Planning commission approves removal of zoning conditions for 3.3-acre Barstow parcel

The Fresno City Planning Commission voted on July 1 to approve staff recommendations to remove conditions of zoning on a 3.3-acre parcel on the south side of East Barstow Avenue between North Blackstone Avenue and North Fresno Street, clearing the way for possible future development.

Planner Valyria Ramirez told the commission that reszone application P26-00729 would remove conditions that had limited prior development to a 152-unit student housing project and that those conditions were originally tied to a different parcel (the Avery Apartments site). "Staff brings forth consideration of reszone application number P26-00729," Ramirez said in opening remarks.

Ramirez told the commission the subject property is currently vacant and has a plan land use designation of medium high density residential. She summarized earlier entitlements affecting the area — including reszone R439 and conditional use permit C4112, which authorized a four-story, 152-unit student housing project known as the Avery Apartments — and said those earlier approvals left parcel A (the 3.3-acre site) constrained by conditions that the city now proposes to remove.

Ramirez listed the specific prior conditions: development of the originally restricted site limited to 152 multifamily units for student housing; dedication of a vacation easement to the City of Fresno; and recordation of a covenant acknowledging the site's proximity to Fresno Yosemite International Airport and potential for high noise levels. She said parcel B (the Avery Apartments) has already satisfied the 152-unit entitlement, creating an opportunity to reconsider conditions on parcel A.

Ramirez recommended adoption of the environmental assessment prepared for the project and recommended approval of the rezone. She noted the City of Fresno is the applicant and that, "although there is no development proposed on the site at this time, we do have the property owner present in the audience tonight." The commission opened the hearing for public comment; none was offered in the chambers and the hearing was closed.

A commissioner moved to approve staff recommendations; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The spoken record shows the motion passed, but specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript excerpt.

By approving the staff recommendation, the commission removed the stated conditions of zoning on the 3.3-acre parcel. No new development application was filed or approved at the meeting, and staff did not announce an immediate next step or timeline for future proposals.