS
AND
PUBLIC FACILITIES
Parks and other open spaces are
essential elements of vibrant and
healthy communities that promote a
range of social, health, economic, and
environmental benefits when integrated
well into communities.
Beyond primary recreational functions, parks and open
spaces can also serve as critical “green infrastructure” elements in a community, capturing and filtering
stormwater runoff and reducing the need for
traditional piped systems. The SEDA Plan recognizes—
and builds upon—these many benefits. A high-quality,
accessible open space system will be an integral
component within the Southeast Development Area,
as well as a significant contributor to improved quality of life.
Schools, libraries, and facilities for other essential civic services help define and anchor communities. Through
their development, the City of Fresno and other public
agencies possess key opportunities to positively
impact the stability, sustainability, safety, and health of our communities. To ensure that public facilities
respond optimally to community needs, the SEDA
Plan outlines standards for the location, accessibility, and design of key facilities. With a sensitivity to
fiscal constraints, the SEDA Plan also recommends
joint-use arrangements—primarily between parks
and schools—that can optimize capital outlays,
maintenance costs, and public benefits. The SEDA
open space system will consist of parks and other
green spaces interspersed throughout its mixed-use
areas and residential neighborhoods. To ensure that
parks respond to community needs and are developed
in a fiscally efficient manner, their planning shall be closely coordinated with other aspects of land use,
transportation, public facilities, and infrastructure
planning. Park design and development will be guided
by the objectives and policies established within this
Chapter, as well as those established in the Fresno
Parks Master Plan and the Parks, Open Space and
Schools Element of the Fresno General Plan.
Parks, open space, and schools complement
each other well when placed in proximity to one
another. Together, they facilitate education in a
vibrant, interactive and real-world setting. Bringing
diverse learning opportunities to life through
environmental education associated with parks
can improve academic achievement and children’s
cognitive development.
53 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
The pond at Oso de Oro Park
Parks and Open Space
in the SEDA
The SEDA will feature a range of parks of different
sizes and roles, from small pocket parks to large,
natural open spaces and agricultural areas. These
will serve active and passive recreation needs, from
playgrounds and sports fields to trails for walking
and nature study. At the same time, these spaces
will facilitate community gatherings and, in some
areas, accommodate community farms and related
educational programs. Overall, this open space system
is envisioned as a vibrant outdoor public realm that
plays a vital role in anchoring neighborhoods and
supporting community life.
Open Space Features
The SEDA open space system will include, among
others, larger community parks, schools for joint-use
opportunities and other civic facilities.
The SEDA open space system will include a variety
of community parks, schools for joint-use and
open spaces that serve stormwater management
functions, including ponding basins and community
gardens. Additionally, the open space system will be
strengthened by the Rural Cluster land use which will
serve as an agricultural buffer at the eastern edge of
the Plan Area to These areas will conserve land for
agricultural uses.
This vision for a multi-functional, integrated open
space system requires collaboration at all stages,
from land acquisition, to facilities, infrastructure, and landscape planning, to ongoing programming and
maintenance. Joint-use arrangements, developer-
led projects, and public-private partnerships will all
play roles in bringing the SEDA open space system to
reality. The locations for future parks and open spaces in the SEDA as outlined throughout this Chapter will
be established through the future Parks and Trails
Master Plan.
Park Standards
The first stage - siting parks - will be guided by
standards for acreage and accessibility as provided
in the Fresno Parks Master Plan and the General
Plan, which requires a minimum of 3 acres of pocket,
neighborhood and community parks and 2 acres of
regional parks, trails and greenways per 1,000 residents.
While Fresno currently maintains service targets for its park system, its park acreage is limited. With 2.9 acres of park space per thousand residents, Fresno falls far
short of the 13.4 -acre national average for cities of
comparable population density (Trust for Public Land,
2020), as well as the 9.9-acre typical municipal standard (NRPA, 2021). With the SEDA, Fresno has an opportunity
to provide its future communities with the green spaces they need to thrive. As they are built, new parks within the SEDA will add to Fresno’s total inventory.
In its many forms, the SEDA open space system will
provide a diverse array of recreational opportunities.
Ongoing parks planning through the future Parks
and Trails Master Plan will ensure that the facilities
and services provided respond closely to community
needs. Taken together, the variety of open spaces
defined within the objectives and policies of this
chapter will comprise an invaluable part of the SEDA.
54 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
For ease of readability, the phrase “Open Space” will
be abbreviated to “OS” throughout this Chapter.
OBJECTIVE OS-1
Inter-Agency Collaboration
Collaborate with local and regional agencies and
organizations to create and support the elements of
the SEDA open space network.
POLICY OS-1.1 JOINT USE OF OPEN SPACES.
Establish agreements to share facilities between the
City of Fresno and Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control
District, Fresno Irrigation District, and other local and regional agencies and organizations. At a minimum,
and as early as possible with respect to development
plans, the City of Fresno shall:
• Establish joint-use agreements with Clovis Unified
and Sanger Unified school districts to provide
shared community access to school grounds and
City-owned facilities.
• Establish joint-use agreements with the Fresno
Metropolitan Flood Control District to provide
access to storm drainage/recharge basins for
recreational use, where appropriate.
• Establish joint-use agreements with the Fresno
Irrigation District to provide public access to areas
adjacent to canals and creeks. These agreements
should address issues associated with the provision
of canal side trails, where appropriate.
• Coordinate with Fresno County and the City of
Clovis to provide regional recreational opportunities
where potential exists.
• Pursue joint-use and partnership opportunities with
other public and private agencies to help finance,
manage, or provide services within the SEDA open
space system.
Oso de Oro Park
Constructed in 1995, this award-winning nine-acre
park combines its primary purpose of stormwater
detention with secondary purposes of groundwater
recharge and recreation. Visitors to the park can enjoy the adjoining pond as a visual amenity.
Recreational facilities at Oso de Oro Park
55 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
OBJECTIVE OS-2
Multi-Use Open Space Network.
Create and maintain an open space network that
serves multiple purposes, including recreation,
stormwater management, community farming, and
environmental preservation.
POLICY OS-2.1 ACTIVE OPEN SPACE.
Maximize active recreational opportunities. Active
space includes playgrounds, fields, hardcourts,
pools, and other facilities for sports and other
physical activities.
POLICY OS-2.2 PASSIVE OPEN SPACE.
Support natural landscapes and wildlife habitat
corridors by maintaining passive open spaces.
Work with local land trusts to establish conservation
easements that preserve land.
POLICY OS-2.3 STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT FEATURES.
Maximize the use of green stormwater management
infrastructure—such as ponds, basins, swales, and other low-impact systems—within the open space system.
Coordinate with Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control
District (FMFCD) to incorporate green infrastructure
within City parks and trails.
POLICY OS-2.4 COMMUNITY FARMING
AND AGRICULTURE.
Support community farming and agriculture in
appropriate locations. See Chapter 5 - Community
Farming and Agriculture for details about the SEDA
agricultural land typology.
Pursue partnerships with local organizations to
promote agricultural uses in the open space network.
POLICY OS-2.5 RENEWABLE ENERGY
GENERATION.
Support renewable energy technology systems in
open spaces, where appropriate.
Pursue arrangements with public agencies and private
partners to accommodate renewable energy systems,
such as solar arrays, in areas that can serve a joint use as passive open space.
OBJECTIVE OS-3
Hierarchy of Parks
Develop a hierarchy of parks in the SEDA that provides
for a diverse range of recreation opportunities for all, and is well served by public transit, bike paths, and
dedicated trails.
POLICY OS-3.1 HIERARCHY OF PARKS.
Provide active and passive open spaces within parks
at a range of scales, from community parks to pocket
parks. Standards for proximity and access, described
here for each park type, will guide the parks siting
process. This is accomplished by providing more,
smaller parks within walking or short-drive distance of the majority of homes within the SEDA.
Community Parks
Community parks, such as Roeding Park in Fresno
pictured here, vary from 10 to 40 acres and serve
residents within up to a four-mile radius. Community
parks contain facilities for specific recreational
purposes, including athletic fields, swimming pools,
tennis courts, sport courts, extreme sports amenities,
recreation centers, loop trails, picnic areas, picnic
shelters, shade structures, pavilions, large turfed and landscaped areas and playgrounds.
56 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Community center buildings are often at the heart of
these parks. In addition, these parks may include one
or more revenue facilities (such as a pool, pavilion,
etc.). Other signature amenities may include a
custom element that meets demographic needs of
the neighborhood, unique public art, and courtyard
or plaza space. In the SEDA, all homes must be within
four miles of a community park. Community parks can
adjoin the trail network and larger swaths of passive
open space and must be served by transit.
Neighborhood Parks
Neighborhood parks, such as the Westerra
Neighborhood Park located in the Westerra
Development in West Fresno, vary from 2 to 10 acres
and primarily serve the recreational needs of residents within a ½-mile radius. Along with an elementary school, a neighborhood park can form the core of a Community
or Neighborhood Town Center. Common features of
neighborhood parks should include a multi-purpose
room, center or hall, restroom and drinking fountain
facilities. These sites may include small event space,
play areas, play elements, benches, picnic areas, shade elements, water features, loop trails, security lighting, and landscape elements that enhance the park identity,
use, or experience. These facilities will also have
staffing and maintenance requirements.
In the SEDA, all new homes should be within ½ mile
(10-minute walking distance) of a neighborhood
park. Neighborhood parks should be located in
every Community and Neighborhood Town Center
and within residential districts to meet the proximity
standard. Park size will vary depending on context—
typically, parks in Mixed-Use Districts are smaller
than three acres. Parks outside centers and adjoining
the greenway network can be as large as 10 acres. All
neighborhood parks must be easily accessible by safe
walk and bike routes, with some also accessible via the dedicated bicycle/pedestrian trail network.
Pocket Parks
The smallest park type in the SEDA, pocket parks,
such as Turtle Bay Park pictured here in Northwest
Fresno, are smaller than two acres in size and can be
interspersed throughout Mixed-Use Districts,
residential neighborhoods, and other areas. They can
include park space, plazas, playgrounds, and may
feature public art. Pocket parks may be privately
owned and maintained by homeowners’ or business
associations, or other groups. In the SEDA, pocket
parks should be developed where possible to provide
variety and interest to environments for residents
and workers.
Greenways
Greenways, such as the trail along DeWolf Avenue at
57 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
the Gould Canal pictured here, typically include a
minimum 20-foot width and are connected to
open spaces.
Schoolyard Facilities
In the SEDA, schoolyard facilities, such as those
located at Lonestar Elementary, typically range from 3
to 48 acres and play an important role in meeting
recreation needs. Shared school facilities are open to
the community after school hours, on weekends, and
during the summer when school is out of session.
Joint Use Parks and Flood Control
Flood control and groundwater recharge basins can
play secondary roles as parks during the dry season,
such as the athletic facility shown here at Harry
Goorabian Park in Fresno.
Community Gardens
Community gardens, such as Yo’Ville Community
Garden pictured here in Southwest Fresno, are
typically located adjacent to or contained by
community parks, neighborhood parks, or schools.
Regional Center Green
58 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Unique to the SEDA, the Regional Center Green will
be an important focus of activity in the Regional Town
Center. As an urban park, similar to Woodward Park
located in Northeast Fresno, it should contain facilities suitable for community events and gatherings. This
type of park is 40-70+ acres (can be less than 40
acres if the site provides a unique regional serving
opportunity, i.e. river access, etc.). Regional Parks
serve the entire City of Fresno and surrounding
communities. They provide active and passive
recreation opportunities and unique public facilities
for use by the greater Fresno area. Typical amenities
and facilities can include all of those found in a
Neighborhood or Community Park, with active and
passive recreation opportunities and programming
for a variety of ages. Enhanced landscape elements,
public restrooms, drinking fountains, and security
lighting are all typical (Fresno Parks Master Plan).
POLICY OS-3.2 PARK DESIGN FOR SAFETY.
Promote the use of Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design (CPTED) principles in park
design. CPTED principles include natural surveillance,
access control, territorial reinforcement and space
management in promoting safety and discouraging
crime. Please see the Fresno Parks Master Plan,
Design Guidelines for Safety.
POLICY OS-3.3 PARK DESIGN FOR ACCESSIBILITY.
Maximize the use of parks and trails by people of all
ages and levels of physical ability, following Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) design standards and
the Title 24 California Building Code requirements
as applicable.
POLICY OS-3.4 CONCURRENT DEVELOPMENT.
Park acquisition and development should be
concurrent with residential development.
POLICY OS-3.5 PARTICIPATORY PARK PLANNING.
To the greatest extent possible, engage the public
in the parks planning process to ensure that parks
respond to community needs.
