322928v1 Rev. 10.24
CITY OF FRESNO
CERTIFIED DOCUMENT OF EXEMPTION FINDING
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
APPLICANT:
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
747 ‘R’ Street, 2 nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT
LOCATION:
The proposed project is located at the intersection of North First Street and East Dovewood Lane, west of Hoover High School. (Council District 4)
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION:
The City of Fresno Department of Public Works is pr oposing to install a High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) at the intersection of North First Street and East Dovewood Lane and will provide pedestrian access from the west side of Hoo ver High School to the westerly residential neighborhood. T he project proposes to install a new mid-block crosswalk, curb ramps, slurry seal, street lights, median reconstruction, two tra ffic signal poles with mast arms, multiple crosswalk signs, traffic s ignal conduits, pull boxes, one traffic signal controller cabinet and minor striping.
The traffic signal poles will have a pedestrian pus h button that, when pressed, will activate flashing red lights to stop both north- and south-bound traffic on North First Street. Ped estrians will safely cross the street. Once the pedestrians have safely crossed the street, the traffic signal will turn dark, and vehicles will freely be able to go northbound and southbound.
The project will benefit the community by improving the school crossing safety at the proposed location. This impr ovement will require three acquisitions of right-of-way from properties 418-298- 15, 418-305-14, 418-030-43T to make the mid-block crossing fully accessible.
This project will remove 6 (six) existing median is land trees to provide clear visibility of the crosswalk. The tree s being removed are not heritage trees or protected trees and there fore their removal does not violate FMC 15-2308. The City of F resno will replace the removed trees as part of the Urban Fore st
Management plan.
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This project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the State of California CEQA Guidelines. None of the exceptions to Categorical E xemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
EXPLANATION:
Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines exempt s from the provisions of CEQA, projects consisting of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private stru ctures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. The types of "existing facilities" itemized below are not intended to be all-inclusive of the t ypes of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use. An example of this exemption includes existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety) and other alterations such as transit improvements such as pedestrian crossings.
The proposed project is consistent with Class 1 exe mptions because the project is proposing minor alterations to the right-of-way wit h mid-block pedestrian crossing improvements to improve public safety. The proposed First Street and Dovewood Lane improvements consist of to install a new mid-block crosswalk, curb ramps, slurry seal, street lights, median reconstruction, traffic signal poles with mast arms, multiple crosswalk signs, traffic signal conduits, pull boxes, traffic signal controller cabinet and minor striping.
The proposed improvements are minor, do not constit ute an expansion of use, and will improve the public safety (pedestrians) without increasing road capacity. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existi ng use and will have substantially the same purpose.
Based on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur as a result of the proposed project and none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
Therefore, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
Date: April 1, 2025
Prepared By: Tamera Clarke
Licensed Professional Engineer
Submitted By: Tamera Clarke
Licensed Professional Engineer
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
(559) 621-8705
Certified by the City of Fresno
NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
FROM: City of Fresno
Department of CAPITAL PROJECTS
747 R St., 2
nd Floor
Fresno, California 93721-4016
TO:
Fresno County Clerk
2220 Tulare Street
Fresno, California 93721
Office of Planning & Research SCH NO.: N/A
P.O. Box 3044, Room 212
Sacramento, California 95812-3044
Project Title : HAWK Signal Equipment for First Street & Dovewood Lane, PW01047 Project Location : Intersection of First Street and Dovewood Lane, west of Hoover High School Project Location – City: City of Fresno Project Location – County: County of Fresno
Description of Nature, Purpose and Beneficiaries of Project : The City of Fresno, Public Works Department, is proposing a project to install impro vements to include installation of a mid-block High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK), high visibility crosswalk, reconstruction and installation of curb ramps, and installation of lighting at First Street and Dovewood Lane. This improvement will require three acquisitions of right-of-way from properties 418-298-15, 418-305-14, 418-030-43T to make the mid-block crossing fully accessible. This project w ill remove 6 (six) existing median island trees to provide clear visibility of the crosswalk. The tree s being removed are not heritage trees or protected trees and therefore their removal does not violate FMC 15-2308. The City of Fresno will replace the removed trees as part of the Urban Forest Management plan.
Name of Public Agency Approving Project: City of Fresno – Department of Capital Projects, Design Services Division
Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project: Tamera Clarke City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
747 R Street, 2
nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Exempt Status: (check one)
Ministerial: PRC § 21080(b)(1); CEQA Guidelines §15268
Declared Emergency: PRC § 21080(b)(3); CEQA Guidelines §15269(a) Emergency Project: PRC § 21080(b)(4); CEQA Guidelines §15269(b) and (c) Categorical Exemption: CEQA Guidelines §15301/Class 1
Statutory Exemption: PRC §_____________
Reasons why project is exempt:
Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines exempt s from the provisions of CEQA, projects consisting of the operation, repair, maintenance, p ermitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. The types of "existing facilities" itemized below are not intended to be all-inclusive of the PW01047
CEQA Notice of Exemption
February 3, 2026
Rev 10.24
types of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use. An example of this exemption includes existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedest rian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety) and other alterations such as transit improvements such as pedestrian crossings.
The proposed project is consistent with Class 1 exe mptions because the project is proposing minor alterations to the right-of-way with mid-block pede strian crossing improvements to improve public safety. The proposed First Street and Dovewood Lane improvements consist of a new mid-block crosswalk, curb ramps, slurry seal, street lights, median reconstruction, traffic signal poles with ma st arms, multiple crosswalk signs, traffic signal cond uits, pull boxes, traffic signal controller cabinet and minor striping. The proposed improvements are minor, do not constitute an expansion of use, and will improve the public safety (pedestrians) without increasing road capacity. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existing use and will have substantially the same purpose.
Based on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur as a result of the proposed project and none of the exce ptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Therefore, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
Lead Agency Contact Person: Tamera Clarke Telephone No. (559) 621-8705
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ______________________
Printed Name and Title:
Tamera Clarke, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Department of Capital Projects, Design Services Division
Signed by Lead Agency Signed by applicant
Attachments : Categorical Exemption Determination
April 1, 2025