City of Fresno  
City Hall Council Chambers  
2600 Fresno Street  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Wednesday, May 7, 2025  
6:00 PM  
Regular Meeting  
City Hall Council Chambers  
2600 Fresno Street  
Planning Commission  
Chairperson – Peter Vang  
Vice Chair - Kathy Bray  
Commissioner – David Criner  
Commissioner – Monica Diaz  
Commissioner – Jacqueline Lyday  
Commissioner - Linda M Calandra  
Commissioner – Gurdeep Singh Shergill  
THE PLANNING COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS,  
LOCATED AT CITY HALL, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721.  
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Any interested person may appear at the public hearing  
and present written testimony or speak in favor or against the matters scheduled on  
the agenda. Public participation during Fresno City Planning Commission meetings is  
always encouraged and can occur by attending a meeting in the Council Chambers,  
City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721. When called to speak  
during a meeting, you may approach the speaker podium upon the Chair’s call for  
public comment.  
All public speakers will have up to 3 minutes to address the Commission pursuant to  
Rule No. 13 of the Planning Commission Bylaws of the City of Fresno (available in the  
City Clerk’s Office).  
SUBMIT DOCUMENTS / WRITTEN COMMENTS –  
1. E-mail – Agenda related documents and comments can be e-mailed to the Planning  
& Development Department. Unless otherwise required by law to be accepted by the  
City at or prior to a Commission meeting or hearing, no documents shall be accepted  
for Commission review unless they are submitted to the Planning and Development  
Department at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the Commission meeting  
at which the associated agenda item is to be heard. All comments received at least  
24 hours prior will be distributed to the Planning Commission prior and during the  
meeting and will be a part of the official record, pursuant to Article 4 (3).  
a. Email comments to PublicCommentsPlanning@fresno.gov.  
b. Emails should include the agenda date and item number you wish to speak on  
in the subject line of your email. Include your name and address for the record, at  
the top of the body of your email.  
VIEWING PLANNING MEETINGS (non-participatory) – For your convenience, there  
are ways to view Planning Commission meetings live:  
2. Cable Television: Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T Channel 99  
3. Participate Remotely via Zoom:  
a. The above link will allow you to register in advance for remote participation  
in the meeting via the Zoom platform. After registering, you will receive a  
confirmation email containing additional details about joining the meeting.  
Should any of these viewing methods listed above experience technical difficulties,  
the Commission meeting will continue uninterrupted. Commission meetings will only  
be paused to address verifiable technical difficulties for all users participating via  
Zoom or in the Chambers.  
The City of Fresno’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  
Anyone requiring reasonable ADA accommodations, including sign language  
interpreters, or other reasonable accommodations such as language translation,  
should contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 or clerk@fresno.gov. To  
help ensure availability of these services, you are advised to make your request a  
minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.  
I. ROLL CALL  
Vice Chair Bray called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.  
Also present were Jennifer Clark, Ashley Atkinson, Phillip Siegrist, Israel  
Trejo, Chris Lang, Isaac Garza, Kari Camino, and Talia Kolluri (CAO).  
Present 6 -  
Commissioner David Criner , Commissioner Kathy Bray,  
Commissioner Monica Diaz, Commissioner Jacqueline G.  
Lyday, Commissioner Linda Calandra, and Commissioner  
Gurdeep Singh Shergill  
Absent 1 - Chairperson Peter Vang  
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
6:01 p.m.  
III. PROCEDURES  
6:02 p.m.  
Vice Chair Bray read the procedures aloud.  
IV. AGENDA APPROVAL  
6:04 p.m.  
Trejo reported no changes to the agenda.  
On motion of Commissioner Criner, seconded by Commissioner  
Lyday, the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Commissioner Criner , Commissioner Bray, Commissioner  
Diaz, Commissioner Lyday, Commissioner Calandra, and  
Commissioner Shergill  
Absent: 1 - Chairperson Vang  
V. CONSENT CALENDAR  
6:04 p.m.  
