[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6629387,"mediaKeyId","2703887-f9774bf4c0d24f34ccfe8062986b7571","parentId",2703887,"title","Commission hears workshop on planning authorities, entitlement types and review process","audioSeconds",1819,"startMs",2070000,"endMs",3889000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703887-f9774bf4c0d24f34ccfe8062986b7571&start=2070&end=3889","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703887-f9774bf4c0d24f34ccfe8062986b7571/thumbnail_2070000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629387/Fresno-City/Fresno-County/California/Commission-hears-workshop-on-planning-authorities-entitlement-types-and-review-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629387-dc8b128aeb453959a0ec91c6444cdb49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164285&Signature=Id9v9rFBtlLoyYXt3TRiSO-sMt0Skzae1n47x1MP1DOJljKjzKHMlCFzTb344FAwhkEC4zi4UnLfx0kPrcR-zTnRGVThFDqmXp~3xlYlEHxLcETUySi1AXH2~-jAGoKBGk6XMMXXZGGTvHNVw~Eejc09QR9r4pa4n5ivLAYJvYCH27iwkEp8tkUB6WXmdlYeIFeXAelC7DXuux3hSZJBICC1Vslxt05SHo0UUAItLrWu3EdAwiAOKcnB3kjnZHPqrNafAbam6R4NsbNdRYEl8uAHzM4dT~IQp7XXDg6kOqUKFS3yTCydxXQydJC77f4cWGII3vBilXgZ5vvwLlxKSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fresno, CA","date","2025-03-20T02:19:24.26Z","article","Planning staff presented a workshop on planning entitlements and the authorities that review them, saying Part 5 of the city development code sets the roles and review responsibilities for the City Council, the Planning Commission, the planning director and other advisory bodies.

Jennifer (planning director) explained that the City Council is the highest legislative body that can amend the general plan, zoning map and development code; the Planning Commission generally serves as an advisory body and sometimes as the review authority for specified entitlements. She described council district project review committees as early‑stage, resident‑level feedback forums and said the Historic Preservation Commission reviews substantial alterations affecting historic resources.

Israel, a planner, reviewed common application types and typical review authority and notice requirements: zone clearances (ministerial, director review, no public notice), development permits (director review, no individual mailed notice but district committees may review), conditional use permits (director review, 1,000‑foot notice to surrounding property owners, appealable), variances (1,000‑foot notice; must show a unique property condition), planned developments (noticed and processed similarly to CUPs), subdivision maps (five or more lots come to the Planning Commission; parcel maps of four lots or fewer are generally approved at the staff level), text amendments and rezones (citywide notice, Planning Commission recommendation and City Council decision).

Staff told commissioners the planning department processes roughly 6,000 applications per year and described review steps: intake, routing, redline site plan and compliance review, conditional approval with conditions, and issuance of the final approval once conditions are met. Israel said level‑1 applications such as zone clearances typically target completion in 14 business days; level‑4 actions (rezones and plan amendments) can take many months.

The workshop included a discussion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs); staff said the process is intended to be simple, citing a typical review fee of $370 and noting ADUs can range from roughly 200 square feet to about 1,200 square feet and that state law allows two detached ADUs plus a junior ADU for a total of three accessory units on a single lot in some circumstances. Commissioners requested printed copies of the entitlements table the staff distributed; staff agreed to provide additional copies for future meetings.

The presentation was informational and no commission action was taken.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fresno Planning Commission Meeting 3/19/25","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff walked commissioners through Part 5 of the development code, explaining roles of council, planning commission, planning director, district project review committees and the Historic Preservation Commission, and reviewed common application types and review timelines including ADU procedures and fees.","taxTitle","Fresno City, Fresno County, California","taxId",3699,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6629392,"Staff previews updated citizen participation plan for HUD community planning and development grants",412,1576000,1988000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703887-f9774bf4c0d24f34ccfe8062986b7571&start=1576&end=1988","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703887-f9774bf4c0d24f34ccfe8062986b7571/thumbnail_1576000.jpg","/articles/6629392/Fresno-City/Fresno-County/California/Staff-previews-updated-citizen-participation-plan-for-HUD-community-planning-and-development-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629392-27b86c762c916b1f1f1636f81d9f96a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164285&Signature=o6pu5iCGXTze69beS1MNGrDYD1JKD0ujJYvzYwEMwND8qn-BM63i1bB4F5s2MQrC7NlJmzu6Z0cF3K94GLgdbzUggNh0NyU3vn9CWOaXlFQa-zjM3qbYpqXpg01bwuIVfu2q2qMbwSw~8gC~3J3OD0XTE68wRnOuX8puqXUfUdkRkGYF2ypH8QEI3LLeEantPMPumm258ept~i4aU8VeJeXz8rr6H4dcZjYjWcpaGVZCAyQR7iFIdJALlGt0W6QIpPL~lHp8ti7SbFQ5Ep8jHxokvovFiWpwz-iCmbgpK9~sZTanycZMF9SgGAN5qpJ9oOlKOGLYAZ7vMFu2P26wjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Karen Jenks, manager for the Community Development Division, briefed the Fresno City Planning Commission on the city’s updated citizen participation plan (CPP) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Community Planning and Development (HUD CPD) programs.

Jenks said HUD CPD administers entitlement grants the city receives, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA). She said jurisdictions must follow HUD regulations that require written citizen participation plans and reasonable advance notice and opportunities for comment on funding amounts and proposed activities.

