Commissioners press airport officials on plan to replace historic air traffic control tower; request further study and preservation mitigation

The Fresno City Historic Preservation Commission on July 28 reviewed the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Section 106 materials for the proposed replacement of the air traffic control tower (ATCT) at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and pressed airport officials and consultants to explore additional alternatives and preservation options.

Karen Bowler of RS&H, the project consultant, told commissioners the cultural resources study completed in September 2024 identified the existing control tower as the only resource within the Area of Potential Effects (APE) eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C as a ‘‘highly intact representative of the International style’’ and the work of architect Alan Liu. Because demolition of the building would remove that eligible resource, Bowler said, ‘‘there would be an adverse effect under Section 106.’’ The draft EA evaluates seven alternatives and identifies demolition and replacement as the preferred alternative, Bowler said, and the project team is developing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)…