REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
October 30, 2014
FROM: Jennifer K. Clark, AICP, Director
Development and Resource Management Department
BY: Mike Sanchez, Assistant Director
Development and Resource Management Department
SUBJECT
Title
HEARING to consider Street Name Change No. SNC-14-001 and related Environmental Assessment No. SNC-14-001, requested to rename the portion of E. Home Avenue between N. Maple Avenue and N. Backer Avenue; the portion of E. Pine Avenue between N. Maple Avenue and N. Backer Avenue; the portion of N.Backer Avenue between E.Home Avenue and E. Pine Avenue, to N. Irritec Way (Council District 7)
1. ADOPT the environmental finding of No Possibility of Significant Adverse Effect through Environmental Assessment No. SNC-14-001 dated July 24, 2014
2. RESOLUTION - Street Name Change Application No. SNC-14-001 to rename the portion of E. Home Avenue between N. Maple Avenue and N. Backer Avenue; the portion of E. Pine Avenue between N. Maple Avenue and N. Backer Avenue; the portion of N. Backer Avenue between E. Home Avenue and E. Pine Avenue, to N.Irritec Way
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff Recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1. ADOPT the environmental finding of No Possibility of Significant Adverse Effect through Environmental Assessment No. SNC-14-001 dated July 24, 2014.
2. ADOPT RESOLUTION of Street Name Change Application No. SNC-14-001 to rename the portion of East Home Avenue between North Maple Avenue and North Backer Avenue; the portion of East Pine Avenue between North Maple Avenue and North Backer Avenue; the portion of North Backer Avenue between East Home Avenue and East Pine Avenue, to North Irritec Way, as depicted on attached Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Daniel Eisenberg, president of Irritec USA, Inc., has filed Street Name Change No. SNC-14-001 which is a request to rename the portion of East Home Avenue between North Maple Avenue and North Backer Avenue to North Irritec Way; the portion of East Pine Avenue between North Maple Avenue and North Backer Avenue to North Irritec Way; the portion of North Backer Avenue between East Home Avenue and East Pine Avenue, to North Irritec Way. The applicant has proposed the application as allowed pursuant to Section 12-1104 of the Fresno Municipal Code (FMC), which allows the naming of streets for the purpose of honoring or calling attention to persons or places having special prominence and significance to the culture or the history of the city.
BACKGROUND
Joe Guagliardo, representing Daniel Eisenberg and Irritec USA, Inc., has filed the subject application which is a request to rename the portion of East Home Avenue between North Maple Avenue and North Backer Avenue to North Irritec Way; the portion of East Pine Avenue between North Maple Avenue and North Backer Avenue to North Irritec Way; the portion of North Backer Avenue between East Home Avenue and East Pine Avenue, to North Irritec Way. The applicant has proposed the project as allowed pursuant to Section 12-1104 of the FMC, which allows the naming of streets for the purpose of honoring or calling attention to persons or places having special prominence and significance to the culture or the history of the City. Irritec USA, Inc., currently operates its manufacturing and warehousing facility on approximately 18 acres of property generally located on the east side of North Maple Avenue between East McKinley Avenue and the East Floradora alignment.
Irritec is one of the top five irrigation manufacturers in the world serving more than 90 countries worldwide with manufacturing facilities in Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and the United States. Irritec creates high quality irrigation products utilizing proprietary technologies in molding and extrusion together with an internal R&D department that designs and develops new products to meet the needs of the irrigation industry. Following the successful introduction of its products into North America, Irritec decided to directly serve the US and Canadian markets with their state-of-the-art products and solutions for drip irrigation. Therefore, in August of 2009 Irritec established its initial office in Fresno.
Based on the success of that office, Irritec made the decision to establish the North American headquarters for Irritec in Fresno, CA. To that end, Irritec purchased a 20 acre of property in central Fresno that had been sitting vacant for many years. With the purchase of the property, Irritec made a commitment to develop a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and to improve the area.
At this point in time, Irritec is manufacturing a wide variety of products on site that are sold throughout the world. Buildings that were once eyesores have been demolished and a modern industrial park is planned for the western portion of the property. This industrial park will provide opportunities for new businesses to locate in Central Fresno and also create new job opportunities in an area that has been bypassed and underserved for many years.
Irritec USA, Inc. has also been actively involved in community affairs and has contributed to several organizations. These include Mountain Empire Men's Club (located In Pine Valley), Gymnastics Beat, Arte Americas, California Odyssey Soccer Club, Aphesis Apostolic Ministry, and Buchanan High School Cross Country (located in the city of Clovis). In addition, Irritec USA, is close to finalizing documentation that will allow sponsorship of the Martin Ray Reilly Neighborhood Park located on the east side of Chestnut Avenue, just south of State Route 180. Irritec USA, Inc. is also in discussion with Fresno Metropolitan Ministries regarding sponsorship to their Community Gardens program.
Planning Commission
On October 15, 2014, the Fresno City Planning Commission considered the street name change, SNC-14-001. Upon a full and complete hearing, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
An environmental assessment was prepared for this project in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. This process included the distribution of the project proposal for comment from other responsible or affected agencies and interested organizations.
Environmental Assessment No. SNC-14-001, resulting in a finding of No Possibility of Significant Adverse Effect, was prepared on July 24, 2014. That assessment found that the street name change request was subject to the provisions of Section 15061 of the CEQA guidelines. Section 15061 of the CEQA guideline provides for the exemption of any project which will clearly have no significant effects on the environment. Given that the proposed street name change will not result in a physical change in the environment, staff determined that the changes will clearly have no significant effects on the environment.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this street name change does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Affirmative action by the Council will result in a timely deliverance of the review and processing of the application as is reasonably expected by the applicant and or customer. Prudent financial management is demonstrated by the expeditious completion of this land use application inasmuch as the applicant and/or customer has paid to the City a fee for the processing of this application and that the fee is, in turn, funding the respective operations of the Development and Resource Management Department.
Attachments:
Exhibit 1, Map depicting Street Name Change proposal
Exhibit 2, Aerial Map depicting Street Name Change proposal
Exhibit 3, Aerial Map depicting Identical Intersections
Exhibit 4, Map Showing Property Owners Receiving Notification of Hearing
Environmental Assessment No. SNC-14-001, dated July 24, 2014
City Council Resolution