Planning commission approves text amendment to ease relocation rules for drive‑throughs

The Fresno City Planning Commission on a unanimous voice vote approved a text amendment (P25-00974) intended to give existing drive‑through businesses more flexibility when they must relocate because of public works projects.

The change removes a code hurdle that currently bars drive‑through aisles from being sited between a building and a street in mixed‑use districts and creates a limited exception allowing an affected business to relocate within one mile of its original location, subject to compliance with mixed‑use development standards and applicable property development standards.

Planning and Development Department staff presented the amendment. Eric Young, planning staff, told the commission the change was “initiated by the planning and development director for the purposes of providing flexibility for existing drive thrus,” and said the amendment is aimed at businesses displaced by public projects.

Philip Seagrest, Planning and Development Department, explained the rationale for the existing standards and why the amendment is limited to relocations. “It really wants to encourage pedestrian oriented development,” Seagrest said, describing how the current mixed‑use code generally places buildings at the sidewalk edge and pushes drive‑throughs to the rear. He added the proposed amendment would not change the mixed‑use standards for new development but would provide a relocation exception for businesses forced to move by a taking or public works project.

Seagrest cited examples near the Blackstone and McKinley grade separation project — specifically a Carl’s Jr. and a Taco Bell — as instances where businesses would need to relocate. He said the amendment allows those businesses to seek sites nearer their existing customer base, including closer to an existing or planned bus rapid transit (BRT) station, rather than forcing them to move beyond the one‑mile radius that staff cited as a key concern for customer retention.

Commissioners asked whether the amendment removes the existing option to request planned‑development deviations; staff responded that a property owner could still pursue a planned development application to deviate from standards, but that planned developments require findings supported by evidence in the record showing the proposed design is preferable to the base code.

No members of the public testified in support or opposition during the public hearing. Commissioner Calandra moved to approve the amendment; Vice Chair Bray seconded. The commission voted in favor; the meeting minutes record the motion as approved.

The amendment edits table 15‑11o2 (land‑use regulations for mixed‑use districts) and section 15‑27‑28 (additional drive‑through standards) of the development code to add the relocation exception. Staff said three of four active council district project review committees considered the proposal and staff received one public comment on the draft text amendment.

The commission sent the amendment forward with the approved motion; staff will proceed with the ordinance and any subsequent steps required to formally amend the development code.