The presentation outlined the consolidated plan process for the 2025–2029 five‑year consolidated plan and the annual action plan. Jenks said the city gathered input for the draft consolidated plan through eight community meetings, 17 stakeholder interviews, two focus groups, two pop‑up events and a community survey; outreach channels included notice in the Fresno Bee, email to the city’s interest list, social media, door hangers within a one‑mile radius of meeting locations, and yard signs at meeting locations. Draft documents were published March 3 for a 30‑day public review period, with printed copies available at the planning and development department, libraries and community centers. Jenks said the final public hearing before city council was scheduled for May 1.

Commissioners asked about translations and outreach. A commissioner requested that Punjabi be added to the languages offered; Jenks agreed to expand translation of documents where feasible. When a commissioner asked whether the May 1 hearing was an initial or final public hearing, Jenks said it would be the final hearing for council consideration.

During unscheduled public comment, Bernette Harris of HEAT (Housing and Environmental Action Team) said residents in Southwest/West Fresno had not received adequate notice of community meetings and criticized the outreach approach, urging stronger engagement and saying she planned to submit complaints to HUD. Another speaker identifying himself as Bobby and saying he works with HUD and lives in West Fresno echoed concerns about insufficient community engagement and notification.

Jenks said the city accepted comments by email, phone, text, mail and at public hearings and that comments received are summarized with responses and attached to final documents submitted to HUD. She offered to email the presentation to commissioners and said hard copies could be requested.

The item was a workshop for information only; no action or vote was taken by the commission.","City staff presented an updated citizen participation plan required for HUD CPD funding and outlined outreach done for the 2025–2029 consolidated plan; community members from Southwest/West Fresno raised concerns about outreach sufficiency.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6629397,"Planning commission approves six‑lot Sky Ranch subdivision near Barstow and Veterans Boulevard",678,898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2703887-f9774bf4c0d24f34ccfe8062986b7571&start=898&end=1576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2703887-f9774bf4c0d24f34ccfe8062986b7571/thumbnail_898000.jpg","/articles/6629397/Fresno-City/Fresno-County/California/Planning-commission-approves-sixlot-Sky-Ranch-subdivision-near-Barstow-and-Veterans-Boulevard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629397-f960b0acf23b59f835ceb3a9fd37b938/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164285&Signature=f0Jn5hMZnYDouUUx-UFLBKfOMIONTeM5VVfmZc2gVR-EaMRd~WRjjmxAJUymnZSPEcQ8PuOaCEVeCZwOGTqNxjbIvYH9Re~lGOEljVo493qTgE9B5W0tindnym2myaLMNgL8p~C9sXwayWvG1b~ABI82lXmrumvKFX1ZIQEUHEEEwqPXut0a4VvD01PtliYDC~wDkV722-UF4sxQ1l0Cu0W3s6l42ZfKw13LwmZkFz2o4WgDLhraW8Gc63RdtFUwI-rdYyJ54Xe7LsCwSrKegIwBPCybuQgpCS8ypxeqnYFA9EcR7W6j29sPXk9UpXcJvVSj2~aHB6TVDGPP1ej12w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fresno City Planning Commission approved a tract map to create six single‑family lots on a 1.13‑acre parcel near Barstow and Veterans Boulevard during its meeting.

City planning staff told the commission the site previously served as a temporary ponding basin and that a larger permanent basin recently was constructed west along Barstow, opening the site to development. Staff said the parcel was dedicated previously for future single‑family residential use and that the proposal—six lots on approximately 1.13 acres—yields a density of about 5.31 dwelling units per acre, which falls within the RS‑4 (medium‑low density) zone range of 3.5 to 6 units per acre. Staff recommended adoption of the environmental assessment and approval of the tract map.

Rene Escobedo, representing the developer, said the project will be marketed as Sky Ranch and will include six single‑family detached homes on the parcel before the commission and three additional homes on a separately approved parcel across the street. Escobedo said the homes are part of the builder’s new “Freedom Series,” will be offered as track homes (standard plans rather than custom houses), and will sit on home sites ranging roughly from just under 5,000 square feet up to about 7,500 square feet. “This would be considered a tracked home development,” Escobedo said. He estimated price ranges “somewhere between the 300s to 500s,” while cautioning that final pricing had not been set.

A commissioner complimented the neighborhood and Veterans Boulevard’s improved commute access, saying the infill development would help beautify an area previously occupied by a basin. After public comment was closed with no speakers for or against, Commissioner Shargill moved to approve the tract map; Commissioner Diaz seconded the motion. The chair called for voice vote—“all in favor say aye”—and the motion was approved by voice vote.

Clarifying details provided in the presentation and applicant remarks: the parcel’s size is approximately 1.13 acres; proposed lots total six and were described as “pie‑shaped” because of the parcel geometry; the RS‑4 district standards (lot size, setbacks, depth and area) were represented as in compliance with the proposal; Veterans Boulevard was identified as having a 30‑foot landscape setback requirement under the West Area community plan and Barstow (a collector) a 15‑foot setback requirement. The record shows staff did not route this project to an active District 2 project review committee because that committee was inactive.

The commission’s approval adopted staff’s recommendation and the environmental assessment; no conditions, vote tallies by individual commissioners, or roll‑call counts were recorded in the meeting transcript, which shows the item passed by voice vote.","The Fresno City Planning Commission approved a tract map to create six single‑family lots on a 1.13‑acre parcel previously used as a stormwater basin. Staff recommended adoption of the environmental assessment and approval of the map; the commission approved the motion by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission hears workshop on planning authorities, entitlement types and review process

Staff previews updated citizen participation plan for HUD community planning and development grants

Planning commission approves six‑lot Sky Ranch subdivision near Barstow and Veterans Boulevard