OBJECTIVE OS-4
PARKS AND TRAILS MASTER PLAN
Prior to the design and construction of the SEDA trail
system, a SEDA Parks and Trails Master Plan will need
to be completed that would define the final location
and alignment of trails that encompass the following
open space opportunities below:
Multi-Use Trails
• Establish a planned network of multi-use greenway
trails. These trails will serve bicyclists, pedestrians, and, where appropriate, equestrians.
• Cross sections and width requirements will be
provided for specific conditions—including canal
side, open space, streetside, and farm side trails.
Regional Trails
• Coordinate regional trail planning with Fresno
County, the City of Clovis, and other jurisdictions
as appropriate. The City of Fresno Active
Transportation Plan calls for Class I Bicycle Paths
along each canal in the SEDA. A regional Rails to
Trails Bicycle Path is planned to run parallel to
California Avenue should existing railroad lines
be vacated.
Trail Standards
• Trails shall be designed with features that encourage use, provide safety, and are resource efficient.
Trail standards shall address shading, low-water
landscaping, fencing, paving and surface materials,
lighting, seating and furniture, ADA access
requirements, signage, and intersection treatments.
Trail Segments
• Trail segments will not be constructed until all
necessary property or easements are acquired for
an entire segment.
Trail Security
• Trails will be designed with privacy and security in
mind for adjacent property owners.
59 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
OBJECTIVE OS-5
Environmental Preservation
Promote the preservation of sensitive natural
environments.
POLICY OS-5.1 ENVIRONMENTALLY
SENSITIVE DESIGN.
Design parks and open space areas to respect unique
natural features.
POLICY OS-5.2 HABITAT CORRIDORS.
Establish contiguous areas of passive open space to
provide habitat corridors for local wildlife, including but not limited to riparian and canal greenway
corridors, greenway/trail corridors, and parks and flood control facilities throughout the SEDA Plan. Habitat
preservation shall be consistent and coordinated with
the findings of the SEDA Environmental Impact Report
and subsequent environmental studies and findings.
OBJECTIVE OS-6
Resource Efficiency of Open Space Facilities
Ensure that all park, trail, and recreational facilities make the most efficient use of energy, water, and
other natural resources.
POLICY OS-6.1 GREEN BUILDING.
As important civic structures, park buildings shall
conform to green building standards for energy and
water efficiency.
POLICY OS-6.2 LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION.
Minimize potable water use by using drought-
tolerant species, recycled water, and water-efficient
irrigation systems.
POLICY OS-6.3 RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS.
Explore developing renewable energy systems to
provide power to park facilities.
Schools in the SEDA
Schools will play a vital role in the physical structure of the SEDA, and so should be sited, designed, and built
with the utmost attention on a school-by-school basis.
As major daily destinations, school locations have a
significant bearing on overall travel patterns and their cumulative impacts on community safety, air quality,
and greenhouse gas emissions. Too often, schools
are located such that families do not have viable non-
automotive travel options. Siting schools so that they
are accessible by safe pedestrian, bike, and transit
routes promotes these modes of transportation and
reduces the negative environmental effects associated
with automobile travel. Beyond the environmental
effects of school trips, enabling children to walk, bike, or take transit to school can have a range of other
benefits, including greater community interaction and
children’s increased mobility and independence.
As the siting, design, and construction within the
SEDA Specific Plan has occurred, elementary, middle,
and high schools have been sited for locations which
provide the highest amount of access. The number
of schools included in the SEDA Plan was calculated
using the pupil generation rates of the Clovis and
Sanger Unified School districts, the two districts that cover the SEDA. Each of the school districts have
5-year master plans in which they identify the need for and location of future schools.
As they serve a major public function, the location
and size of schools play an integral role in the success of Fresno’s future communities. For this reason—to
ensure that new school development aligns with the
SEDA goals in that they are designed with appropriate
infrastructure including safe routes to schools, and
that SEDA planning responds appropriately to the
needs of school districts—this Plan encourages a high
level of collaboration between the City and school
districts.
Other Public Facilities
Depending on their function, other public facilities will be held to similar criteria for community integration
and urban design as those set for schools. Civic uses,
such as libraries and community centers, should be
located strategically in the mixed-use areas of the
60 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
SEDA, where they can form hubs of activity. To the
greatest extent possible, joint-use arrangements in
which facilities can be shared between schools and
other community uses should be pursued. Sharing
facilities allows a greater efficiency of land use and
can also result in significant financial savings for the partner agencies involved.
The objectives and policies of this Chapter serve
to facilitate inter-agency collaboration regarding
schools and civic facilities . For the provision of other essential public services, including police, fire, solid waste collection, and dry utilities, the SEDA Plan
generally aligns with the policies of the General Plan.
Wet utilities, including water supply, wastewater
management, and stormwater management are
addressed in Chapter 6 - Greenhouse Gas Reduction
and Conservation.
OBJECTIVE OS-7
Inter-Agency Collaboration
Collaborate with school districts and local agencies
to develop schools and other public facilities that
meet the Southeast Development Area’s goals for
community, fiscal, and environmental sustainability.
POLICY OS-7.1 SCHOOL
DISTRICT COORDINATION.
The City of Fresno is available to meet with
surrounding school districts to establish specific
locations for school facilities to ensure infrastructure is available.
POLICY OS-7.2 JOINT USE OF SCHOOL AND
COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
Pursue agreements to share facilities between schools
and other community-serving institutions. Since
the provision of shared facilities affects the siting,
size, and design of schools, joint-use arrangements
should be considered early on in the facilities
planning process.
Create a master joint-use agreement that establishes
the parameters for shared use between the City of
Fresno/Fresno PARCS and school districts. Thereafter,
create site-specific cooperative agreements for
each facility.
Establish joint-use agreements with schools to
make school grounds (playfields and outdoor
recreation areas) available for community use during
non-school hours.
Pursue partnerships among school districts,
governmental agencies, higher education, and/or
nonprofit organizations to fund and develop joint-use
facilities with schools, such as multipurpose rooms,
gymnasiums, childcare facilities, elder care facilities, adult education facilities, libraries, teacher education facilities, and schoolyard community gardens.
POLICY OS-7.3 LOCATION OF CIVIC FACILITIES.
Civic facilities should be located in proximity to parks and schools, even if facilities are not shared.
OBJECTIVE OS-8
School Siting, Access and Design
Integrate educational facilities into the urban fabric of centers and communities, where they will be served
by public transit, walk and bike routes, and dedicated
trails. Encouraging walk, bike, and transit travel
through school location and design minimizes vehicle
miles traveled, reduces transportation costs and
helps to mitigate air quality impacts and greenhouse
gas emissions.
POLICY OS-8.1 LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY.
In coordination with surrounding school districts, site educational facilities in proximity to homes, transit,
and civic amenities to promote walk, transit, and bike
trips.
Elementary Schools
Elementary schools anchor Neighborhood Town
Centers and can also be located in or adjacent to
Community Town Centers. All new homes in the
Southeast Development Area should be located within
¼ to ½ mile (5- and 10-minute walking distances) of
the entrance to an elementary school. Elementary
schools must be accessible by transit and safe
pedestrian and bicycle routes.
61 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Middle Schools
Middle schools are located within, or in close proximity to, Regional and Community Town Centers. The
SEDA Plan places middle schools within roughly two
miles of most homes. Middle schools should be linked
to the dedicated trail network, as well as local bike,
pedestrian, and transit routes.
High Schools
High schools are located within, or in close proximity
to, the Regional and Community Town Centers. The
SEDA Plan places high schools within roughly two
miles of most homes. High schools must be linked to
the dedicated trail network, as well as local bike and
pedestrian routes. High schools should be located
along connector streets and be served by local transit.
Middle and high schools share the same standards
for accessibility.
Other Educational Facilities
Accessibility by transit and non-auto travel options
is important for all educational facilities, from early childhood to adult education, and including public
and private schools. These facilities should be located in or adjacent to Mixed-Use Districts, with access to
transit and local bike and pedestrian routes, and the
dedicated trail network, if possible.
POLICY OS-8.2 SAFE ACCESS.
Create safe environments on streets adjacent to
schools to promote walk, bike, and transit travel.
Where warranted, streets shall feature pedestrian
crossing lights.
Traffic calming features shall be installed in
collaboration with the City of Fresno Public Works
Department Streets Division.
Safe Routes to Schools Program development is
encouraged.
Decrease Distance and Increase Safe Travel
to Schools
Far fewer children walk and bike to school today
than in generations past. A majority of parents cited
distance from school, followed by traffic safety
concerns, as the primary reason their children did
not walk. The SEDA Plan seeks to get more children
walking and biking again by centrally locating schools
where they can be easily reached by safe walk, bike,
and transit routes.
With elementary schools located within a half-mile
walking or biking distance from all homes, and middle
and high schools located on transit lines and trail
corridors, all students in the SEDA will have a wide
array of travel options.
OBJECTIVE OS-9
Existing and Planned Facilities
Coordinate with the surrounding school districts to
ensure development compliments existing and future
school facilities.
POLICY OS-9.1 CLOVIS UNIFIED
EDUCATIONAL CENTER.
Work with the Clovis Unified School District to ensure
that the design of the Clovis Unified Terry Bradley
Educational Center relates to the surrounding
community.
OBJECTIVE OS-10
Civic Facilities
Civic facilities, such as libraries, community centers, senior centers, post offices, and other civic buildings, will be integrated into the urban fabric of centers and communities, and will be well-served by public transit, paths, and trails.
POLICY OS-10.1 JOINT USE OF
COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
Pursue agreements to share facilities among
community-serving institutions, including schools.
Joint-use arrangements may involve partnerships
among school districts, governmental agencies,
62 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
higher education, and/or nonprofit organizations
to fund, develop, and/or manage joint-use facilities
such as multipurpose rooms, gymnasiums, childcare
facilities, elder care facilities, adult education facilities, libraries, teacher education facilities, and schoolyard community gardens.
Since the provision of shared facilities affects the
siting, size, and design of civic facilities, joint-use arrangements should be considered early on in the
facilities planning process.
POLICY OS-10.2 AVAILABILITY OF CIVIC
FACILITIES.
Civic facilities will be located in proximity to homes, transit, safe pedestrian and bicycle routes, and
clustered with other facilities (such as parks) and
services as appropriate. The SEDA Plan contains
standards for the location of civic uses within Mixed-
Use Districts and Residential Districts.
All civic facilities must meet accessibility standards
as established by the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) Standards and Title 24 California
Building Code.
Community Recreation Centers
All homes within the SEDA will be located within 4
miles of a community recreation center. Community
recreation centers must be accessible by safe
pedestrian and bicycle routes and be served by
local transit.
Libraries
Libraries must be accessible by safe pedestrian and
bicycle routes and be served by local transit.
POLICY OS-10.3 DESIGN AND ORIENTATION.
Civic facilities should be designed to complement the
centers or districts in which they are located.
POLICY OS-10.4 SAFE ACCESS.
Streets adjacent to civic facilities should incorporate safety features as appropriate to promote walk, bike,
and transit travel for facility users. (For instance, a lighted pedestrian crossing may be installed to serve a senior center).
Traffic calming features shall be installed in
collaboration with the City of Fresno Public
Works Department.
POLICY OS-10.5 ON-SITE RENEWABLE
ENERGY GENERATION.
Pursue opportunities to develop renewable energy
systems for civic facilities.
OBJECTIVE OS-11
Police and Fire Services
Provide the necessary levels of police and fire services in accordance with the Fresno General Plan.
POLICY OS-11.1 PROVISION OF POLICE SERVICES.
Provide police services in the SEDA in accordance
with the policies of the Fresno General Plan. If
deemed necessary, the City of Fresno Planning and
Development Department, through coordination
with public safety agencies, can make adjustments to
these policies.
POLICY OS-11.2 PROVISION OF FIRE SERVICES.
Provide fire services in the SEDA in accordance with
the policies of the City of Fresno General Plan. If
deemed necessary, the City of Fresno Planning and
Development Department, through coordination
with public safety agencies, can make adjustments to
these policies.
POLICY OS-11.3 COORDINATION WITH POLICE
AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
The City of Fresno Planning and Development
Department shall work with the Police and Fire
departments as appropriate to promote safe
environments throughout the SEDA and ensure that
services can be provided in a manner that is sensitive
and responsive to the needs of the community.
Coordination may address:
• Evaluation of design features for safety and
crime prevention
63 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
• Siting of police and fire substations
• Facilitation of a citizen involvement processes
OBJECTIVE OS-12
Solid Waste Services
Provide solid waste services and facilities in
accordance with the City of Fresno General Plan.
POLICY OS-12.1 SOLID WASTE FACILITIES
AND SERVICES.