On motion of Commissioner Criner, seconded by Commissioner  
Shergill, the CONSENT CALENDAR was APPROVED. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Commissioner Criner , Commissioner Bray, Commissioner  
Diaz, Commissioner Lyday, Commissioner Calandra, and  
Commissioner Shergill  
Absent: 1 - Chairperson Vang  
April 16, 2025 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes  
V-A  
VI. REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS  
6:05 p.m.  
Commissioner Shergill spoke about the Safe Streets Project, and urged the  
community to complete the survey.  
VII. CONTINUED MATTERS  
N/A  
VIII. NEW MATTERS  
Consideration of an appeal regarding the denial of Conditional Use Permit  
Application No. P23-02631, requesting authorization to establish  
VIII-A  
a
banquet hall within an existing ±8,384 tenant space located at 4927 East  
McKinley Avenue, on the northwest corner of East McKinley Avenue and  
North Fine Avenue (Council District 4) - Planning and Development  
Department.  
1. DENY the Appellant’s appeal and UPHOLD the action of the  
Planning  
and  
Development  
Department  
Director  
to  
deny  
Conditional Use Permit Application No. P23-02631, requesting  
authorization to establish and operate an ± 8,384 square foot  
banquet hall.  
6:06 p.m.  
Lang made a presentation on the project including location, zoning, current  
use of the project facilities, the proposed Conditional Use Permit (CUP)  
application, and parking requirements. He spoke of how staff worked with  
the Applicant to explore options for the project to comply with the parking  
requirements, however, the CUP application does not meet the on-site  
parking requirements contained in Fresno Municipal Code 15-2409. Lang  
concluded his presentation with the required findings needed to approve the  
CUP, public outreach, and Staff's recommendations.  
Commissioners asked if a temporary wall could be installed, other parking  
options explored, and if a Temporary Use Permit could be obtained for  
evening events.  
Xiamy Ly-Yang (Applicant) gave a brief summary of the operations of the  
Adult Day Care Center, and the types of events that have been held after  
hours. She stated she wants to give the community an option for a  
reasonably priced venue. She stated that a temporary wall is not an option  
as it would limit the wheelchair access needed for the Adult Day Care  
Center.  
Public Comment:  
4 members of the public spoke in support of the appeal. They stated the  
property is a clean, safe space for the community to be able to host special  
events such as line dancing, dance practices, family blessings,  
quinceaneras, and cultural events.  
The Commissioners spoke of referring the item back to Staff, to work with  
the Applicant to find a solution to allow the CUP.  
On motion of Vice Chair Bray, seconded by Commissioner Shergill,  
that the above Action Item be REFERRED TO STAFF. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Commissioner Criner , Commissioner Bray, Commissioner  
Diaz, Commissioner Lyday, Commissioner Calandra, and  
Commissioner Shergill  
Absent: 1 - Chairperson Vang  
Workshop: Accessory Dwelling Units  
VIII-B  
7:03 p.m.  
Commissioner Criner excused himself.  
From 7:03 p.m. to 7:09 p.m. the Planning Commission was on a brief break.  
7:10 p.m.  
Trejo began his presentation by introducing Isaac Garza, an Engineer II with  
the City of Fresno Building Department. He went on to define what an  
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is, and the benefits of building an ADU. He  
explained that State law requires local agencies to approve up to two ADUs  
and one JADU on a single-family lot. He concluded by explaining side,  
rear, and front yard setbacks, and parking requirements.  
Garza continued the presentation by showing the 5 Pre-Approved Standard  
ADU Plans available on The City of Fresno website. He further explained  
the process for approval of the standard plans, the pros, cons, and the  
number of ADU applications received since 2022.  
Commissioners had questions regarding open space, commercial zoned  
properties, and if a fee schedule was available. Commissioner Shergill felt  
the presentation was full of useful information given the housing shortage  
Fresno is currently facing.  
IX. REPORT BY SECRETARY  
7:30 p.m.  
Clark thanked Staff for the presentation on Accessory Dwelling Units. She  
reminded the Commissioners that May is Historical Preservation Month and  
encouraged them to attend at least one of the events that are planned.  
X. SCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
N/A  
XI. UNSCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
7:32 p.m.  
None  
XII. ADJOURNMENT  
Vice Chair Bray adjourned the meeting at 7:32 p.m.