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Commission backs annexation, prezone and permit for 10.55‑acre medical office complex
Summary
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of annexation application P2300446 (with prezone P2300449 and development permit P2300702) for a 10.55‑acre county island to be annexed into the City of Fresno for a medical/professional office complex. Staff and the applicant said the project addresses medical service needs in northern Fresno; one written opposition was submitted.
The Fresno City Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of an annexation, prezone and development permit for a medical office complex proposed on a 10.55‑acre county island, staff said. Thomas Veach of the Planning and Development Department presented the application (P2300446 / P2300449 / P2300702) submitted by Legacy Construction and described the project as a three‑building medical/professional office development on the southerly portion of the annexation area.
Veach said the annexation area includes five parcels on the southwest corner of East Knees and North Willow Avenue and that approximately 3.3 acres are proposed for development of medical and professional offices. The development permit proposes two 11,160‑square‑foot buildings and one 11,780‑square‑foot building; one building is anticipated to house a children’s dentistry office, Veach said. The overall annexation boundary is 10.55 acres and includes right‑of‑way that will be incorporated into city limits.
Veach said a notice was mailed to property owners within 1,000 feet and that one property owner submitted a letter opposing inclusion in the annexation and prezone, expressing concerns about potential financial implications of future connection to city utilities, impacts to insurance and property taxes, and changes to existing rural residential uses. In response, staff explained that three of the five properties already have city water connections but none currently have city sewer; if an annex overlay is applied, properties would be required to connect to sewer within five years after sewer availability. Veach also said the Department of Public Utilities provides loan assistance programs to help with costs associated with sewer and water connections.
Steve Torres, representing Legacy Real Estate Development and Legacy Construction, described the project as meeting a growing need for medical and pediatric dental services in northern Fresno and said the developer acquired the property in 2019. Torres said the applicant is making design changes to comply with upcoming 2026 code changes and estimated that phase 1 could begin within a year and take roughly a year of construction.
Dan Pavic of the Department of Public Utilities told the commission the city offers three loan programs for water and sewer connection costs, with a fixed annual interest component that adjusts yearly; he cited a current fixed annual rate of 4.6% as illustrative of current program terms. Staff noted the annexation boundary is consistent with the Cortese‑Knox‑Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act and Fresno LAFCO policies; the commission approved the staff recommendation by voice vote to forward the matter to City Council and LAFCO for final action.
Commissioners asked about whether non‑annexed homes could replace wells (staff said county processes would apply) and whether LAFCO could alter the recommended boundary (staff said LAFCO may do so during review). No members of the public spoke at the hearing.
The commission’s favorable recommendation advances the annexation and associated permits to City Council and LAFCO review.