Provide solid waste facilities and services for the
collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal of refuse in accordance with the policies of the City of Fresno
General Plan.
OBJECTIVE OS-13
Dry Utility Infrastructure
Provide electricity and telecommunications
infrastructure necessary to serve development in
the SEDA.
POLICY OS-13.1 PROVISION OF
ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
The City of Fresno shall work with Pacific Gas
and Electric Company (PG&E) to provide the
necessary electricity and gas infrastructure to serve
development in the SEDA.
POLICY OS-13.2 PG&E TRANSMISSION LINES.
Per the July 15, 2008 SEDA Preferred Alternative
Recommendation Report and numerous
communications with PG&E, the City of Fresno shall
work with PG&E to relocate or otherwise plan for the
integration of the transmission lines that run from
Highland and Church along the diagonal south of
Kings Canyon and Temperance, into the SEDA Plan,
in an attempt to remove these lines as barriers to the
development intensity and circulation pattern of the
SEDA Plan.
POLICY OS-13.3 PROVISION OF
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.
AT&T, Comcast, and Xfinity provide telephone, fiber,
and cable services to the Plan Area. The City of Fresno shall work with these service providers to establish the telecommunications infrastructure necessary to serve
the residents and employers of the SEDA.
OBJECTIVE OS-14
Wet Utility Infrastructure
Provide water, stormwater, and wastewater
infrastructure necessary to serve development in
the SEDA.
POLICY OS-14.1 PROVISION OF
WATER, STORMWATER, AND
WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
Provide water, stormwater, and wastewater
infrastructure in accordance with policies in Chapter 6 - Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Conservation.
POLICY OS-14.2 STREET INFRASTRUCTURE.
Require all necessary infrastructure, such as curb,
gutter, sidewalk, street trees, public benches, bike
parking and amenities to be installed prior to the
development of new residential neighborhoods and
associated facilities, as established by the Department of Public Works Complete Streets Policy.
64 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 5
COMMUNITY FARMING
AND
AGRICULTURE
In order to thoughtfully guide the SEDA
Plan to success, the rich agricultural
heritage of the community should
serve as a guiding principle in the
planning and design of the Southeast
Development Area.
The SEDA Specific Plan and its policy framework
strive to balance the needs of urban development
with the need to conserve the economic, cultural,
and historic value of agricultural land in the Fresno
metropolitan area.
Through its compact land use patterns and associated
policies, the SEDA Plan addresses agriculture at
both the regional and local scales. At the regional
scale, the SEDA Plan eases development pressure
on surrounding agricultural land while maintaining a
durable urban-rural edge. The 9,000-acre SEDA has
been planned at an intensity that can accommodate
approximately one third of Fresno’s expected
population growth by 2050, thereby reducing pressure
on the region’s farmlands to support lower density
suburban development. At the local scale, the SEDA
Plan integrates agricultural land uses within the
urban area to strengthen community connections to
agriculture and provide a range of social, economic,
and health benefits.
Preserving Productive Farmland
By 2050, as many as 323,000 acres are projected
to be converted into low-density urban and rural
residential uses in the San Joaquin Valley (American
Farmland Trust). Each acre of land taken out of
agricultural use diminishes both production capacity
and the long-term economic base of the region. In
addition, there are approximately 1300 acres located
in the SEDA with existing Williamson Act Contracts.
The Williamson Act, also known as the California
Land Conservation Act of 1965, encourages the
preservation of agricultural lands and restricts the
uses of agricultural and open space lands to farming
and ranching. The Plan supports the continued
presence of agricultural uses in the Southeast
Development Area by incorporating the Fresno
County Right-to-Farm Ordinance, applying the
Annexed Rural Residential Transitional Overlay District and establishing the Rural Cluster Residential land use along the eastern boundary of the SEDA to serve as
an agricultural buffer.
To address the potential future loss of existing
agricultural uses, the SEDA Plan seeks to cluster
homes and jobs at more than twice the density of
current trend development. Accommodating the
approximately 45,000 homes and 37 ,000 jobs within
the SEDA Plan at current development patterns would
require an additional 9,300 acres of farmland beyond
the SEDA – an economic loss of which would be
detrimental to the region’s local economy.
Supporting Farmers
Farmland preservation is essential not only to
retaining broad economic value, but for protecting
the livelihood of small farmers throughout the SEDA.
While agricultural land loss threatens existing farms
and diminishes the opportunity for small farmers to
65 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
gain access to land, the SEDA Plan will operate in
accordance with the Fresno County Right-to-Farm
Ordinance. This ordinance allows the continued
operation of agricultural activities by requiring new
subdivisions which come within 300 feet of an
agricultural related zone district to record a covenant which requires the residents of those properties to
accept the inconveniences and discomfort associated
with normal farm activities.
To promote the goals and objectives of the Fresno
General Plan and counter the effects of agricultural
land conversion—which will happen in the SEDA—
the Plan will continue to reaffirm policies which
seek coordination with the counties of Fresno and
Madera, in addition to the City of Clovis and other
public agencies to actively seek to conserve as much
agricultural land as possible.
It is necessary to establish policy structures that
support the viability of small farming. Creating spaces for agricultural training programs, farmers’ markets,
and other institutions that foster small farms and
entrepreneurship, as well as agricultural research
and environmentally sensitive farming practices, can
provide much-needed economic opportunities. The
SEDA Plan seeks to synergize these opportunities
with benefits to the broader community—namely,
access to local foods and a tangible relationship with
their production.
Integrating Agriculture into the SEDA: From
Community and Neighborhood Gardens to
Small Farms
To complement the preservation of regional
agricultural land, and in support of small-scale and
community farming, the SEDA Plan supports the
integration of agriculture within the urban sphere.
As planned, this community-scale agriculture can
take many forms, including school and neighborhood
gardens, community orchards, agricultural education
centers, and small farming operations along the rural
cluster edge. Bringing these facilities into or near
communities can provide economic opportunities as
well as strengthen physical and social ties to the land, the benefits of which are even more visible as greater
attention is focused on the connections between the
environment and health.
Increasing Access to Local Foods
Despite Fresno’s abundant agricultural production, the
ability for Fresnans to access and afford healthy food
is a concern. Food insecurity is exhibited not just as a lack of food, but also by an abundance of unhealthy
food choices.
The Southeast Development Area has an opportunity
to combat food insecurity. The Plan Area’s long-
standing and high producing agricultural base can
provide locally available fresh food from community
farms, which are a primary component in the
SEDA’s hierarchy of urban agricultural types. These
agricultural types, which range in size and function,
can be established throughout the SEDA to better
cater to community needs.
By supporting different forms of agriculture within the SEDA, the City can nurture a robust local food system
that meets the needs of a full range of residents and
consumers and identifies Fresno within the growing
market demand and social movement towards local and
organic production. Rising concerns over the impacts
of transporting foods from afar (the average food item
travels 1,500 miles to the American table) has increased the demand for local foods. Small-scale and community
agriculture in the SEDA can bring fresh foods closer to more Fresno homes and businesses. Moreover, Fresno
can leverage its unparalleled success as the center
of the most agriculturally productive county in the
United States to become a center of locally grown and
marketed agriculture
Managing the Urban-Agricultural Interface
The SEDA Plan includes policies that address the
interface between urban and agricultural areas, both
within and at the edge of the SEDA. To successfully
integrate farming activities into the communities
of the SEDA, it is essential to ensure compatibility
between uses. Compatibility is addressed through
standards for the location and access of agricultural
areas relative to land use and district types.
To maintain a durable urban edge at the eastern
border of the SEDA, a quarter mile wide buffer has
been established on the eastern edge of the Plan
Area called Rural Cluster Residential. Featuring
clustered residential development surrounded by land
66 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
conserved for agricultural or recreational use, this land use acts as a transitional buffer between the urban
areas of the SEDA and the larger-scale agricultural
uses beyond. Unlike the patchwork of rural ranchette
development that is typically found at the rural
outskirts of cities, the Rural Cluster Residential buffer discourages outward sprawl by clearly delineating
the urban-rural edge and further protecting existing
agricultural farmland.
Policies for Agricultural
Preservation
The objectives and policies of this Chapter aim to
preserve the viability of agriculture through many
channels. Through thoughtful and integrative land use
patterns, the SEDA Plan supports the preservation of
existing agricultural lands by aligning with policies such as the Williamson Act, the Fresno County Right-to-
Farm Ordinance and the City of Fresno Annexed Rural
Residential Transitional Overlay District. Additionally, the Plan allows for flexibility in the location, form,
and function of diverse agricultural types within
communities. Through its designation of the Rural
Cluster Residential land use which will serve as a
buffer at the eastern edge of the Plan Area, the SEDA
Plan establishes a healthy transition between the
urban area of Fresno and the surrounding agricultural
land. Taken together, these policies aim to preserve
agriculture and provide the physical framework to
support the value of local food production in the
SEDA and its surroundings. For ease of readability, the phrase “Community Farming” will be abbreviated to
“CF” throughout this Chapter.
OBJECTIVE CF-1
Conservation of Strategic Farmland
Conserve strategic farmland outside the Southeast
Development Area most likely to sustain economically
viable agriculture over the long term. While the
efficient, compact development pattern of the SEDA
Specific Plan reduces development pressure on
surrounding agricultural land, it must be bolstered by
policies that directly limit farmland conversion. These policies require inter-governmental coordination
between the cities of Fresno, Sanger, Clovis, Fresno
County, and other neighboring cities.
POLICY CF-1.1 EFFICIENT LAND USE.
Reduce development pressure on farmland outside
the City of Fresno Sphere of Influence (SOI) by
adopting the compact, efficient land use pattern
of the SEDA Specific Plan. The SEDA Plan clusters
homes and jobs at more than twice the density of
current trend development.
POLICY CF-1.2 FUTURE GROWTH PLANNING.
Support planning efforts that channel new growth
to areas already committed to urban uses inside the
current SOIs of incorporated cities in Fresno County.
POLICY CF-1.3 CONVERSION OF FARMLAND TO
NON-AGRICULTURAL USES.
The City of Fresno will strongly discourage the
conversion of strategic farmland outside its current SOI.
POLICY CF-1.4 WILLIAMSON ACT CONTRACTS.
The City of Fresno acknowledges the presence of land
in the SEDA with Williamson Act Contracts and will not
facilitate early termination of existing contracts.
OBJECTIVE CF-2
Urban-Agricultural Buffer
Create a long-term transition zone between urban
uses in the City of Fresno and agricultural land
in Fresno County. Buffering urban and adjoining
agricultural land uses reduces conflicts that can arise due to noise, pollution, or traffic.
POLICY CF-2.1 RURAL CLUSTER DISTRICTS.
Establish Rural Cluster Districts at the eastern edge
of the site, as depicted in the SEDA Plan. Rural
clusters consist of clustered residential development
surrounded by common land held under easements
for agricultural or recreational use.
Rural Cluster Farming. Allow small-scale and
community farming within Rural Cluster Districts.
POLICY CF-2.2 PASSIVE RECREATION.
Encourage the creation of open spaces in Rural
Cluster Districts that connect urban uses to
67 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
agricultural uses with trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians.
What is the Role of Rural Cluster Development?
A Transitional Buffer. Urban areas and large
agricultural operations cannot always sit side-by-
side. Noise, dust, and pesticides from farms can pose
health concerns for residents, while farmers need
space to move machinery and goods. Rural clusters
along the eastern edge of SEDA form a transition
between the urban area and agricultural lands beyond.
An Attractive Residential Option. Rural clusters offer
a rural lifestyle within an environmentally responsible land use framework that promotes active farming and
open space preservation.
A Means to Preserve Land. Rural cluster lands can
be used for organic small-scale farming, equestrian
activities, or other uses compatible with the nearby
homes. The majority of the land is preserved as viable
agricultural land or open space.
OBJECTIVE CF-3
Community Farming
Promote community farming to provide opportunities
for entrepreneurs and families to grow food for
commercial and household production. Community
farming is intended, in part, to diversify agriculture
and provide SEDA residents with opportunities to
become stakeholders in the agricultural success of
Fresno County.
POLICY CF-3.1 ORGANIC AND
PESTICIDE-FREE FARMING.
Promote ecologically sensitive farming methods that
are safe for farm workers, consumers, and residents by
limiting pesticide use and promoting integrated pest
management practices within the SEDA.
POLICY CF-3.2 SMALL FARMS.
Create opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow food
for commercial production on small plots of land (2 to
20 acres) that can provide economic opportunities for
current and future Fresno residents.
Location. Small farms in the SEDA should be located
adjacent to and within open space corridors and within
Rural Cluster Districts. If located within a Planned
Development or Multi-Family Residential Complex,
the Homeowner’s Association and/or property
management company shall be responsible for the
site and shall designate a liaison between the property owner(s) and the City, as referenced in Fresno City of
Fresno Municipal Code Section 15-2720.
