Fresno planning commission votes to forward code amendment to streamline ministerial approval for qualifying housing projects

The City of Fresno Planning Commission voted to forward a staff-recommended text amendment (P26-01326) and its environmental assessment to the City Council after a staff presentation and no public testimony.

Adrian Aidoran Gilbert, supervising planner with the Planning and Development Department, told the commission the amendment would amend Fresno Municipal Code sections 15-102, 1102, 1502, 5102 and 682 to allow qualifying housing projects to be processed ministerially in RM2, RM3, CMX, RMX, CR, DTN, DTG and DTC zone districts. "This text amendment ensures that our code reflects state law and implements the commitment we made in housing element program 9," Gilbert said.

Gilbert summarized the state and local context: the 2023–2031 housing element commits the city to actions over the eight-year planning period and state law (including AB 1397 and California Government Code section 65583.2(c)) requires that certain sites be made available for by-right development when at least 20% of units in a development are affordable to lower‑income households. Under the proposed code changes, qualifying projects would not require discretionary review by the planning director, planning commission or city council and instead would be approved through the zone‑clearance (ministerial) process if they meet objective development standards.

The staff presentation listed qualifying criteria: the project must be located on a non‑vacant site identified in a prior housing element (or a vacant site included in two consecutive housing elements), provide at least 20% of units affordable to lower‑income households, and comply with the objective development standards referenced in Fresno Municipal Code section 15-5102. Gilbert also said an environmental analysis had been prepared and that "the project was determined to be exempt from CEQA pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines." The amendment does not change base zoning standards, Gilbert added.

The chair opened the public comment period; no members of the public signed up to speak in favor or in opposition. Commissioner Kandra moved to approve staff's recommendation to forward the environmental assessment and text amendment to the City Council; Vice Chair Bray seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote; individual vote tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

The commission's vote sends the environmental assessment (P26-01326) and the text amendment language to the City Council for final action. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.