Environmental Assessment No. P25-02299

2026031251

City of Fresno

NOE - Notice of Exemption

3/27/2026

3/27/2026

Brittany Martin

City of Fresno

Planner II

Lead/Public Agency

2600 Fresno St Rm 3043
Fresno, CA 93721

(559) 621-8059

Brittany.Martin@fresno.gov

Nicholas Brantley

Pickett Solar

Project Manager

Project Applicant

7395 N PALM BLUFFS AVE, SUITE 101
Fresno, CA 93711

(559) 431-3535

Nicholas@PickettSolar.com

36°40'54.6"N 119°45'20.7"W

On west side of S. Cedar Ave between East Central Ave and South Parkway Dr.

93725

3.51

1

330-021-02, 330-021-16, 330-021-55

Highway 99 and 41

ATCHISON TOPEKA AND SANTA FE

N/A

Orange Center Elementary, Malaga Elementary

American Colony Canal, Washington Colony Canal

14S

20E

S' 26

M.D.B.&M

3571 and 3593 S Cedar Ave, and 3588 S Orange Ave

Categorical Exemption

CEQA Guidelines §15303/Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures)

Sections 15303/ Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the CEQA Guidelines exempts projects consisting of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. The numbers of structures described in this section are the maximum allowable on any legal parcel. The proposed project involves construction and installation of a ground-mounted solar energy facility on approximately ±3.51 acres across two contiguous parcels totaling about ±18.27 acres within a ±36.92-acre site zoned IH/UGM (Heavy Industrial/Urban Growth Management). Improvements include solar arrays, inverter equipment, new underground utility lines with a new PG&E pole position, fencing, a new paved driveway approach, and a temporary storm drainage basin with the installation of an inlet and lateral as required by the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD). The project site is currently undeveloped and consists primarily of bare soil. According to the California Department of Conservation’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP), approximately ±36.6 acres of the site are designated as Farmland of Local Importance, while ±0.32 acres is classified as Urban and Built-up Land. Farmland of Local Importance includes all farmable lands within Fresno County that do not meet the definitions of Prime, Unique, or Farmland of Statewide Importance. The land is considered significant to the local economy, as defined by the county’s advisory committee and adopted by the Board of Supervisors. In Fresno County, this includes irrigated pasture, dryland farming, confined livestock operations, poultry facilities, aquaculture, and grazing lands. Urban and Built-up Land refers to areas occupied by structures at a density of at least one unit per 1.5 acres. This includes residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public infrastructure uses such as transportation facilities, cemeteries, airports, golf courses, landfills, and water control structures. Despite its farmland designation, the site lies within the City of Fresno’s Urban Growth Management Boundary, is zoned for Heavy Industrial use, and is designated for Employment – Heavy Industrial uses under the Fresno General Plan. Under the Fresno County Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, agricultural conservation measures are required for discretionary projects that permanently convert 20 acres or more of Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance. The City of Fresno’s General Plan outlines a future Farmland Preservation Program to mitigate such conversions, offering options such as restrictive covenants, in-lieu fees, mitigation banks, conservation easements, and other CEQA-compliant strategies. However, because the subject property is not classified as Prime, Unique, or Statewide Important Farmland, and is located within city limits, mitigation is not required. The site has been previously disturbed through historical agricultural and residential use, which has altered the soil surface and removed native vegetation. Additionally, the site is not under a Williamson Act contract and shows no evidence of recent or active agricultural use within the past four years; therefore, the project does not constitute a conversion of significant farmland as defined by CEQA. Based on a review of online resources provided by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), also known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the project site has not been identified as habitat for any rare, threatened, or endangered species. These federal agencies oversee the monitoring of endangered species and their habitats. The site consists of previously disturbed land and holds no ecological value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species. The solar facility will not have operating hours and will not be open to the public. Access will be limited to maintenance personnel (e.g., for panel cleaning or electrical inspections) and emergency responders, if necessary. Consequently, the project is not expected to generate any significant traffic impacts. Additionally, the proposed solar arrays will not produce noise that is perceptible at the property boundaries. The site will be fully served by all necessary utilities and public services. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District was provided opportunity to review the application and provided no comments or conditions. In summary, the project will not result in any significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality. The project involves the installation of a small-scale utility and renewable energy facility with limited grading and site disturbance, consistent with the intent and scope of a Class 3 Categorical Exemption under CEQA. The proposed improvements, including the solar array, associated inverters, conduit, fencing, driveway approach, and drainage basin, constitute a small utility extension and minor accessory facility, which are examples specifically considered under the Class 3 exemption. The solar array is proposed on a currently unused portion of the site and is considered an accessory use. It is intended to generate renewable energy to offset the power consumption of the adjacent business, Orange Avenue Disposal Company, Inc., through a PG&E Net Energy Meter Aggregation (NEMA) agreement. This development does not alter the basic form or function of the site. Furthermore, the solar installation will occupy an area that could otherwise be developed for more intensive primary uses, such as building space. In contrast, the proposed solar facility represents a lower-impact alternative. As such, the project qualifies as a limited-scale development consistent with the Class 3 Categorical Exemption. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions outlined in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to the project. Furthermore, the proposed project is not expected to affect the environment significantly. A categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project, and the area is not environmentally sensitive.