Access. Public access to small farms should be limited
or completely restricted; fencing may be required.
Management. Management structures of small
farms shall be determined as appropriate. Small
farms may be privately owned or managed by
non-profit organizations.
POLICY CF-3.3 COMMUNITY FARMING.
Create and expand a viable community farming
program that promotes an appreciation of food and
local ecology, instills a sense of stewardship and
community, and provides a recreational activity.
68 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Community/Neighborhood Gardens
Create and support neighborhood gardens within
local communities. Neighborhood gardens, such as
Yo’Ville Community Garden in Southwest Fresno
as shown here, are woven into the fabric of centers
and residential areas, providing households with
opportunities to grow some of their own produce and
meet with other members of the community.
Location. Neighborhood gardens shall be integrated
into Neighborhood Centers, open spaces, and other
locations that place them within walking distance of
most residents’ homes.
Access. Access to community spaces can vary.
Gardens can be open to the public, or only to
designated users.
Management. Management structures of community
spaces shall be determined as appropriate.
Neighborhood gardens can be owned by a city
or county agency or by a private landowner, and
operated by a neighborhood collective, community
garden association, non-profit, or city/county
parks and recreation department that leases small
plots of the garden to community members. Some
neighborhood gardens are independent entities,
while some jurisdictions have neighborhood garden
programs that oversee all the gardens in a jurisdiction.
Funding and Staff Assistance. The City of Fresno
shall encourage neighborhood organizations to seek
funding for a neighborhood garden program.
School Gardens
Support and foster the integration of school gardens
within neighborhood schools, such as the school
garden located at Kepler Neighborhood School in
Downtown Fresno. School gardens can serve as
outdoor classrooms where students learn about soil,
botany, natural cycles, nutrition, and basic gardening
principles in a hands-on setting.
Location. School gardens should be located on
school grounds, or within a very short walk of a school.
When possible, school gardens should be planned
upon new school construction in order to maximize
joint-use opportunities with the City of Fresno
PARCS Department.
Access. Access should be controlled based on school
district policies.
Management. Management structures shall be
determined as appropriate. School gardens are
typically managed by at least one garden coordinator
who works closely with school administration or one or
more dedicated teachers.
School Gardens Working Group. Create a working
group of teachers, students, and residents to explore
the development of school garden programs with
surrounding school districts.
69 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Community Orchards
Support and preserve community orchards for
both new and existing orchards within the SEDA.
Community orchards can be integrated into the
community’s open space network, serving as park-like
features and enhancing connections to agriculture.
Location. Community orchards can be integrated
into public open spaces or associated with
private development.
Access. Community orchards should be unfenced,
with high levels of public access.
Management. Management structures shall be
determined as appropriate. In a typical model,
residents help to care for the orchards and pay fees to fund professional maintenance.
OBJECTIVE CF-4
Support of Local Agriculture
Support Fresno agriculture, agricultural industries,
and farm employees through economic development,
educational training, and social programs within the
Southeast Development Area.
POLICY CF-4.1 ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
Support efforts to promote and market agricultural
products to maintain the long-term viability of
Fresno-area farmers.
Direct Marketing. Implement direct marketing of
locally grown produce from Fresno County and
the Southeast Development Area through farmers
markets, community-supported agricultural programs,
farm- to-restaurant programs, produce stands, and
other mechanisms.
Branding of Local Produce. Utilize the opportunities
in SEDA to support and establish Fresno as a center
for locally-grown produce serving the Central Valley
and California. Establish a “Fresno Grown” brand and
support the “California Grown” program to promote
locally-grown produce.
Agricultural Tourism. Encourage agricultural tourism
in the SEDA to educate visitors and generate income
and support for local farms.
Value-Added Processing and Distribution. Provide
the opportunity for area farmers to utilize Flexible
Research and Development Districts for agricultural
processing and distribution.
POLICY CF-4.2 EDUCATIONAL TRAINING.
Support education and technical assistance
for farm employees and aspiring farm owners
through direct relationships with educational and
non-profit institutions.
Public Institutions. Encourage public institutions,
including Fresno State University, the State Center
Community College District, and other educational
institutions, to provide assistance and training to
farm employees.
70 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Non-Profit Institutions. Develop relationships
with non-profit agricultural training organizations
and encourage those organizations to locate in the
Southeast Development Area.
POLICY CF-4.3 FARM WORKER HOUSING AND
SOCIAL SERVICES.
Encourage the long-term economic viability of Fresno
County agriculture by supporting the housing and
social service needs of farm workers.
Housing. Provide safe, affordable, efficient housing
for farm workers, permitting housing on agricultural
lands and other appropriate sites within the current
Sphere of Influence.
Social Services. Encourage organizations that
support farm workers through family assistance
programs, translation assistance, financial literacy
training, medical assistance, and other services, to
locate within the Southeast Development Area.
POLICY CF-4.4 STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR AGRICULTURE.
Encourage the long-term economic viability of Fresno
County agriculture by creating a strategic plan that
comprehensively addresses the needs of farmers
and farmworkers. The plan should be developed in
partnership with the County and private agricultural
institutions. The plan should focus on, but is not
limited to:
• Develop a pathway for protection of agricultural land at risk of conversion to nonagricultural uses through
a review of why and to what extent agricultural land
is being converted to other uses
• Identify how to support agricultural land
conservation and what economic, environmental,
public health benefits arise from conservation
• Analyze the existing agricultural land base and its
function in the regional food system
• Recognize and protect environmental benefits of
conserving agricultural lands and analyze how to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Identify the benefit of agricultural land for priority populations such as beginning or Veteran farmers
and ranchers; residents of disadvantaged or
low-income communities; or California Native
American Tribes
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72 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 6
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION
AND CONSERVATION
Conservation of resources is key to
creating a livable, equitable, economically
vibrant and resilient community.
Resource conservation has become
imperative in the context of climate
change, and now includes reductions in
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as an
organizing framework.
This Chapter will describe SEDA objectives and
policies that are aimed at protecting existing
resources, conserving water and energy, and diverting
waste, which together reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. The conservation of farmland, another
key resource in the SEDA, is described in Chapter 5 –
Community Farming and Agriculture.
The Fresno General Plan includes strategies that
address ways in which the City can achieve a
sustainable future through conservation efforts. This
includes placing an emphasis on the ability to adapt
to the climate and changing resource conditions,
in addition to understanding how effectively using
energy, water, land, buildings, natural resources
and fiscal resources can strengthen the long-term
sustainability of the Fresno region. At the regional
level, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control
District (SJVAPCD) regulates local emissions and
establishes air pollution reduction programs. In
addition, the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
establishes requirements for clean vehicles and
fuels in addition to providing solutions to effectively reduce harmful air pollutants and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. Furthermore, Senate Bill 32 sets a
statewide goal of reducing GHGs by 40% below 1990
levels by 2030 -this is a new interim target intended
to ensure alignment with the previously established
target of achieving an 80% reduction below 1990
levels by 2050. The City of Fresno coordinates with
each of these plans, regulations and agencies to
achieve compliance with local air quality targets and
establish implementable reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions.
This section will focus on local measures for GHG
reduction and conservation that can be achieved
through implementation of the SEDA Plan, which are
mostly tied to reducing vehicle trips, but also include increasing energy efficiency, water conservation and
waste diversion. The SEDA has great potential to
help the City accomplish its goals, as transportation
planning and newer high efficiency building codes
can be applied on a larger scale. For purposes of
readability, the phrase “Resource Conservation” will be abbreviated as “RC” in this section.
OBJECTIVE RC-1
Greenhouse Gas Reductions
Meet statewide targets set for greenhouse gas
emissions reductions in compliance with the Fresno
General Plan and set forth by the San Joaquin
Valley Air Pollution Control District and California Air Resources Board.
73 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY RC-1.1 LAND USE STRATEGIES.
Link land use and transportation by incorporating the
following components into SEDA’s land use plan:
• Compact Development. Maximize opportunities in
the SEDA for compact, higher density development
in order to provide more housing, conserve
resources, and reduce travel distances.
• Design the Neighborhood, Community and Regional
Town Centers in the SEDA as Mixed-Use Districts
that include ground floor retail, civic and other
commercial uses and upper floors of office and
residential uses. Locate mixed-use development
along High-Quality Transit Corridors such as the
Kings Canyon Corridor that will serve SEDA’s
Regional Town Center. Incentivize developments
that are mixed-use, defined as pedestrian-friendly
development that blends two or more residential,
commercial, cultural or institutional uses, one of
which must be residential.
• Pedestrian-Oriented Development. Providing
pedestrian-friendly infrastructure such as sidewalks,
paths, and direct connections to neighboring uses
such as shopping, schools, libraries and parks
increases the potential for people to make trips
on foot, bicycle or transit instead of by car. New
development should include all sidewalks, paths,
trails and facilities required by the General Plan, the Active Transportation Plan and the SEDA Plan.
• Incentives for Pedestrian-Oriented Anchor Retail.
Consider adopting and implementing incentives
for new pedestrian-friendly anchor retail to be
applied within the SEDA’s Regional, Community, and
Neighborhood Town Centers.
• Complete Streets. Ensure that all streets in the SEDA comply with the City’s Complete Streets Policy.
• Transit Oriented Development. Design land uses and
integrate development along High-Quality Transit
Corridors such as the Kings Canyon Corridor, with
transit-oriented development that supports transit
ridership and convenient pedestrian access to bus
stops and station stops.
POLICY RC-1.2 TRANSPORTATION
FACILITIES STRATEGIES.
Provide the following interconnected transportation
facilities to encourage use of alternative modes of
transportation and reduce vehicle trips:
Transit Facilities. Ensure adequate transit routes
and facilities are provided in the SEDA through
coordination between the Planning and Development
and FAX Departments. Planned facilities should
include bus stops, multimodal transfer centers and
information kiosks.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure. Ensure
the SEDA is well-served by pedestrian and bicycle
infrastructure, including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and safe crossing infrastructure pursuant to the Active
Transportation Plan.
Traffic Calming Measures. Design features and
strategies to reduce vehicle speeds and reduce
conflicts with pedestrians to encourage more walking.
Slower speeds encouraged by traffic calming can
also improve safety and increase bicycling. Where
appropriate, provide on-street parking or street trees
and landscaping to separate vehicles from pedestrians
to improve walkability.
POLICY RC-1.3 TRANSPORTATION
DEMAND STRATEGIES.
Transportation Demand Strategies focus on commute
trips and provide both incentives for using alternative modes of transportation and disincentives for use of
the gas powered single-occupant vehicles. Examples
include Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
programs, parking strategies, and electric vehicle
charging stations. The following strategies should be
considered for implementation in the SEDA:
Reinforce the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control
District’s Rule 9410 by requiring a Transportation
Demand Management (TDM) Plan prior to issuance of
certificates of occupancy at employer sites with 100
or more employees. TDM programs include making
physical improvements to work sites, such as adding
showers and lockers to encourage biking to work, free
transit passes, carpool services, and preferential parking. 74 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Consider requiring employers with 50 or more
employees to implement TDM programs in the SEDA.
The City of Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley Air
District should jointly fund a TDM Coordinator that
would assist large employers in Fresno to develop
and maintain TDM programs. This position would
also support the creation of maintenance of these
programs in the SEDA.
Develop a trip reduction parking strategy in the
SEDA that would encourage the use of alternative
transportation modes. Such a program might include
parking pricing at worksites, paid parking structures,
and limited parking requirements.
Develop minimum requirements for electric vehicle
charging stations to be installed at worksites over a
given size (50-100 employees).
POLICY RC-1.4 ENERGY
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES.
Although new residential development now must meet
zero net energy requirements, there is still a need to
conserve energy in order to reduce GHG emissions.
Energy use in buildings is the second largest generator of GHG emissions after transportation. The following
policies will help accomplish needed GHG reductions:
Consider developing an incentive program in the
SEDA for new buildings that exceed the California
Energy Code requirements by 15%.
Encourage and reward compliance with voluntary
energy conservation certification programs such
LEED, EnergyStar or Greenpoint Rating systems.
Promote compliance with State law mandating
disclosure of a building’s energy data and rating of the previous year to prospective buyers and lessees of the
entire building or lenders financing the entire building.
Partner with PG&E or other organizations to offer a
home energy retrofit program to existing homeowners
in the SEDA. Ensure that solar retrofits are made
available to existing homeowners.
Building Green Housing
Communities across California have become pillars
in meeting zero net energy requirements and can
serve as examples for development within the SEDA.
