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Fresno council pauses SEDA approvals, sends narrowed plan back to staff for detailed fiscal and infrastructure study
Summary
After hours of public testimony and council debate, Fresno council declined to certify the Southeast Development Area EIR or approve the specific plan and instead voted to refer items back to staff for targeted financial, infrastructure and phased alternatives analysis. The motion directs separate study of a consolidated business-park (South SEDA) and the residential element along with safeguards to protect schools and neighborhoods.
The Fresno City Council did not approve the Southeast Development Area (SEDA) environmental review or the specific plan on Dec. 18, instead asking staff to take additional, targeted steps before any decision.
Mayor Jerry Dyer, who opened the evening hearing, said the administration’s priority is a narrowly defined first phase in the southern portion of SEDA — what staff and the mayor called “South SEDA” — and proposed safeguards including phased thresholds, a supplemental environmental review for later phases and a voter referendum option before permitting broad expansion. “Not 1 single piece of development will occur in the SEDA during my administration,” Dyer said, adding the city would conduct a financial analysis before returning to council.
Planning Director Jennifer Clark told the council staff’s preferred alternative — the consolidated business-park map in the EIR — concentrates flexible research-and-development uses in the…
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