CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. PW01009
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: Capital Projects Department
City of Fresno
747 R Street, 2nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Attn: Luis Diaz Urbano
PROJECT LOCATION: The project site consists of a 0.6-mile segment of Cedar Avenue between Herndon Avenue and Alluvial Avenue in
the City of Fresno, Fresno County, California
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The City of Fresno Capital Projects Department proposes the Cedar Avenue Roadway Improvements from Herndon Avenue to Alluvial Avenue (project) to rehabilitate existing pavement and replace failing segments of pavement to optimal conditions along a 0.6- mile segment of Cedar Avenue between Herndon Avenue and Alluvial Avenue.
Proposed rehabilitation activities would include a grind and overlay; full-depth reconstruction where needed; reconstruction of non-Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps; installation of curbs and gutters, median nose adjustments, new signage, and striping; and concrete improvements. The project also includes reconfiguration of existing lanes to include buffered Class II bike lanes. The project would not increase the number of travel lanes or otherwise increase roadway capacity.
The project would require partial right-of-way (ROW) acquisition and temporary construction easements for the construction of ADA-compliant curb ramps from the following surrounding parcels listed by Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN):
Right of Way:
• APN 404-030-27 (partial)
Temporary Construction Easements:
• APN 404-060-33 (partial)
• APN 404-050-17 (partial)
• APN 404-030-55 (partial)
Construction activities are anticipated to result in approximately 7.62 acres of ground disturbance with a maximum depth of excavation of 2 feet. Anticipated equipment for construction of the proposed project would include a milling machine, an asphalt paver, a sweeper, a compactor/roller, and a Bobcat excavator. Construction of the proposed project is expected to occur over a period of 90 days beginning in February 2026. A temporary lane closure is expected during proposed pavement work; however, access to private properties and pedestrian facilities would be maintained during all construction activities. An exact construction staging location is currently not known but would be located within a previously disturbed and/or developed area. The project does not include the removal of any existing buildings or structures from the parcel proposed for ROW acquisition.
This project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1, which exempts existing facilities under certain conditions. Staff found that the conditions are met:
Section 15301/Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, 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 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.
Specifically included in this class of exemption are:
c) Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety); 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 environmental hazard such as earthquake, landslide, or flood.
The proposed project would be consistent with the provisions of a Class 1 Categorical Exemption because it would be limited to the rehabilitation of existing pavement and replacement of failing segments of pavement to optimal conditions along an existing roadway segment in a developed portion of the city. The project would not increase the number of travel lanes or otherwise increase roadway capacity.
State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 identifies exceptions that would disqualify a project from being exempt under the State CEQA Guidelines. According to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2, a project that would be located within an environmentally sensitive area, result in significant cumulative impacts, result in a significant effect on the environment, damage scenic resources within the viewshed of a state scenic highway, be located on a hazardous waste site compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, or cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource would not qualify for an exemption under State CEQA Guidelines.
The project site extends along Cedar Avenue, between Herndon and Alluvial Avenues, and consists entirely of previously developed areas containing existing roadways and frontages with some areas of ruderal vegetation and/or scattered landscaped trees. The project site is located in an urbanized area and is surrounded by commercial, office, multi-family residential, undeveloped, and religious land uses. The project would be limited to work within the existing roadway prism and would not extend into previously undisturbed areas or native soils. The project would not require any alteration or removal of structures from the parcels proposed for partial ROW acquisition and would not have the potential to impact historical buildings or structures if present on surrounding properties. The project would be limited to small changes to an existing roadway and surrounding streetscape and would not result in potentially significant environmental impacts associated with its location, cumulative impacts, scenic resources, hazardous waste sites, historical resources, or energy demand, or otherwise have the potential to result in a significant effect that could constitute an exception to a Categorical Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2.
Date: June 26, 2024
Prepared by:
Annika Kiemm
Assistant Project Environmental
Planner
SWCA Environmental Consultants
(805) 243-9389
Submitted by:
Luis Diaz Urbano
Engineer 1
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
(559) 621-8843
PROJECT DESCRIPTION FOR THE
CEDAR AVENUE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS FROM
HERNDON AVENUE TO ALLUVIAL AVENUE,
FRESNO, FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Prepared for
City of Fresno Capital Projects Department
747 R Street, 2nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
Attn: Luis Diaz Urbano
Prepared by
SWCA Environmental Consultants
4111 Broad Street, Suite 210
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 543-7095
www.swca.com
SWCA Project No. 73586-021
June 2024
Cedar Avenue Roadway Improvements from Herndon Avenue to Alluvial Avenue Project Description
1 PROJECT LOCATION
The project site consists of a 0.6-mile segment of Cedar Avenue between Herndon Avenue and Alluvial Avenue in the city of Fresno, Fresno County, California (Figure 1).
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
The project site is located in an urbanized area and is surrounded by commercial, office, multi-family residential, undeveloped, and religious land uses. The project site consists entirely of previously developed areas containing existing roadways and frontages with some areas of ruderal vegetation and/or scattered landscaped trees.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Cedar Avenue Roadway Improvements from Herndon Avenue to Alluvial Avenue (project) includes the rehabilitation of existing pavement and replacement of failing segments of pavement to optimal conditions along a 0.6-mile segment of Cedar Avenue between Herndon Avenue and Alluvial Avenue.
Proposed rehabilitation activities would include a grind and overlay; full-depth reconstruction where needed; reconstruction of non-Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps; installation of curbs and gutters, median nose adjustments, new signage, and striping; and concrete improvements.
The project also includes reconfiguration of existing lanes to include buffered Class II bike lanes. The project would not increase the number of travel lanes or otherwise increase roadway capacity.
The project would require partial right-of-way (ROW) acquisition and temporary construction easements for the construction of ADA-compliant curb ramps from the following surrounding parcels listed by Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) (Figure 2):
Right of Way:
• APN 404-030-27 (partial)
Temporary Construction Easements:
• APN 404-060-33 (partial)
• APN 404-050-17 (partial)
• APN 404-030-55 (partial)
Construction activities are anticipated to result in approximately 7.62 acres of ground disturbance with a maximum depth of excavation of 2 feet. Anticipated equipment for construction of the proposed project would include a milling machine, an asphalt paver, a sweeper, a compactor/roller, and a Bobcat excavator. Construction of the proposed project is expected to occur over a period of 90 days beginning in February 2026. A temporary lane closure is expected during proposed pavement work; however, access to private properties and pedestrian facilities would be maintained during all construction activities. An exact construction staging location is currently not known but would be located within a previously disturbed and/or developed area. The project does not include the removal of any existing buildings or structures from the parcel proposed for ROW acquisition.
Cedar Avenue Roadway Improvements from Herndon Avenue to Alluvial Avenue Project Description
2 Figure 1. Project Location Map
Cedar Avenue Roadway Improvements from Herndon Avenue to Alluvial Avenue Project Description
3 `
Figure 2. Proposed ROW Acquisition Map