Planning commission hears plea from West Fresno residents over proposed six‑unit project; staff recommends approval

The Fresno Planning Commission on the record heard staff recommend adoption of environmental assessment and approval of conditional use permit P24‑O4502 for a proposed six‑unit apartment complex at the northwest corner of West Lemon and South Thorne Avenues.

Planner Matthew Woodward told commissioners the project would place three, three‑bedroom units in three buildings on a 0.51‑acre parcel in a residential medium‑density (RS‑5) zone within the neighborhood revitalization overlay district. He described required landscaping and screening — four trees along the northern property line, six trees along the west, a Type 1 landscape buffer where the site abuts single‑unit homes, a preexisting 30‑foot FID easement along Thorne Avenue, nine covered parking spaces and four visitor spaces — and recommended adoption of class 3 and class 32 exemptions and approval of conditional use permit P24‑O4502.

The project applicant, introduced during the hearing and identifying himself as a longtime West Fresno resident, said he aims to provide "affordable housing for members of the community." He described rents in a previous project that he managed — "my apartment stayed at 900 for a 3 bedroom for many, many years" — and said he had not used government covenants or tax credits on that project. Asked about likely rents for this proposal, the applicant said he had not finalized loan calculations but estimated rents could be about "$1,500 to $1,600" for a three‑bedroom unit.

Multiple speakers from West and Southwest Fresno opposed the project in public comment and unscheduled oral communications, saying they were not adequately notified and expressing concerns about displacement and affordability. "We wasn't notified. Period. Point blank," said Brunette, who identified herself as "with the Heath of Southwest Fresno community," asserting that residents — many elderly and on fixed incomes — would be priced out. Another resident asked specifically how many units, if any, would be restricted to households at 30 percent of area median income and whether the project would include covenants or public funding; staff replied that the applicant had not requested concessions and that no state, federal, or city funds were proposed and the project as submitted is a private development that meets the development code.

Commissioners asked the applicant about outreach and rents. Staff said notices had been mailed to property owners and tenants within 1,000 feet and posted on the City of Fresno website. Residents disputed the sufficiency of outreach: speakers urged more community meetings, asked for traffic and environmental study details, and said a quick roll call made them feel the outcome had been preordained.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend adoption of the environmental assessment P2404502 and to approve conditional use permit P24‑O4502; a second was recorded and the chair said the commission would take individual votes. The transcript ends before the record shows roll‑call tallies or the commission's formal vote on the matter.

Staff materials in the hearing record show the project was reviewed by the council district 3 project review committee on 09/23/2025 and that staff referenced exemptions prepared 01/09/2026; the transcript does not include final action or subsequent scheduling details.

The commission also heard routine items earlier in the meeting — a consent calendar approval for item ID 25152 and a commissioner report praising Veterans Boulevard beautification — and several unscheduled public comments reiterating concerns about outreach, affordability and equity in West Fresno. The transcript closes with members noting further training and code review would be circulated to commissioners.