City of Fresno, Airports Department
Properties Division
4995 E. Clinton Way
Fresno, CA 93727
NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
July 30, 2026
Project Name: Approval of the Aviation Land & Building Lease between City of Fresno and Flight Level Aviation, LLC (Flight Level) at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH).
Project Number:
Project Location: 524 & 548 W. Kearney Blvd & 970 W. Chandler Ave, Fresno, CA 93706, Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN): 46422043T
Description of Project: In 2024, Airports Department issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for 970 West Chandler. The initial respondents chosen were disqualified either by their volition or due to Airport Executive Team decision. Flight Level Aviation provided a response tha t was approved by Airport Executive Team and lease negotiations began. This Agreement will allow Flight Level to operate as a full service FBO at FCH including overseeing all aircraft tie down locations on the general ramp, along with operations at 524 and 548 W. Kearney and 970 W. Chandler Avenue. An FBO allows support of aircraft up to 12,500 pounds gross weight and can include, (i) retail sales and delivery into- plane of aircraft fuel, lubricants and additives, (ii) overnight tie- down and aircraft storage, (iii) minor aircraft maintenance, servicing and repair, (iv) tire “airing” and battery “boosts,” (v) pilot and passenger waiting lounge with restrooms, phones and direct-access to the most current aviation weather information, (vi) air-to-ground radio communications, and (vii) removal of disabled Aircraft from the Aircraft Operations Area. Both parties wish to enter into a new Agreement for five years with (1) five-year option. This Lease with Flight Level is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This Lease would result in the use of an existing airport facility and would not result in alteration of the existing building’s footprint or result in a significant increase in capacity of use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Name of Public Agency Approving Project: City of Fresno, Airports Department
Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project: City of Fresno, Airports Department, Properties Division
Exempt Status: State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1, Existing Facilities Exemption.
Reasons Why Project is Exempt: The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions
FOR COUNTY CLERK USE ONLY
Docusign Envelope ID: 249F1342-547F-8B76-835A-C0461591863D of CEQA specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern, nor would the project involve unusual circumstances that could potentially have a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the Lease, permitting continued use of an existing building.
• Section 15301 – Class 1 Existing Facilities Exemption: This categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The project, as proposed, is limited to a Land Lease Agreement with SkyWest for continued use of existing space at the P3 hangar inside FAT’s airfield. The facility would include the continued use of P3 hangar for the SkyWest maintenance hub. The use of the facility by SkyWest would be consistent with the current land use and would not require any expansion of public services and facilities; therefore, the project is exempt as the project meets the scope and intent of the Class 1 Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Therefore, the City of Fresno, Airports Department hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is warranted.
07/30/2026
Francisco Partida, Assistant Director of Aviation
City of Fresno, Airports Department
Docusign Envelope ID: 249F1342-547F-8B76-835A-C0461591863D