The Green at West Village Student Housing Project,
located at the University of California, Davis, is a 34- acre zero-net energy community, complete with a
5.5 Megawatt solar canopy atop surface parking lots.
The Green at West Village offers nearly 3,300 beds
and 1.3 million square feet of student housing and
amenity space. The expansive electric solar arrays
situated within the project contribute to the overall
neighborhood goal of net-zero energy annually, as the
project will generate as much energy as it uses within
a year. Bicycle commuting for students is encouraged,
as the project offers reduced areas for car parking,
in tandem with low impact development xeriscape
practices located throughout the community. In
addition, all project costs came from the proceeds of a tax-exempt bond sale – the largest bond sale ever for
a student housing project in the United States.
Clean Energy and Conservation
Photovoltaic systems, otherwise known as solar
energy systems, can make the most of Fresno’s sunny
climate. Solar energy and smart battery storage
projects located at the Fresno-Clovis Regional
Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the Northeast
Surface Water Treatment Facility and Southeast
Surface Water Treatment Facility provide a combined
27 Megawatts in size and are expected to save over
$122 million in ratepayer dollars over the next 20 years.
The 19.6 Megawatt system located at the Fresno-
75 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, as
shown in the photo below is the largest commercial
solar and battery system in the United States to date.
POLICY RC-1.5 WASTE DIVERSION, RECYCLING
AND ENERGY RECOVERY.
Establishing programs and actions that promote
recycling and diversion of waste from landfills can
reduce energy consumed in the transport and
handling of waste material and can reduce the
greenhouse gases that are emitted during the
decomposition of organic waste.
The State of California has adopted increasingly
stringent mandates for the percentage of solid waste
that can be disposed in landfills.
In addition, certain landfills have been mandated
to install methane capture systems to result in
greenhouse gas reductions from these sources. The
effects of methane are powerful – as it is 21 times
more effective than carbon dioxide in retaining heat
in the atmosphere. Methane can be flared, producing
mainly carbon dioxide or used in combustion devices
to generate heat or power that can be used for
productive purposes displacing the use of fossil fuels.
The following policies are recommended in the SEDA
to reduce GHGs and conserve energy:
• Maintain current targets for recycling and re-use of
all types of waste material in the City and enhance
waste and wastewater management practices to
reduce natural resource consumption, including the
following measures:
° Continue to require recyclable material collection
and storage areas in all residential development.
° Establish recycling collection and storage
area standards for commercial and industrial
facilities to size the recycling areas according
to the anticipated types and amounts of
recyclable material generated.
° Provide educational materials to residents on
how and what to recycle and how to dispose
of hazardous waste.
° Provide recycling canisters and collection in public
areas where trash cans are also provided.
° Institute a program to evaluate major waste
generators and identify recycling opportunities for
their facilities and operations.
° Continue to partner with the California Integrated
Waste Management Board on waste diversion and
recycling programs and the CalMax (California
Materials Exchange) program.
° Evaluate the feasibility of a residential,
restaurant and institutional food waste
segregation and recycling program to reduce
the amount of organic material sent to landfills
and minimize the emissions generated by
decomposing organic material.
° Evaluate the feasibility of “carbon footprinting”
for the City’s wastewater treatment facilities,
biomass and composting operations, solid waste
collection and recycling programs to evaluate
current carbon emissions and identify reduction
areas where feasible.
° Expand yard waste collection to divert
compostable waste from landfills.
° Study the feasibility and cost-benefit analysis of
a municipal composting program to collect and
compost food and yard waste to comply with the
provisions of SB 1383, which requires separation of
organic waste from trash.
• Continue to pursue opportunities to reduce air
pollution by using methane gas from the old City
landfill and the City’s wastewater treatment process.
76 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY RC-1.6 MUNICIPAL FACILITIES.
SEDA will include a range of municipal facilities from
streetlights to parks and open spaces to community
centers and police and fire facilities. It is important to include greenhouse gas reductions and energy
conservation at City facilities, over which the City
has direct control and can allocate resources for this
purpose. In addition, implementing these measures
at City facilities also establishes the City as a leader in GHG reduction and conservation, which is important
as it implements these measures on a citywide basis.
The following are potential citywide actions that can
be initiated within the SEDA, as opportunity allows:
• Improve energy efficiency in City operations.
• Exceed Title 24 energy efficiency standards for new
City buildings.
• Install renewable energy systems on City facilities.
• Implement City operated transportation demand
management for City employees.
• Purchase green vehicles for City fleets.
• Enhance reduction, reuse and recycling efforts at
City facilities.
• Implement water efficient landscaping in City parks
and facilities.
• Establish a green purchasing program.
POLICY RC-1.7 URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM.
Encouraging the integration and protection of new
and existing mature trees within our communities can
lead to significant reductions in the urban heat island effect and energy required for cooling. As another
significant benefit, trees also store harmful carbon as they grow, in a process known as sequestration. As
these trees continue to grow, mature and sequester
carbon, it is also important for urban forestry projects to consider potential tree emissions that result
from the maintenance and ultimate disposition of
trees to ensure a net decrease in greenhouse gas
emissions occurs.
Maintaining trees, vegetation and plants throughout
City parks is important to the success and longevity
of these publicly owned spaces. In addition, these
areas provide opportunities for new tree planting
and replacement of tree species that possess a low
potential to store carbon, with tree species that
possess higher carbon storage potential.
Development of the SEDA will present many
opportunities for the strategic planting of trees
while aligning with the City of Fresno Urban Forest
Management Plan, as noted below:
• Develop a tree palette for the SEDA that
reinforces its sense of place, reflects native
species, and includes tree species with high carbon
storage potential.
• Meet parks shading targets noted in the Parks
Master Plan.
• Plant shade trees to delineate corridors and the
boundaries of urban areas, and to provide tree
canopies for bike lanes, sidewalks, parking lots, trails, and transit stops.
Water Resources
All communities have an imperative to plan for
the efficient, sustainable use of water. In Fresno,
this need is especially pronounced. Groundwater,
a major component of the water supply in the
Southeast Development Area, is now regulated by
the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Ensuring a safe, reliable, and cost-effective water
supply is becoming increasingly challenging. At the
regional or watershed level, new demand must be
completely mitigated by efficiency measures and
the development of new supplies. These proposals
underscore that everyone —from providers to
developers to homeowners and all other users—must
act to manage water responsibly.
Land Use and Water Demand
Minimizing infrastructure costs and water demand
through efficient land use is a fundamental first step
towards water conservation. Low-density, large-
lot development presents the compound problem
of high-water demand and high infrastructure
costs and in addition, landscaping accounts for
about 50 percent of average household water use.
Since irrigation demand relates directly to lot size,
compact neighborhoods of small-lot single family and
multifamily homes use significantly less water.
77 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Large lots also entail higher infrastructure costs. A
typical low-density suburban pattern takes a huge toll
on infrastructure systems in that it requires extensive networks of new pipes not only to reach dispersed
development, but to span the distances between
large lots. Longer pipes not only cost more to build
and maintain, but also lose more water through leaks.
Compact development requires significantly less
pipe, and with significant cost savings. An American
Planning Association analysis showed that the annual
cost of providing water and sewer service to a lot
in a highly dispersed development was $472 per
household, while the cost to serve the same size lot
in a centrally located, compact development was
only $283. When added up at the city, regional, and
state levels, the differences in water consumption
and infrastructure costs resulting from low-density
development are substantial.
Reducing Indoor and Outdoor Water Use
There is great potential to conserve water at all levels.
Outdoor demand can be significantly reduced through
climate-appropriate landscape design and more
efficient irrigation technologies, while indoor demand
can be reduced by other sustainable building choices
such as efficient fixtures and appliances. Building and district-scale water recycling systems can further
reduce the need for potable water. These strategies
for water conservation, efficiency, and reuse are
supported by the SEDA Plan, which incorporates
smart land use and infrastructure planning to ensure
the sustainability of our water supply. The state is also ensuring conservation by establishing increasingly
restrictive per-capita indoor water use standards of 55 gallons per day per capita in 2023, 47 gallons in 2025
and 42 gallons in 2030.
Water Planning
Given the limited and variable water supply available to the City of Fresno, the SEDA Plan requires infrastructure planning that makes the most efficient use of our water resources. This goal is achieved in large part through an integrated water system that ties groundwater usage
to groundwater recharge, maximizes the capture and
quality of stormwater for groundwater recharge, utilizes treated wastewater where appropriate, and minimizes
per capita water demand.
In accordance with state requirements, the City of Fresno recently adopted its 2020 Urban Water Management
Plan (UWMP). This Plan addresses current and projected
future water supply availability and reliability relative to demands through the year 2045. The UWMP guides
water infrastructure planning throughout the City and
describes both water conservation and water shortage
contingency programs and plans.
The SEDA water resources strategy is intended to fit
within the framework of analysis and planning of the
UWMP , addressing a full range of actions necessary
to help ensure a safe, sustainable water supply for
the SEDA. From efficient land use to innovative
infrastructure planning, to development standards
that regulate building and landscape water usage, the
following objectives and policies establish a rigorous
and sustainable approach to water management for
the years ahead.
OBJECTIVE RC-2
Cooperative Water Planning
Integrate water supply, treatment and delivery,
and flood control and stormwater planning in the
Southeast Development Area.
POLICY RC-2.1 ENERGY PLANNING.
Support cooperative, multi-agency water and energy
resource planning involving the City of Fresno and
other local jurisdictions, water and flood control
agencies, the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy
Organization and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
POLICY RC-2.2 SHARED WATER RESOURCES
AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
Develop methods and systems to share water
resources and infrastructure to capture the highest
possible value for all planning, water delivery, and
water-using agencies.
Joint Use of Water Facilities
Active open space, recreation and groundwater
recharge at Oso de Oro Park in Fresno.
78 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
OBJECTIVE RC-3
Water Conservation
Promote water conservation and the long-term
sustainability of water resources within the Southeast
Development Area.
POLICY RC-3.1 SMART, COMPACT LAND USE.
Build compact communities that include more small-
lot and multifamily housing options which require less
water for outdoor irrigation.
POLICY RC-3.2 SITE AND BUILDING EFFICIENCY
STANDARDS FOR WATER USE.
Green building standards contain a spectrum of
strategies to conserve water, including site measures
to encourage the planting of species that require
minimal water. All new construction in the SEDA is
required to meet existing local and state laws with
regard to water conservation and any additional
measures needed locally to respond to drought
conditions as determined by the City of Fresno
Department of Public Utilities.
POLICY RC-3.3 WATER RECYCLING.
Use treated wastewater for irrigation and other uses,
consistent with applicable regulations, to minimize
the required surface and groundwater needs of SEDA
homes and businesses.
Public Facilities
Require the use of tertiary-treated wastewater to
irrigate parks, golf courses, and public landscaping,
as specified in the Open Space, Schools and Public
Facilities Chapter.
Municipal Purple Pipe. Establish a site- or district-
wide purple pipe system that conveys recycled water.
Commercial Landscaping
Require the use of treated wastewater to irrigate
commercial landscaping, adhering to the standards
included in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22.
Residential Landscaping
Where appropriate, encourage the use of tertiary
treated wastewater to irrigate residential landscaping.
Small Farms and Community Farming
Use secondary- and tertiary-treated wastewater
for agricultural irrigation in the SEDA and within the
immediate vicinity, consistent with applicable laws
and regulations.
POLICY RC-3.4 IMPLEMENTATION AND
MONITORING.
Support and monitor water conservation policies
and programs.
Technical Support
Developer shall abide by all state and local
requirements for water use efficiency standards.
OBJECTIVE RC-4
Groundwater Recharge
Ensure that there will be no adverse effects
on regional groundwater levels by minimizing
groundwater extraction and replenishing groundwater
used to serve the Southeast Development Area.
79 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Maximize multiple uses of open space by encouraging
new recharge facilities to be accessible to the public.
POLICY RC-4.1 MINIMIZING
GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION.
Use available surface water supplies to meet as much
of the SEDA’s potable water demand as possible,
limiting groundwater extraction to extreme periods.
POLICY RC-4.2 REPLACEMENT OF
EXTRACTED GROUNDWATER.
The North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Plan
illustrates the decrease in groundwater levels in the
region as a result of decades-long over pumping. All
groundwater drawn to serve development in the SEDA
shall be replaced with at least an equal volume via
infiltration recharge. Recharge need not necessarily
occur the same year as withdrawals, however,
over time, total recharge must at least match total
withdrawals. Recharge and withdrawals need not occur
within the same groundwater aquifer but must be
within the same groundwater basin, but should occur
near the same area to best mitigate the negative
effects of the groundwater pumping.
POLICY RC-4.3 MAXIMIZING
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE.
