Big Fresno Community Cooling Corridor Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026081174
Public Agency
California Construction Authority
Document Title
Big Fresno Community Cooling Corridor Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/31/2026
Document Description
The 21st District Agricultural Association / Big Fresno Fair proposes to
construct the Big Fresno Community Cooling Corridor at the Big Fresno
Fairgrounds. The Project consists of nature-based cooling and communityserving
improvements within the existing developed footprint of the
fairgrounds, including expanded tree canopy through the planting of native
and drought-tolerant shade trees; shade structures and shade sails over
existing pedestrian gathering and circulation areas; hydration stations,
misters, and passive cooling elements along the existing pedestrian
network; green stormwater and low-impact landscape improvements; and
interpretive signage, wayfinding, and cultural/educational elements
developed in consultation with local California Native American tribes.
Purpose: reduce extreme-heat vulnerability at the fairgrounds, expand tree
canopy in a disadvantaged and climate-vulnerable community, and
strengthen the fairgrounds' capacity to serve as a public gathering venue
and emergency response and resiliency hub. The Project is sited within the
existing developed footprint of the fairgrounds and does not expand the
operational envelope of the facility.
Beneficiaries: residents of the City of Fresno and Fresno County (including
populations identified as vulnerable to extreme-heat and other climate
hazards under CalEnviroScreen and Healthy Places Index screens for the
census tracts encompassing the fairgrounds); approximately 500,000
annual Big Fresno Fair visitors plus year-round fairground event attendees;
local California Native American tribes participating in the Project's cultural and educational elements; and first responders and displaced residents
using the fairgrounds as an emergency response and resiliency site during
wildfire smoke, extreme-heat, flood, and other declared events.
Contact Information
Name
Stewart Deluz
Agency Name
California Construction Authority
Job Title
Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Clovis, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Fresno, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Mendota, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, San Joaquin, Sanger, Selma
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Countywide, Northern California
Cross Streets
South Chance Avenue and East Kings Canyon Road.)
Zip
93702
Total Acres
141.64
Parcel #
470-022, 470-023, and 471-020
Other Location Info
1121 South Chance Avenue, Fresno, CA 93702
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 23 — (14 CCR § 15323); Class 1 ((14 CCR § 15301); Class 4 (14 CCR § 15304); Class 11 (14 CCR § 15311).
Reasons for Exemption
The Big Fresno Fairgrounds has operated continuously as a public gathering facility for the annual Big Fresno Fair since 1884 — over 140 continuous years — and hosts year-round livestock exhibitions, junior livestock shows, agricultural and cultural events, community fairs, exhibitions, and public assemblies. This continuous, same-location, same-time-of-year operation far exceeds the three-year past-history threshold in CEQA Guidelines Section 15323, and the future occurrence of these activities is not expected to change. The Big Fresno Community Cooling Corridor supports the fairgrounds' normal operations by providing shade, tree canopy, hydration, and cooling improvements that serve the existing designed use of the facility. The Project does not expand the operational envelope, increase attendance capacity, or introduce any use inconsistent with the fairgrounds' historic public-gathering purpose. In the alternative, the Project is a minor alteration to an existing facility and its accessory improvements (Classes 1, 4, and 11), and no exceptions under 14 CCR § 15300.2 apply — the site is not in an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern, there is no cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, there are no unusual circumstances creating a reasonable possibility of a significant effect on the environment, the Project is not located on a hazardous waste site, and no historical resources will be materially impaired. Consultation with the Native American Heritage Commission and applicable California Native American tribes has been initiated and will be documented in the Project file.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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