Exhibit R
Fresno City CouncilJune 18, 2026
3:55 pm
Presentation Outline
• Background & Community Engagment
• Plan Overview
• Environmental Assessment
• Public Comment
• Findings & Staff Recommendations
Background
Planning Context
• Specific Plan
• AREA: 2,067 acres
• The CSESP is located adjacent to the
Downtown Neighborhoods Community
Plan (2016) along the northwestern
boundary.
• The planning area is entirely in Fresno
City Limits
• This plan will replace
• Butler/Willow Specific Plan (1971)
• Roosevelt Community Plan (1992)
Community Engagement
• Stakeholder Meetings with 16 groups
• Engagement toolkit
• 20+ Mobile Workshops
• 4 Public Workshops
• 4 Surveys
• Steering Committee (10 meetings)
• 3 Community Conversations
• 2 Mass Mailings to every Property Owner
and Resident in Plan Area
• Networking through Community
Organizations such as Religious
Institutions, Library, Community Centers
• Website Postings and Emails
Big Ideas
1. Cesar Chavez Corridor
2. Former UMC Hospital Site
3. International
Shopping/Mixed-Use
Center
4. Maple/Butler Community
and Cultural Center
5. Orange Avenue
Neighborhood “Main
Street
6. IRS Hub
7. Significant Neighborhood
Infill
8. Business Park/Employment
District
Initiation
Plan Overview
Specific Plan Chapters
1. Introduction
2. Vision & Goals
3. Land Use and Urban Design
4. Transportation
5. Parks & Open Space
6. Economic Development
7. Quality of Life
8. Next Steps & Funding
Land Use
▪ LU-1 Transform Cesar Chavez Blvd. into a
walkable and lively corridor with a diverse mix
of retail, service, residential, cultural and
institutional uses that will attract both local
residents and regional visitors.
▪ LU-2 Build on existing institutions and
opportunity sites along Butler Avenue to
create a series of central neighborhood-
supporting hubs…
▪ LU-3 Intensify, activate, and beautify Orange
Avenue, building on its existing character, to
strengthen its identity and appeal.
▪ LU-9. Expand the housing supply to
accommodate households of all sizes and
income levels.
Plan Area &Proposed Land Use Changes
1. From Community Commercial, General Commercial
and Office to Corridor-Center Mixed Use
2. From Community Commercial to Corridor-Center
Mixed Use and Urban Neighborhood
3. From Office to Residential Medium High
4. From Public Facility/Fairgrounds to Community
Commercial
5. From Medium Density Residential to Urban
Neighborhood
6. From Community Commercial and Medium Density
Residential to Urban Neighborhood
7. From Community Commercial to Corridor-Center
Mixed Use
8. From Corridor-Center Mixed Use to Residential
Medium High
9. From Light Industrial to Medium High Residential
10. From Office to Medium Density Residential
Parks and Open Space
▪P-1. Improve the amount of parkland in CSE Fresno.
▪P-2. Improve the quality and safety of parks in CSE Fresno. • P-2.1. Renovate and upgrade existing park facilities to support the recreational, physical, and social needs of residents. ▪P-3. Expand recreational programming and facilities to meet the needs of users of all ages and abilities.
• P-3.1. Expand programming at parks and community facilities to provide diverse opportunities for physical activity, creativity, learning, and social interaction.
Environmental Assessment
Environmental Assessment
• Recirculated Mitigated Negative Declaration Public Comment Period • December 19, 2025 – January 19, 2026
• 6 comments
• The comments focused on:
• Coordinating with the County of Fresno for roadway
improvements
• Air quality regulations and requirements
• Water runoff capacity for new development in the Plan Area • Irrigation facilities and requirements
• Historic resources and Scenic Corridors related to tree protection on Butler Avenue
ALUC & Project Review Committees
• The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) reviewed the
proposed project at its regular meeting on June 5, 2023, and voted to recommend approval of this project, 7 votes to 0 with no additional recommendations for the project.
• The Plan was presented to the Project Review Committee for District 5 for their input and feedback on June 12, 2023, and voted (yes: 3 | no: 0 | abstain: 0 | absent: 1) to recommend approval of the project. District 7 does not have an active project review committee.
Findings
Fresno Municipal Code
Housing Element
SB 330
Fresno Municipal Code
-
Section 15
-
5812
▪ Consistency with the General Plan goals and policies
▪ Consistency with the Development Code
Housing Element
–
Gov. Code 65863
HE Site Affordability Level Existing HE Site Capacity Proposed HE Site Capacity Lower 0 489
Moderate 4 0
Above-Moderate 228 10
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
(AB 686)
▪ Adoption of the Plan would result in a net capacity gain of 2,938 housing units. Therefore, the proposed adoption of the specific plan is consistent with SB 330.
Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (SB 330)
▪ The CSESP area is located in a low resource area with high segregation and poverty ▪ The plan proposes goals and strategies to improve access to alternative modes of transportation, parks and housing, along with workforce development and other economic development strategies.
20Central Southeast Area Specific Plan
Land
Use Change Requests
▪ Technical change to Pgs. 41 & 42
21Central Southeast Area Specific Plan
District NMX CMX
Residential Density,
du/ac
Min = 12
Max = 16 No Limit
Min = 16
Max = 30 No Limit
CSESP Technical Change
Planning Commission
• The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed project at its regular meeting on February 4, 2026, and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Recirculated Mitigated
Negative Declaration, repeal of the Butler-Willow Specific Plan and the Roosevelt Community Plan, and adoption of the
Central Southeast Specific Plan, including:
• Technical change on pgs 41, 42 of the Specific Plan
• Land use change requests A-E, if the changes are within the scope of the environmental assessment
Staff Recommendations
Central Southeast Area Specific Plan 23
Staff Recommendations
1. RECOMMEND APPROVAL of a finding set forth in Environmental Assessment No. P23-00400 dated December 19, 2025, of a Recirculated Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH 2023020138) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(d) including the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program;
2. RECOMMEND APPROVAL of Plan Amendment Application P23-00400 which proposes to:
3. Repeal the Roosevelt Community Plan, pertaining to approximately 15,721 acres, and the Butler/Willow Specific Plan, pertaining to approximately 563 acres;
4. Adopt the Central Southeast Area Specific Plan and accompanying Planned Land Use Map;
5. Amend the Planned Land Use Map (Figure LU-1) of the Fresno General Plan to incorporate the land use changes proposed in the Central Southeast Area Specific Plan and any land use change request.
6. Rezone approximately 119 acres of property within the Central Southeast Area Specific Plan area to be consistent with the planned land uses proposed in the Plan and any rezones consistent with a land use change request.
7. Authorize the Director to correct any typographical errors and update the text, policies, maps, tables and exhibits contained in the CSESP to reflect the final action taken by the Council End of Presentation
Guiding Principles
• Emphasize cultural diversity and preserve neighborhoods • Actively engage the community and support the underserved • Protect housing affordability and minimize displacement • Enhance mobility and build or improve parks
• Support economic vitality, health and equity
• Reduce pollution and protect environmental health
• Invest in public safety and beautification
Transportation
▪ T-1. Rebalance existing roadways to create a network of safe, connected, and accessible Complete Streets for all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit vehicles, and motorists.
• T-1.1.Implement streetscape improvements along
Cesar Chavez Blvd, Orange Avenue, Cedar Avenue,
and Butler Avenue.
• T-1.3. Repurpose unneeded frontage roads along
Maple, Butler, and Chestnut Avenues into greenways
with active transportation connections.
▪ T-2. Improve connectivity between residential areas and local and regional destinations such as schools, parks, community centers, transit, retail, and employment
centers.
Transportation
▪ T-3. Improve safety and reduce conflicts between pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers, particularly around centers of activity.
• T-3.1. Implement traffic calming measures around parks and schools. • T-3.2. Install crossing enhancements at priority intersections. • T-3.5. Educate residents on bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic safety and network improvements.
▪ T-4. Provide a well-connected, comfortable, and inviting pedestrian environment that encourages residents to walk to and between key destinations.
• T-4.1. Identify gaps and build sidewalks to complete the pedestrian network.
Economic Development
▪ ED-1. Improve the appearance and cleanliness
of CSE Fresno to attract new businesses,
customers, and investment.
• ED- 1.1. Identify targeted opportunity
sites and areas with economic
development potential.
• ED- 1.2. Encourage and facilitate the reuse
and revitalization of existing
development.
• ED-1.3. Invest in needed public
infrastructure (e.g., water, sewer,
stormwater) at key opportunity sites to
provide “shovel-ready” development
opportunities.
▪ ED-2: Foster the creation, retention, expansion
and attraction of local small businesses.
29Central Southeast Area Specific Plan
Quality of Life
▪ PH-1.4. Encourage and attract healthy food
outlets and mobile vendors to CSE Fresno.
▪ PH-2. Expand access to culturally-competent
medical and mental health services.
• PH-2.1. Conduct a community health
and social services needs assessment for
CSE Fresno.
• PH-2.2. Encourage healthcare providers
and doctor’s offices to locate and/or
provide affordable services in CSE
Fresno.
▪ CE-1. Empower the community to take
action and improve quality of life for CSE
Fresno.
What is a Specific Plan?
A Specific Plan is:
• A long-range planning document (20 to 30 year vision) • Used to implement the General Plan
• A set of detailed strategies and actions to guide future growth and development in a specific geographic area (in this case, Central Southeast Fresno)
• Focuses on physical improvements: land use, transportation, parks, economic development, and improvements to the quality of life.