Development Permit Application No. P23-03988
Summary
SCH Number
2025100030
Public Agency
City of Fresno
Document Title
Development Permit Application No. P23-03988
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/1/2025
Document Description
Notice of Exemption for Development Permit Application No. P23-03988. Development Permit Application No. P23-03988 requested authorization to fully develop the ± 3.5-acre site with a small business park containing five (5) metal warehouse shell buildings totaling 72,000 square feet (three (3) 10,000 square feet buildings, one (1) 20,000 square feet building, and one (1) 22,000 square feet building); associated outdoor storage areas; associated parking areas; trash enclosure; drive-approach; and other on- and off-site improvements necessary for operation and to comply with the development code.
Contact Information
Name
Steven Martinez
Agency Name
City of Fresno
Job Title
Planner III
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Brenda Ramirez
Agency Name
Central Valley Engineering & Surveying, Inc.
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Name
Raj Sharma
Agency Name
BLS Holdings
Job Title
CEO
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Fresno
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Citywide
Parcel #
328-191-76
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines 15332IClass 32
Reasons for Exemption
This project is exempt under Section 15332/Class 32 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines as follows:
Under Section 15332/Class 32, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA requirements when the project is characterized as in-fill development meeting the following conditions:
a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations.
The project is consistent with the Heavy Industrial planned land use and zoning designations, the North Avenue Industrial Triangle Specific Plan, and the Fresno General Plan.
b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses.
The proposed project is located within City limits, occurs on a ± 3.5-acre site, less than the five-acre maximum, and is surrounded by other industrial uses and a highway. The property immediately to the north is a food manufacturing / processing plant; the properties to the east and south are part of a truck body manufacturing facility; and the area to the west is California State Route 41. Therefore, it can be concluded that industrial uses and a highway substantially surround the site.
c) The project has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species.
The Project site is a previously developed vacant lot characterized by highly disturbed ruderal landcover. Most special-status animal species known to occur in the region are not expected to occur within the Project area based on the lack of suitable habitat, lack of connectivity to natural areas, and frequent site disturbance. Furthermore, the absence of trees at the Project site eliminates the potential for migratory bird species to nest. Therefore, the Project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species.
d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
? The Project will not result in any significant effects on traffic because the project did not exceed any established City of Fresno thresholds which require a Traffic Impact Study. Furthermore, the project screened out of a VMT analysis as the project will generate less than 500 average daily trips (ADT) as calculated per the ITE Trip Generation Manual.
? The Project will not result in any significant effects to noise because the project will be compliant with City of Fresno noise standards outline in Fresno Municipal Code Section 15-2506.
? The Project will not result in any significant effects on air quality because the project falls within the thresholds identified on the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Small Project Analysis Levels (SPAL) document. In the interest of streamlining CEQA requirements, projects that fit the descriptions up to the project sizes indicated and are below both of the corresponding non-heavy-heavy duty trucks (HHDT), and HHDT (i.e. tractor trailers) trip lengths, are deemed to have a less than significant impact on air quality and as such are excluded from quantifying criteria pollutant emissions for CEQA purposes. Specifically, the Industrial Park land use category requires less than ± 295,000 square feet of floor area, 550 daily one-way trips for all fleet types excluding HHDT, and less than 75 one-way trips for HHDT trips. The project will not exceed any of the identified thresholds. Therefore, the project will not have a significant effect on air quality.
? The Project will not result in any significant effects to water quality because the project will comply with all laws which dictate waste management. Additionally, the refuse enclosure will have a roof cover which will prevent precipitation from encountering waste and contaminating water.
e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
The project has been reviewed and conditioned by the Fresno Irrigation District, Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, Fresno County Public Health, City of Fresno Public Works, City of Fresno Police, City of Fresno Public Utilities, and the City of Fresno Fire Departments. In addition, given that the surrounding properties and neighborhoods have been substantially developed and utilities and public services already exist in the area, the site can be adequately served by all required utilities, including sewer, water, and solid waste, as well as public services.
Therefore, the project is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15332/Class 32.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to the project. Furthermore, the proposed project is not expected to have a significant effect on the environment. A categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project and the area is not environmentally sensitive.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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