Establish integrated systems within the SEDA
open space network to maximize recharge using
stormwater, treated wastewater, and excess surface
water supplies. Facilitate increased porosity and in-
route stormwater recharge through the use of porous
conveyance methods such as bioswales, naturalized
channels, and layered basins. Recharge and related
systems shall be addressed in the SEDA Public
Facilities Financing Options Report.
POLICY RC-4.4 UTILIZATION OF RECREATION
AND OPEN SPACES AS GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE AREAS.
Support recreation opportunities with a range of
parks and multi-use trails by establishing joint-
use agreements with Fresno Metropolitan Flood
Control District to allow access to storm drainage/
recharge basins for recreational use, when appropriate
(see Chapter 4 – Open Space, Schools and
Public Facilities).
OBJECTIVE RC-5
A Safe Water Supply
Protect surface and groundwater supplies from major
sources of pollution.
POLICY RC-5.1 STORMWATER RUNOFF.
Implement stormwater management practices that
minimize stormwater runoff impacts on the Tulare
Lake Watershed.
Compact Development. Limit impervious cover by
clustering new, higher density development within
the SEDA, directing growth away from undeveloped
portions of the watershed.
Parking Demand Management. Reduce the demand
for parking stalls to lower the amount of impervious
surface and environmental impacts.
Low Impact Development Practices
Implement development practices such as natural
conveyance, bioswales, raingardens and xeriscape as
shown in the photos below, that minimize, slow, and
filter street runoff and remove pollutants, lowering
peak volume and reducing the size and cost of
stormwater infrastructure.
80 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY RC-5.2 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND
PESTICIDE REDUCTION.
Prevent contamination of the groundwater table and
surface water resources and discourage pesticide use
for agricultural and landscaping uses within the SEDA.
Signage
Install appropriate signage to deter the discharge of
hazardous materials into storm drains.
Pollution Prevention
Provide information to SEDA residents on appropriate
ways to dispose of hazardous materials and chemicals.
Pesticide Reduction
Discourage all pesticide use for agricultural and
landscaping uses within the SEDA.
Remediation
Encourage rapid clean-up of contaminated
groundwater consistent with applicable laws
and regulations.
POLICY RC-5.3 CONSTRUCTION EROSION.
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan
Require all construction projects to create and
implement a plan using state and local best management
practices for erosion and sedimentation control.
Runoff Control
Prevent loss of soil by stormwater runoff and
sedimentation of storm sewers or receiving streams.
OBJECTIVE RC-6
Cost-Effective, Low-Impact Water Infrastructure
Develop sufficient wet utility infrastructure to meet
the demand created by new development within the
Southeast Development Area, applying cost-effective
and low-impact strategies to the extent possible.
POLICY RC-6.1 WATER SUPPLY AND DELIVERY.
Evaluate the potential surface water, groundwater
resources and infrastructure needs necessary to meet
the Southeast Development Area demand.
Site and Development-Level Water Supply
Establish estimates for water supply and demand
for all development proposals, reducing demand
(as appropriate) through site design and efficiency
measures.
Delivery Systems
Proposed water supplies and delivery systems shall be
identified at the time of development project approval
to the satisfaction of the City of Fresno.
Water Demand Reductions. The City of Fresno and
the developer or builder will identify specific demand
81 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Figure 6.1 Strategies to Reduce Water Use
reduction measures required for the development
proposal to move forward. Technical assistance will be
provided by the City as needed.
Detailed Engineering. Infrastructure planning and
engineering will be conducted with the proposed
demand reduction factors included.
POLICY RC-6.2 WASTEWATER TREATMENT
AND DELIVERY.
Evaluate the potential wastewater treatment and
infrastructure needs necessary to meet Southeast
Development Area demand and require treatment
facilities to separate wastewater solids for energy
generation and water for irrigation in the SEDA.
Site Water Treatment
Establish site-wide estimates for water treatment
demand, reducing demand (as appropriate) after
incorporating site design and efficiency measures.
Site Plan Delivery
Proposed wastewater supplies and delivery systems
shall be identified at the time of development project
approval to the satisfaction of the City of Fresno.
Wastewater Reductions. The City of Fresno and the
developer will identify specific wastewater reduction
measures required for the development proposal to
move forward. Technical assistance will be provided by
the City as needed.
Detailed Engineering. Infrastructure planning and
engineering will be conducted with the proposed
demand reduction factors included.
POLICY RC-6.3 FLOOD CONTROL AND
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
Support the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control
District to evaluate and provide infrastructure to
minimize community flood risk, enhance water quality,
and provide locations for active recreation.
Stormwater Runoff Reductions. In coordination with
the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, the
City of Fresno and the developer will identify specific reduction measures required for the development
proposal to move forward.
82 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Detailed Engineering. The Fresno Metropolitan
Flood Control District will direct infrastructure
planning and engineering with the proposed demand
reduction factors included.
Water, Wastewater and Stormwater
Infrastructure Systems
An analysis of infrastructure requirements for water,
wastewater, and stormwater systems are included
in technical studies that are appended to the SEDA
Program EIR and are also incorporated into this plan
by reference.
The technical studies include:
• Water Supply Assessment, Blair, Church & Flynn
Consulting Engineers, June 2023
• Water Technical Study, Blair, Church, & Flynn
Consulting Engineers, June 2022
• Wastewater Technical Study, Blair, Church, & Flynn
Consulting Engineers, June 2022
• Storm Drain Technical Study, Blair, Church, & Flynn
Consulting Engineers, June 2022
• Recycled Water Technical Study, Blair, Church,
& Flynn, June 2022
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84 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 7
ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY
The concept of economic development
is one in which long term programs
and policies are created that seek to
sustain and generate jobs, secure future
community investment and establish a
stable economic base.
Creating healthy and robust economic development
programs can serve to nurture existing businesses
and local entrepreneurs and attract new business
growth that serve the community’s vision for the
future. The goals of the Southeast Development
Area Plan build on Fresno’s current strengths and are
designed to create more economic opportunity in an
environmentally responsible way for current and future
residents and businesses.
Local Economic Development – Building on
Strengths and Opportunities
With the Southeast Development Area Plan, the City
has an opportunity to pursue economic development
strategies that synergize new development potential
with the competitive advantages it currently has.
In particular, both the Southeast Development
Area and the City as a whole are well positioned to
become a hub for agricultural technology and clean
energy. Health care, social services, transportation,
warehousing, and waste management and remediation
are also identified as high-growth industries for
Fresno, according to the California Economic
Development Department (2021).
The region’s strong agricultural base—which grosses
more in agricultural value than any other county in
the country—can provide a foundation for growth
in many industries, including agricultural research
and technology, biomass-fueled energy generation,
organic food production, and others. The region’s
abundant sunshine also places Fresno in an ideal
location for the use and development of solar
energy technologies. Moreover, the presence of
higher education institutions, such as Fresno State
University, can attract outside investment in research
and business incubation as well as provide workforce
training. Although the SEDA is one area within this
much larger region, the agricultural identity of the
Southeast Fresno community provides this area with
the potential to become a significant contributor
to a healthy and robust economic base. These
strengths within the SEDA, coupled with Fresno’s
central location and planned stop along California’s
high-speed rail network, position Fresno and the
SEDA favorably to attract investment and grow local
businesses and jobs.
Growth and Employment in the Southeast
Development Area
This Chapter of the SEDA Specific Plan highlights the
physical features and regulatory policies of the SEDA
around which local economic development strategies
can be structured. Some of these features—including
the provision of 1,500 acres of land for Office and
Flexible Research and Development—have been built
directly into the Plan with the intention of locating
employment centers in proximity to residential areas
and regional transit connections to reduce vehicle miles 85 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
traveled and greenhouse gas emissions. The SEDA
is projected to accommodate approximately 37 ,000
jobs, the majority of which will be located in Mixed-Use and Flexible Research and Development Districts. This
new framework of interconnected town centers and
neighborhoods will offer easy access and amenities that can attract and retain employers and new residents,
while the Flexible Research and Development Districts
of the Plan will enable the formation of industry clusters to serve new and emerging sectors.
Ultimately, the SEDA is envisioned to become a
significant economic generator for Fresno. Within the
framework of its land use and transportation elements,
opportunities exist to stimulate and host a range of
economic activities, and the way in which activity and
investment is steered to Districts within the SEDA will be crucial to the success of its communities. As a result, the following objectives and policies of this Chapter
serve to identify opportunities presented by the SEDA
Plan. For purposes of readability, the phrase “Economic Opportunity” will be abbreviated as “EO” in this section.
OBJECTIVE EO-1
Equitable Economic Development
Development of the SEDA provides an opportunity
to bring the One Fresno vision of reducing economic
inequality and supporting wealth creation to much
needed fruition. In previous years, Fresno has ranked
59th out of 59 for economic and racial disparity,
according to economic mobility research from The
Urban Institute. To reverse this last-in-place standing, the following policies will be implemented.
POLICY EO-1.1 BROADEN ACCESS TO SMALL
BUSINESS FINANCING.
Expand on the City’s microlending programs to
support small, local businesses.
POLICY EO-1.2 SUPPORT TRAINING AND
UPSKILLING OF THE WORKFORCE.
Build on Fresno’s current workforce development
efforts by providing career technical education,
apprenticeship, and other upskilling opportunities for
those who live or work in the SEDA.
POLICY EO-1.3 COLLABORATE WITH OTHER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
WORKING TO REDUCE INEQUALITY AND RACISM.
Support initiatives that seek to increase equity and
inclusion in the local economy.
OBJECTIVE EO-2
Targeted Growth Industries
POLICY EO-2.1 ENHANCING THE ECONOMIC
STRENGTH OF THE SEDA.
Promote industry clusters that build on Fresno’s local
strengths. The SEDA Plan presents opportunities
for each of the following clusters: Advanced
Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction, Food
Processing, Healthcare, Information Processing,
Logistics & Distribution, Software Development,
Tourism, and Water Technology. This list may evolve as
Fresno grows and changes.
POLICY EO-2.2 LOCAL AND REGIONAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Coordinate with other local and regional economic
development efforts to build on opportunities
presented by new development in the SEDA. This
includes plans and programs within the City of Fresno
Economic Development Department, as well as any
related efforts.
Attracting Investment to Fresno
Fresno’s location and workforce are well-suited
to support agricultural technologies and services.
But Fresno is also home to major brands in supply
chain management, food innovation and processing
facilities, water technology, and other precision
manufacturers. Other markets include medical device
design and manufacturing and green industries
such as solar, biofuels, recycling, and other forms of
alternative energy. SEDA offers the opportunity to
attract key economic generators designed to enhance
the local economy, as further noted in the objectives
and policies below.
86 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
OBJECTIVE EO-3
Clean Energy and Agricultural Technologies
Support growth in clean energy and agricultural
technologies, tapping into broad demand from the
local to national level and beyond. Citywide strategies should be developed to align with and build upon the
goals and policies of the Southeast Development Area
Specific Plan.
POLICY EO-3.1 COLLABORATION WITH
THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CLEAN ENERGY
ORGANIZATION (SJVCEO).
Work with the SJVCEO to attract projects and
investments to the SEDA, promoting it as a key
location in which to implement emerging clean energy.
Local renewable energy projects can capitalize on
Fresno’s abundant solar and biomass resources.
POLICY EO-3.2 COORDINATION WITH
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO.
Build on partnerships with California State University, Fresno to develop programs and projects to attract
funding for research and development in the
following areas:
• Agricultural technology
• Clean energy technology
• Green building technology
• Value-added manufacturing technology
• Water and wastewater technology
• City and regional planning
POLICY EO-3.3 COORDINATION WITH STATE
CENTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
Build on partnerships with the State Center
Community College to promote workforce training
programs that can support local business growth.
POLICY EO-3.4 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
Pursue public-private partnerships to develop and
support green technology for public building and
infrastructure projects.
POLICY EO-3.5 GRANT FUNDING.
Pursue federal, state, and foundation grant funding to
support public demonstration projects.
POLICY EO-3.6 VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.
Help attract and bring investment to local companies
by supporting the development of a research park in
the SEDA.
Growing the Green Economy
Stimulating Economic Growth with
Environmental Responsibility
California’s targets for reduced greenhouse gas
emissions, better energy efficiency, and increased
renewable energy generation are beginning to
stimulate innovation and economic growth throughout
the state.
