545922v1 Rev. 10.24
CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. PW00978
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: Victor Valdez, PE
Licensed Professional Engineer
City of Fresno Capital Projects Department
747 R Street, 2
nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT LOCATION : The proposed project will occur at Intersections of Chestnut Avenue and Weldon Avenue, and First Street and Home Avenue within the jurisdiction of the City of Fresno.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Fresno Department of Public Works proposes to make improvements to the intersections of Chestnut Avenu e and Weldon Avenue, and First Street and Home Avenue. Th e
improvements at Chestnut Avenue and Weldon Avenue w ill provide a new traffic signal, curb, gutter, and acc essible ramps to navigate through the intersection. This improvement will require one acquisition of rights-of-way from property 447- 020-16T to make the intersection fully accessible. The improve ments at First Street and Home Avenue will provide a High-Intensit y Activated CrossWalk (HAWK), curb, gutter, and accessible ramp s to navigate through the intersection and will not requ ire any acquisitions of right-of-way to make the intersecti on fully accessible.
This project is exempt under Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. None o f the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
EXPLANATION:
Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines exempts 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 existing or former use. The types of "existing facilities" itemized below are not intended to be all-inclusive of the types of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use.
Specifically included in this class of exemption are:
(c) Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar 545922v1 Rev. 10.24
facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety), and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including bu t not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes; and
d) Restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety, unless it is determined that the damage was substantial and resulted from an environ mental hazard such as earthquake, landslide, or flood;
(f) Addition of safety or health protection devices for use during construction of or in conjunction with existing structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment, or topographical features including navigational devices.
Section 15302/Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existi ng structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
The proposed project is consistent with Class 1 and Class 2 exemptions because the project is proposing to make improvements to existing infrastr ucture by installing and repairing existing curb ramps, reinstalling signage and striping, adju sting water valves and manhole covers to grade, and installing traffic signals to improve pu blic safety (vehicular and pedestrian). The proposed improvements are minor, do not constitute an expansion of use, and will improve the public right-of-way without increasing capacity bec ause the only changes to the roadway will be repairs to the existing facilities. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existing use, will have substantially the same purp ose and capacity and will be located on the same site as the facilities being replaced.
The proposed project complies with all conditions d escribed in Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California CEQA Guidelines. Ba sed on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur as a result of the proposed project and none of the exemptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Therefore, a categorical exe mption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions se t forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, Exceptions, ident ifies the following exceptions to using a categorical exemption. Based on an examination of the project and supporting information, the project would not result in any impacts to the envi ronment that would cause an exception to applying the Class 1, Existing Facilities, or Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction, Categorical Exemptions, to the project, as described below.
(a) Location. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is to be located – a project that is ordinarily insign ificant in its impact on the environment may in a particularly sensitive environment be significant.
Exception (a) does not apply because the project fa lls within the Class 1, Existing Facilities, and Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction Exemptions. 545922v1 Rev. 10.24
(b) Cumulative Impact. All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the sam e type in the same place, over time is significant.
Exception (b) does not apply. This project involves improvements to existing infrastructure only by installing and repairing exi sting curb ramps, reinstalling signage and striping, adjusting water valves and manhole co vers to grade, and installing traffic signals to improve public safety (vehicular and ped estrian). The City has no plans to reconstruct the street or travel lanes or construct other projects or introduce other land uses at this site in the future.
(c) Significant Effects. A categorical exemption shall not be used for any activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.
Exception (c) does not apply. There is not a reasonable possibility that the project would have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. There is nothing unusual about the Project site or construction specifications which would cause a significant effect. Project impacts would be typi cal construction-related effects (e.g. dust, traffic, noise) and would be temporary in nat ure. The project would include implementation of standard best management practice s (BMPs) to avoid and minimize environmental impacts throughout construction activities. These include practices related to fugitive dust control, noise and traffic control, reducing erosion and sedimentation, and protecting water quality. Once constructed, the pro ject would not result in significant impacts from operation and would be the same as that currently existing.
(d) Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources within a hi ghway officially designated as a state scenic highway.
Exception (d) does not apply. This project involves existing infrastructure improvements only. In addition, the project site is not located within, along, or near any Officially Designated State Scenic Highway or local roadway of importance (Caltrans 2025). The nearest Eligible State Scenic Highway, State Route 41, is located 0.2 miles away from the closest project area. Therefore, implementation of the project would not affect any scenic highways or damage any scenic resources.
(e) Hazardous Waste Sites. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on a site which is included on any list compiled pu rsuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
Exception (e) does not apply. This project involves existing minor alteration to the rights- of-way with intersection improvements to improve pu blic safety (vehicular and pedestrian) at the intersection and there will be n o excavation or disturbing of any soil within the project scope. The GeoTracker and Enviro Stor databases were checked on January 23, 2026. The search area included the enti re roadway pavement limits within the two (2) project areas. The GeoTracker and Envir oStor search resulted in no 545922v1 Rev. 10.24
hazardous waste sites being located within the limits of any of the project improvements areas.
(f) Historical Resources. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
Exception (f) does not apply. This project involves existing roadway pavement rehabilitation via grind and overlay of asphalt concrete pavement only. The project sites do not include any historic resources (Historic Fre sno 2025, https://historicfresno.org/lrhr/index.htm ). No known archaeological resources are present, and the project does not involve any disturbance of soils. Therefore, there is a de minimis chance of adverse effect to potential cu ltural resources. Therefore, the project would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
Date: January 23, 2026
Prepared By: Victor Valdez, PE
Licensed Professional Engineer
Submitted by:
Victor Valdez, PE
Licensed Professional Engineer
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
(559) 621-8809