CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR
PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT VACATION
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
APPLICANT: Josef Hand
City of Fresno
[email protected]
PROJECT LOCATION: 486 East Balboa Drive; Located on the northwest corner of the intersection of East Balboa and North Camarillo Drives. (APN:
576-191-06S)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of a minor addition to the existing single- unit residence. To facilitate this, vacation of the public utility easement along the east property line is required. The property is zoned RS-4/EA/UGM/cz (Single-Unit Residential, Expressway Area, Urban Growth Management, conditions of zoning)
This project is exempt under Section 15 301/Class 1 and Section 15305/Class 5 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, as follows:
Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines consists of, but is not limited to, the operation, repair, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures. Additions to existing structures must be less than 50 percent of the floor area of the structure before the addition, or 2,500 square feet, whichever is less. The key consideration when applying a Class 1 exemption is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use.
Class 5 (Minor Alterations of Land Use Operations) of the CEQA Guidelines exempts from the provisions of CEQA projects that consist of minor alterations in land use limitations in areas with an average slope of less than 20% and do not result in any changes in land use or density. The issuance of a minor encroachment permit is identified in the CEQA guidelines as an acceptable application of the Class 5 exemption.
The subject property is currently improved as a single-unit residence, located along a local road and is currently served by all necessary utilitie s and public services. The proposed vacation of the public utility easement along North Camar illo Drive meets the criteria noted above. The proposed expansion of the existing structure is minor and will not result in any changes to land use or density. Furthermore, a vacation feasibility study was completed and the findings indicate that the proposal is reasonable.
EA No. P26-00940
May 15, 2026
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to the project. Furthermore, the proposed project is not expected to have a significant or cumulative effect on the environment. The project is not located on a hazardous waste site, a historical resource, or adjacent to a scenic highway. A categorical exemption, as noted above, has therefore been prepared for the project.
Date: May 15, 2026
Prepared By: Diego St Clair, Planner II
Submitted by:
Josef Hand
Engineer II
City of Fresno
Public Works Department
(559) 621-8560
Josef Hand