Clean Energy and Environmentally
Sustainable Jobs
Green collar jobs—service jobs in businesses whose
products and services improve environmental
quality—can fill an important role in Fresno’s economy
as high-quality employment with accessible entry
requirements. Green collar jobs can be supported
by coordinating local job training programs with
businesses in the growing green sector. Job areas
can include:
87 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
• Bicycle repair and bike delivery services
• Car and truck mechanic jobs, production jobs, and
gas-station jobs related to bio-diesel, vegetable oil
and other alternative fuels
• Energy retrofits to increase energy efficiency
and conservation
• Food production using organic and/or sustainably
grown agricultural products
• Furniture making from environmentally certified and
recycled wood
• Green building (i.e. architecture, construction)
• Green waste composting on a large scale
• Hauling and reuse of construction and demolition
materials and debris
• Hazardous materials clean up
• Green (sustainable) landscaping
• Manufacturing jobs related to the large-scale
production of technologies (i.e. solar panels, bike
cargo systems, green waste bins, etc.)
• Materials reuse/producing products made from
recycled, non-toxic materials
• Non-toxic household cleaning in residential and
commercial buildings
• Parks and open space maintenance and expansion
• Printing with non-toxic inks and dyes and
recycled papers
• Public transit jobs
• Recycling
• Solar installation and maintenance
• Tree cutting and pruning
• Peri-urban and urban agriculture
• Water retrofits to increase water efficiency
and conservation
• Whole home performance (i.e: HVAC, attic
insulation, weatherization, etc.)
• Small scale/boutique manufacturing or
“maker” spaces
OBJECTIVE EO-4
Sustainable Industries and Services
Promote sustainable industries and services in the
Southeast Development Area.
POLICY EO-4.1 LOCAL SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIES.
Support the establishment or growth of local
businesses that can respond to the SEDA’s policies
for environmental sustainability, e.g. solar installation companies for sustainable building.
POLICY EO-4.2 LOCAL SUSTAINABLE GOODS
AND SERVICES.
Support the establishment or growth of local
businesses that provide goods or services in an
environmentally responsible manner (e.g. eco-friendly
dry cleaning, organic food production, sustainable
businesses that manage waste responsibly).
Leverage City resources to stimulate the development
of local sustainable businesses.
OBJECTIVE EO-5
Economic Development in Key Locations
Expand the economic base and fiscal sustainability
of the City by supporting high sales, property values,
and employment intensity per acre for economic
development in key locations throughout the
Southeast Development Area.
POLICY EO-5.1 EMPLOYMENT IN
MIXED-USE DISTRICTS.
Develop Mixed-Use Districts with targeted sales,
property value, and employment intensity.
• Attract office-based employment.
• Support the development of small businesses.
Encourage developments that can accommodate
small-scale enterprises.
88 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
POLICY EO-5.2 EMPLOYMENT IN OFFICE
CENTERS AND FLEXIBLE RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.
Develop Office Centers with targeted sales, property
value, and employment intensity.
• Attract office-based employment.
• Support partnerships between the State Center
Community College and companies in the local area.
• Incentivize “maker” spaces: collaborative
workspaces for making, sharing, learning, and
exploring that usually contain a variety of shared
tools, technology and space.
POLICY EO-5.3 EMPLOYMENT IN FLEXIBLE
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.
Develop Flexible Research & Development
Districts with targeted sales, property value, and
employment intensity.
• Promote the growth of manufacturing, distribution
and research and development employment in the
areas of the SEDA where these uses are allowed.
• Promote the development of a research park that
can support new ventures.
• Encourage the formation of industry clusters.
• Attract large employers.
• Support partnerships between the State Center
Community College and companies in the local area.
POLICY EO-5.4 EMPLOYMENT IN OPEN SPACE
NETWORKS.
Develop the open space network to support
employment opportunities.
• Support small-scale farms in rural cluster areas.
• Support agricultural research in open space areas.
• Support the development of clean energy systems
within the open space network (e.g. solar farms in
parks, flood basins).
OBJECTIVE EO-6
Office Employment
Cultivate an attractive and business-friendly
environment to draw office-based employers to the
Southeast Development Area.
POLICY EO-6.1 FOCUSED ACTIVITY.
Concentrate office employment in the Regional and
Community Town Centers and along transit corridors
as detailed in the SEDA Plan.
POLICY EO-6.2 CO-LOCATION OF SERVICES
AND EMPLOYMENT.
Co-locate services and employment to
foster a walkable environment and allow for
multi-purpose trips.
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90 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 8
CULTURAL AND
HISTORIC RESOURCES
Historically significant buildings, districts,
sites, landscapes, and other features
can reveal the unique identity of a city
and contribute to its sense of place. The
Southeast Development Area Plan is
sensitive to the need to preserve elements
of the area’s past as resources to enrich
its future.
Though new growth will substantially transform the
area, the city has sought to identify key features
to retain or build upon, whether physically or by
reference. Blanketed by farmsteads and interlaced
with irrigation canals, the SEDA’s most salient visible features are those that signify the agricultural heritage of Fresno and the region.
Preserving the Heritage of Fresno and
the Region
Fresno contains a wealth of structures and landscapes
of historical and cultural significance. The City’s
Local Register of Historic Resources names over 300
buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts of significant value. The local register includes a range
of buildings and features, including the Kearney
Boulevard Gateway and the Old Fresno Water Tower.
The local register does not currently include any sites within the Southeast Development Area, as it is not
yet within the jurisdiction of the City. As detailed
planning and development in the SEDA proceeds,
the City will continue to evaluate the cultural and
historic significance of built and natural features within the area.
The SEDA Plan should be considered in the context
of regional growth. While development in the
SEDA will bring dramatic changes that will alter the
landscape, the Plan will ease development pressure
on surrounding agricultural lands by accommodating
more growth within the City’s Sphere of Influence. By
containing development, the SEDA Plan supports the
preservation of rural landscapes and resources located
outside the area.
An early environmental analysis for the SEDA Plan
identified potentially significant historic resources.
This analysis included a “windshield” survey of the site, a literature review, and a historical records search with the Southern San Joaquin Valley Information Center
at Bakersfield. There is also the potential for additional historic or prehistoric resources (e.g. Native American occupation sites) to be found in the SEDA, as
detailed surveys are conducted on a parcel-by-parcel
basis before development takes place. In addition,
sub-surface resources may be uncovered during
excavation associated with project construction.
Maintaining Links to Fresno’s
Agricultural Heritage
Development in the SEDA can maintain elements
of Fresno’s rich agricultural history through the
direct preservation of structures and inclusion of
architectural and design elements which pay tribute
to the area’s surrounding resources. Agricultural and
open space elements of the Plan, in particular, can be
designed to complement or enhance existing built and
91 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
natural features. These include the network of historic canals, along which greenways will extend; farmhouses
and other buildings around which community gardens,
parks, or other public spaces can be built; and
landscape features that can be highlighted by new
development. With the SEDA, Fresno will continue to
build its history.
As such, the objectives and policies of this Chapter
support ongoing efforts to retain historically
significant features in the design of new communities
within the SEDA. For purposes of readability, the
phrase Cultural Resources will be abbreviated as “CR”
in this section.
OBJECTIVE CR-1
Landscape Preservation
Preserve the region’s culturally significant landscapes outside the Southeast Development Area by reducing
development pressure on those landscapes.
POLICY CR-1.1 FUTURE GROWTH.
Channel new growth to areas already committed
to urban uses. This includes areas currently inside
the Fresno Sphere of Influence (SOI) and those
designated as SOI expansion areas in the Fresno
General Plan.
POLICY CR-1.2 CONVERSION OF
NON-URBAN USES.
Limit the conversion of culturally significant rural areas outside the current Fresno SOI.
Canals of Fresno and the Valley. Wittenberg Family,
Fairmead Colonies 1913
Canals of Fresno and the Valley. Herndon Canal, today
Fresno’s Historic Canals
Built to supply desperately needed water to Central
Valley farmers, Fresno’s canals form an integral part of the landscape and a tangible connection to the area’s
historic cultural and economic life.
As a semi-arid region, the Central Valley’s earliest
settlers found land fertile but needing dependable
water resources. Starting in 1871, Fresno’s early
residents began the process of irrigating the San
Joaquin Valley—a process that has continued to the
present day.
Originally undertaken by companies incorporated for
the express task of constructing canals, the process
92 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
continued into the 20th century under the State of
California and then the federal government.
Canals were a primary driver of growth in the Fresno
area. They represent an important link to Fresno’s
history, as they have outlived many of the agricultural uses they were built to serve. With the SEDA Plan,
the canals present an opportunity to connect the
urban fabric of Fresno with the region’s strong links
to farming and agriculture—a reminder of the role
agriculture and water resources play in the Fresno
of today and yesterday, and the Fresno for decades
to come.
OBJECTIVE CR-2
Incorporating Agriculture
Bridge the past and future identity of Fresno residents by bringing small-scale agriculture back into our
communities.
POLICY CR-2.1 SMALL FARMS AND
COMMUNITY FARMING.
Support opportunities for entrepreneurs and
families to grow food for commercial and household
production within the SEDA (as specified in the
Community Farming and Agriculture Chapter).
POLICY CR-2.2 EDUCATIONAL FARMING AND
SCHOOL GARDENS.
Encourage schools and other institutions to emphasize
agricultural processes, preservation and interpretation of farming history within the SEDA (as specified in
Community Farming and Agriculture Chapter).
The Strong Agricultural Heritage of the San
Joaquin Valley
The landscape of Fresno today stands as a testament
to the San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural past and
present. In the city and the region, and the homes and
fields, agriculture has played a decisive role in forming the landscape of today’s Fresno.
Fairmead Colonies, Madera County 1913
Orchard, Fresno County Blossom Trail
Early changes to the Valley were undertaken with an
eye to making it easier, more attractive, and more
profitable to settle and farm. Where there was no
water, an extensive canal system was dug; where there
was no access, rail was laid and roads were built; and
where the opportunity presented itself, small farmers
purchased land to carve out a life for themselves
and their families. As large companies shaped the
valley for agricultural opportunities, so too did the
small farmer shape his homestead and acreage to
create the greatest yield from his land. Fields and
pastures were sited based on what they could most
productively produce, while streams and narrow
corridors were often left wild to create windbreaks or
to prevent erosion.
93 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Maintaining Fresno’s Agricultural Heritage
Agriculture and its essential cultural and economic
role in Fresno and the Valley continue to affect how
and where development can occur. The San Joaquin
Valley’s landscape represents a physical outgrowth
of the heritage of agriculture and provides a real
and living connection with its past. The SEDA Plan
strengthens the connection to Fresno’s agricultural
heritage by integrating small farms and community-
scale gardens into its diverse neighborhoods and
centers, and by strategically locating urban uses in
order to preserve and support viable commercial
agriculture in Fresno and the Valley.
OBJECTIVE CR-3
Preservation of Cultural and Historic Resources
Identify and protect significant structures, sites and
landscapes within the Southeast Development Area.
POLICY CR-3.1 CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEYS.
Conduct surveys for cultural resources. For all
activities in the SEDA meeting the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) definition of
a “project,” the City of Fresno shall ensure that a
qualified professional archaeologist; and historian or
architectural historian as appropriate based on site
conditions has conducted focused surveys of the
project site before issuing grading permits. If cultural resources (prehistoric or historic) are identified
as a result of the survey, a qualified professional
archeologist/historian shall evaluate the significance
of the finds and recommend appropriate mitigation
measures for significant resources. The City shall
ensure the project applicant or designee implements
these mitigation measures. Mitigation may include,
but shall not necessarily be limited to, the avoidance
of significant and potentially significant resources
through changes in project design and/or subsurface
testing and data recovery. Such efforts, particularly
those involving testing and excavation, shall be
conducted in consultation with appropriate Native
American representatives identified by the Native
American Heritage Commission (NAHC).
POLICY CR-3.2 DISCOVERY OF
CULTURAL RESOURCES.
Protect cultural resources discovered during
construction. If previously undocumented cultural
materials such as historic building or structure remains; historic artifact deposits or scatters; or prehistoric
artifacts such as stone tool flaking debitage, mortars, pestles, shell, or bone are encountered during
construction in the SEDA, all ground-disturbing
activity shall be suspended temporarily within a 100-
foot radius of the find or a distance determined by a
qualified professional archaeologist to be appropriate
based on the potential for disturbance of additional
resource-bearing soils. A qualified professional
archaeologist shall identify the materials, determine
their possible significance, and formulate appropriate
mitigation measures. Appropriate mitigation may
include no action, avoidance of the resource, and
potential data recovery. Ground disturbance in the
zone of suspended activity shall not recommence
without authorization from the archaeologist.
POLICY CR-3.3 DISCOVERY OF REMAINS.
Appropriately address human remains that could
be found during construction. If human remains
are uncovered during construction in the SEDA, all
ground-disturbing activities shall immediately be
suspended within a 100-foot radius of the find or
a distance determined by a qualified professional
archaeologist to be appropriate based on the potential
for disturbance of additional remains.
POLICY CR-3.4 STATE RESOURCES.
