Politics
Fresno General Plan PEIR Update Incorporates State Rules on Vehicle Miles and Groundwater for Local Infrastructure
The draft environmental report revises how Fresno evaluates growth impacts on transportation networks, water systems and public utilities that serve residents daily.
How we reported this
The City of Fresno has issued a notice for a draft program environmental impact report on its General Plan that updates analysis to meet recent state laws on emissions, travel metrics and water management across the defined Planning Area.
This step follows the 2014 adoption of the original plan and its master environmental report, with the new version converting to a program format to cover multiple future projects while reflecting baseline conditions from 2019 and adding rules enacted since then.
Transportation and Mobility Changes
Policy analysts note that the update adds requirements under Senate Bill 743 to track vehicle miles traveled rather than level of service at intersections, which could alter how new housing or commercial projects near the San Joaquin River boundary or the wastewater facility are reviewed for their effect on daily commutes and freight movement tied to local jobs.
Residents who rely on roads bounded by American Avenue to the south and McCall Avenue to the east may encounter revised mitigation measures when developments affect air quality or noise levels in those corridors.
Water Systems and Utility Services
The report also incorporates the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and a 2016 cooperative agreement with the Fresno Irrigation District, meaning future infrastructure decisions at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility could face stricter review for hydrology and service capacity that directly supplies treated water to city households.
The draft identifies 17 contaminated sites in the Planning Area under state tracking rules, along with potential effects on utilities that local advocates say could influence maintenance costs and service reliability for neighborhoods inside the current Sphere of Influence.
Written comments on the draft are accepted through 5 p.m. on April 20, 2020, at the Planning and Development Department office on Fresno Street, after which the city will consider revisions before final certification.