Identify any resource listed in, or eligible for listing in, the California Register of Historical Resources,
including archeological sites, during the Environmental Impact Report.
POLICY CR-3.5 LOCALLY SIGNIFICANT
RESOURCES.
The City of Fresno shall identify additional cultural
resources in road, utility, and other agency and public rights-of-way in the SEDA significant to the San
Joaquin Valley and Fresno, such as historic canals
and tree-lined boulevards. The City shall convey
94 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
information on these resources, and appropriate
protection measures, to developers, utility companies,
and other implementing agencies or stakeholders that
might affect these resources.
POLICY CR-3.6 RESOURCE PROTECTION.
Incorporate historic sites, infrastructure and landscape features into new developments in order to conserve
resources and preserve the area’s vernacular
landscape and “sense of place.”
POLICY CR-3.7 RESOURCE RELOCATION.
The relocation of historic structures should be
considered as a last resort for preservation and
only when retention in place is infeasible. Moved
properties should adhere to the Secretary of Interior’s recommendations.
POLICY CR-3.8 ALTERNATE PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS.
Develop Alternate Public Improvement Standards
(APIs) for historic landscaped roads, if appropriate, to preserve the historic context of the SEDA area.
OBJECTIVE CR-4
Using Vernacular Design
Develop new mixed-use communities that reflect
and establish a regional identity in the design of new
buildings and complexes.
POLICY CR-4.1 WAYSIDE EXHIBITS.
Incorporate wayside exhibits within new developments
that depict the history of the site or region through
photographs and text.
Fresno’s Vernacular Architecture
Unique architectural elements in Fresno speak to
the history of economic and cultural life in the San
Joaquin Valley. Some of these elements, such as the
distinctive water-holding tankhouses and the use of
adobe as a building material, addressed environmental
conditions. The working structures—the barns and
worker housing—tell the story of life in the Valley.
Building materials and forms had to evolve to function
in a physical setting with limited water resources
and few sources of timber for building. Adobe is one
widely-known locally-designed adaptation used in the
Southwestern United States—the San Joaquin Valley
was no exception. Adobe was widely used, from the
earliest Mexican structures in the area, to the homes
of wealthy landowners and peasant farmers.
The Magarian-Hiyashi Tankhouse
Adobe’s availability and ease of use has made it
infinitely malleable in the harsh environment of
inland California. Up until the 1940’s, it was used by
architects looking to reflect a “California colonial”
aesthetic, as in the Old Fig Garden of Fresno.
Tankhouses, though less well-known outside of
California, represent another element of inland
California distinction. In an area with scarce water
resources, both city and country homes depended on
tankhouses for their water. Using a windmill, and later gasoline engines, to pump water up to a holding tank
on an upper floor, they provided a constant source of
water for the household. Remaining tankhouses speak
to a time when water was far more difficult to come by
in the San Joaquin Valley and the difficulties the early inhabitants faced in finding and securing those scarce
water resources.
Life in the Valley is also reflected in the vernacular
styles of historic structures. Working buildings like
the barns on many inland farms and small workers
cottages (hall & parlor houses) are reminiscent of
the common experiences of life in the Valley. These
95 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
working structures communicate what life was like for
the average worker in historic Fresno.
Incorporating and acknowledging these elements
of the region’s past in the Southeast Development
Area can help to firmly ground new development
into its place in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley.
Referencing this time tested locally inspired design
can provide a sense of continuity between Fresno’s
environment and history and the area’s modern,
urban residents.
96 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
CHAPTER 9
IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation of the SEDA plan will
occur over a long period—perhaps 30
years or more--driven by housing need,
market forces, and State of California
requirements for planned housing
capacity. Implementation will be guided
by the following:
SEDA Specific Plan Goal: Fiscal Responsibility
Provide self-financing for the development and
ongoing maintenance of the SEDA that does not
reduce City of Fresno resources dedicated to other
areas of the City or burden Fresno residents outside
of the SEDA.
Holistically coordinate infrastructure to integrate
efficiencies that piecemeal planning cannot.
Invest in resource conserving techniques for
stormwater systems, water supply, and trail and
open space networks to save on infrastructure and
mitigation costs.
Adoption of the SEDA Specific Plan is the first step
of many needed for successful implementation.
Next steps include adoption of the zoning
regulations, completion of a Parks and Open Space
Master Plan, establishing financing mechanisms,
completing engineering and design for sewer, water,
transportation and energy facilities, and facilitating
sub-area plans. This Chapter is organized into the
following sections:
• General Implementation Strategy
• Funding and Financing Tools
• Implementation Action Plan
This chapter provides a framework for
implementation. It is fully expected that as conditions and market forces change over time, the City may
adjust as needed.
General Implementation Strategy
The general approach to implementing the Plan
incorporates several guiding principles:
Development needs to pay its own way. The City
of Fresno will not subsidize new development.
Development projects will pay their fair share for
public facilities and services using developer-
constructed improvements, development impact fees
(DIFs), community facilities districts (CFDs), or other funding and financing mechanisms.
SEDA will be phased. Buildout of the SEDA Specific
Plan will occur in phases to respond to market demand
and infrastructure availability.
Annexation will occur gradually and strategically.
Annexation is anticipated to occur in tandem with
surrounding development.
Existing uses will continue to have protections. Legally established uses which have occurred prior to the
adoption of the Specific Plan will be permitted to
remain in perpetuity. The City will continue to enforce the Annexed Rural Residential Transitional Overlay,
97 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Fresno County’s Right-to-Farm Ordinance and
support parcels with existing Williamson Act contracts.
Funding and Financing Tools
Accompanying the Specific Plan is a Public Facilities
Financing Options Report – this will provide various
options in which the City Council could pursue to
determine how public infrastructure improvements will
be funded. This Plan also includes suggested phases
and funding approaches to meet upfront costs.
Implementation Action Plan
Table 9.1 sets forth the implementation action plan
for the Southeast Development Area Specific Plan.
To aid in tracking implementation efforts, this section provides a table that lists each goal and its associated policies along with responsible parties and suggested
measurements of progress. No timeframes are given
as it is expected that progress will be made annually,
based on available staff capacity and funding. In
instances where no progress can be reported, an
explanation should be provided with action steps to
take for the following year. Reporting on these goals
and policies will be done in tandem with the General
Plan Annual Progress Report.
The Action steps that are needed before development
can commence in the SEDA are the following:
• Certification of the EIR and adoption of the
Southeast Development Area Specific Plan
• Adoption of Development Code amendments to
implement new zoning consistent with the SEDA
Specific Plan
• Adoption of the SEDA Parks and Trails Master Plan
• Construction of the Temperance Sewer Trunk line
and other up-front infrastructure needed for each
Phase of Development
98 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Table 9.1 Implementation Matrix
Chapter 2 - Urban Form
Policy # Policy Responsible/Support Parties Suggested Measurements UF-1.5 Public Facilities and
Open Spaces Planning, PARCS # of projects funded, in process and completed
UF-2.2 Development Code Update Planning Text Amendment to Development Code
UF-3.2 Development Code Update Planning Text Amendment to Development Code
UF-4.2 Development Code Update Planning Text Amendment to Development Code
UF-5.1 Circulation Plan and
Street Standards Planning, FAX # of transportation options provided # of publicly accessible rights of way
UF-5.2 Transit Service FAX # and frequency of transit stops UF-5.4 Safe Streets Planning, Public Works
# of streets designed in compliance
with the City of Fresno Complete
Streets Policy
UF-7.2 Parking Provisions Planning, Public Works,
private developers
% reduction in parking requirements
for private developments
# of TDM plans implemented
# of on street parking stalls utilized
toward private development count
UF-7.4 Pricing and Fee Sharing Planning, City Council
# of fees collected for parking
amount of fees generated
(in dollars)
UF-8.1 SEDA Transportation Demand
Management Program
Planning, FAX,
private developers
Implemented TDM Plan
% reduction in VMT
# of physical design, lifestyle
and auto-alternative credits and
programs utilized
99 SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Chapter 3 - Housing Choice and Affordability
Policy # Policy Responsible/Support Parties Suggested Measurements HC-2.1 Provision of Affordable Housing Planning, private developers # of affordable units developed HC-2.2 Publicly Owned Land Planning, City Manager,
Mayor, private developers
# of publicly owned parcels
purchased for development
# of affordable units developed
HC-2.4 Economic Incentives
Planning, Economic
Development,
private developers
# of incentives for development used
# of developments with 25% new
units accessible
HC-3.1 Coordinated Land Use and
Transportation Planning Planning, FAX # of units developed near transit 100
SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Chapter 4 - Open Space, Schools and Public Facilities
Policy # Policy Responsible/Support Parties Suggested Measurements OS-1.1 Joint Use of Open Spaces
Planning, Fresno Metropolitan
Flood Control District
(FMFCD), Fresno Irrigation
District (FID), Clovis Unified,
Sanger Unified
# of joint-use agreements for
shared community access
OS-2.3 Stormwater
Management Features
Planning, Public Works,
FMFCD, PARCS
# of projects funded, in process
and completed
OS-3.1 Hierarchy of Parks Planning, PARCS # of projects funded, in process and completed
OS-4.5 Parks and Trails Master Plan Planning, PARCS Completion of Parks and Trails Master Plan
OS-7.1 School District Coordination
Task Force and Joint Committee
Planning, Clovis
Unified, Sanger Unified,
private developers
Establishment of joint committee
OS-7.2 Joint Use of School and
Community Facilities
Planning, PARCS, Clovis
Unified, Sanger Unified
# of partnerships established to
fund and develop joint-use facilities
OS-11.3 Coordination with Police and
Fire Departments
Planning, Fresno Police,
Fresno Fire # of police and fire facilities sited
OS-12.1 Solid Waste Facilities
and Services Public Utilities # of solid waste facilities to serve the SEDA
OS-13.2 Provision of Electricity and
Natural Gas Infrastructure
Planning, Public
Utilities, PG&E # of infrastructure installed
OS-13.2 PG&E Transmission Lines Planning, Public
Utilities, PG&E
# of transmission lines running from
Highland and Church along the
diagonal south of Kings Canyon and
Temperance into the SEDA
OS-13.3
Provision of
Telecommunications
Infrastructure
Planning, Public Utilities # of telecommunications
infrastructure installed
OS-14.1 Provision of Water, Stormwater,
and Wastewater Infrastructure Planning, Public Utilities # of infrastructure installed OS-14.2 Street Infrastructure Planning, Public Works % of street infrastructure installed 101
SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Chapter 5 - Community Farming and Agriculture
Policy # Policy Responsible/Support Parties Suggested Measurements CF-1.2 Future Growth Planning Planning % of projects funded, in process and completed inside SOI
CF-1.3 Conversion of Farmland to
Non-Agricultral Uses Planning, Fresno COG % of strategic farmland Chapter 6 - Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Conservation
Policy # Policy Responsible/Support Parties Suggested Measurements RC-1.2 Transportation Facilities
Strategies Planning, FAX
# of transit facilities, pedestrian and
bicycle infrastructure and traffic
calming measures installed
RC-1.3 Transportation
Demand Strategies
Planning, San Joaquin
Valley Air District, FAX,
private developers
# of TDM programs implemented
RC-1.6 Municipal Facilities General Services, PARCS,
Public Works, Public Utilities % increase in energy efficiency RC-1.7 Urban Forestry Program Public Works, PARCS % of tree canopy, # of new trees planted
RC-2.2 Shared Water Resources
and Infrastructure
Planning, Public
Utilities, PARCS
% reduction in surface and
groundwater use
RC-4.3 Maximizing
Groundwater Recharge Public Utilities, FMFCD # of recharge systems installed RC-4.4
Utilization of Recreation and
Open Spaces as Groundwater
Recharge Areas
Public Utilities,
PARCS, FMFCD
# of joint-use
agreements established
RC-6.1 Water Supply and Delivery Public Utilities, Planning # of infrastructure installed RC-6.2 Wastewater Treatment
and Delivery Public Utilities, Planning # of infrastructure installed RC-6.3 Flood Control and
Stormwater Management Public Utilities, FMFCD # of infrastructure installed 102
SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA SPECIFIC PLAN
Chapter 7 - Economic Opportunity
Policy # Policy Responsible/Support Parties Suggested Measurements EO-1.1 Broaden Access to Small
Business Financing Economic Development # of local businesses using microlending programs
EO-2.2 Local and Regional
Economic Development Economic Development # of new business/investment EO-3.1
Collaboration with the San
Joaquin Valley Clean Energy
Organization (SJVCEO)
Economic
Development, SJVCEO # of projects/investment
EO-3.2 Coordination with California
State University, Fresno
Economic Development,
Fresno State
# of projects funded, in process
and completed
103
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