City of Fresno  
City Hall Council Chambers  
2600 Fresno Street  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Wednesday, January 3, 2024  
6:00 PM  
Regular Meeting  
In Person and/or Electronic  
City Hall Council Chambers  
Planning Commission  
Chairperson – Peter Vang  
Vice Chair – Brad Hardie  
Commissioner – David Criner  
Commissioner – Haley M Wagner  
Commissioner – Kathy Bray  
Commissioner – Monica Diaz  
Commissioner – Jacqueline Lyday  
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 in one of the two following ways:  
1. Participate In Person: Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2600 Fresno  
Street, Fresno, CA 93721  
a. To speak during a Commission meeting in person: You may approach  
the speaker podium upon the Chair’s call for public comment.  
2. Participate Remotely via Zoom:  
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I18M0bh8TbSGAo27i5ze1Q  
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.  
b. To speak during a Commission meeting while attending remotely in the  
Zoom application, click on the icon labeled “Participants” at the bottom of  
the screen. Then select “Raise Hand” at the bottom of the Participants  
window. Your digital hand will now be raised. You will be asked to  
“unmute” when your name is called to speak. You will not be visible via  
video and there will be no opportunity to share your screen.  
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  
PublicCommentsPlanning@fresno.gov. 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.  
a. Attendees may also email comments to be read during the meeting.  
Please 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.  
b. Emails will be a maximum of 450 words.  
c. 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.  
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  
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  
Chair Vang called meeting to order at 6:02pm  
Also present were Jennifer Clark, Phillip Siegrist, Janice Monroe, Saul  
Perez, Brittany Martin, Kristi Costa (CAO), Heather Thomas (CAO),  
Harmanjit Dhaliwal (DPW), & John Martin (DPU).  
Present 6 -  
Chairperson Peter Vang, Commissioner David Criner , Vice  
Chair Brad Hardie, Commissioner Kathy Bray, Commissioner  
Monica Diaz, and Commissioner Jacqueline G. Lyday  
Absent 1 - Commissioner Haley M. Wagner  
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
6:03pm  
III. PROCEDURES - PROCEDIMIENTOS - KEV SAB LAJ  
6:03pm  
Chair Vang read procedures aloud.  
IV. AGENDA APPROVAL  
6:05pm  
Siegrist requested item VIII-A (ID 23-1721) be continued to February 7,  
2024. Staff notified applicant/appelant & they agreed to the continuation.  
On motion of Commissioner Criner , seconded by Commissioner  
Diaz,the AGENDA was APPROVED AS AMENDED. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Chairperson Vang, Commissioner Criner , Vice Chair Hardie,  
Commissioner Bray, Commissioner Diaz, and Commissioner  
Lyday  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Wagner  
V. CONSENT CALENDAR  
6:06pm  
On motion of Commissioner Bray, seconded by Commissioner  
Diaz,the CONSENT CALENDAR was APPROVED. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Chairperson Vang, Commissioner Criner , Vice Chair Hardie,  
Commissioner Bray, Commissioner Diaz, and Commissioner  
Lyday  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Wagner  
November 15, 2023 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes  
December 6, 2023 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes  
V-A  
V-B  
VI. REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS  
N/A  
VII. CONTINUED MATTERS  
VIII. NEW MATTERS  
Consideration of an appeal related to Zoning Inquiry No. P23-02357 for  
VIII-A  
Bauer’s Towing located on approximately 0.71 acres between West  
Voorman and West Nielsen Avenues, west of North Thorne Avenue in  
Fresno, California.  
1. DENY the appeal and UPHOLD the Zoning Inquiry response dated  
September 26, 2023, as prepared by the Planning and  
Development Department Director.  
Continued as noted to date certain (2/7/2024).  
Hearing to consider Conditional Use Permit Application No. P23-00835,  
VIII-B  
Planned Development Permit Application No. P23-02080, and related  
Environmental Assessment; regarding a phased, multi-tenant commercial  
community development project with Starbucks Café and drive-through  
located on approximately ± 2.98 acres of property located on the southwest  
corner of the intersection of South Martin Luther King Boulevard and East  
Church Avenue. (Council District 3)  
Based upon the evaluation contained in this report and the appeal received  
from the appellant, staff recommends that the Planning Commission take  
the following actions:  
1. CONSIDER and APPROVE Environmental Assessment No. P23-  
00835/P23-02080 dated January 3, 2024, an Addendum to the  
Southwest Fresno Specific Plan Final Program EIR (the “Program  
EIR”), prepared in accordance with Section 15164 of the California  
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.  
2. DENY the appeal submitted by Councilmember Arias on November  
20, 2023, and UPHOLD the action of the Planning and  
Development Department Director approving Conditional Use  
Permit Application No. P23-00835 and Planned Development  
Permit Application No. P23-02080 authorizing the construction of a  
± 5,781 square foot multi-tenant shell building with Starbucks Café  
with drive-thru; and full development of the site with associated  
parking lot, landscaping, trash enclosures, and pad for a future  
building to be entitled under separate permit.  
6:07pm  
Steven Martinez (Planner) made a presentation on an overview of the  
project, including scope of work and details on the proposed Community  
Store. He talked about the location, zoning, and planned land use of project  
site, showing maps, site plans, and elevations. He also presented on the  
analysis of the appeal letter, addressing the 5 main concerns, with an  
emphasis on pedestrian needs.  
Bray clarified with Staff if there was a drive-through near any other schools  
as stated in the provided letter.  
Chair Vang asked about sharing provisions with the public and Martinez  
stated he was open to communication with any public looking for  
information.  
Criner requested clarification on the entrance and exit of the drive-through,  
and details of path of travel to which Martinez used visual aides explaining  
his answers.  
Lyday received answers from Staff on the plan for street widening as a  
result of the larger project, not just for Starbucks development.  
On behalf of the applicant, Jim Shehadey & Sylvester Hall, were present  
and available for questions.  
Shehadey talked about the Master Plan and the first phase of the design  
plan. He mentioned meeting with appellants and encouraging them to  
communicate with Staff on their concerns.  
Hall discussed his background, the Master Plan, and his passion for  
Southwest Fresno & its future development.  
Criner asked for clarification on shut-downs when entering phase two and  
three of the project but was assured by the applicant that Starbucks (in  
phase one) would remain open.  
Public Comment:  
Two people spoke in favor of the project citing passion for growth in  
Southwest Fresno.  
Two people spoke in opposition of the project, explaining they were not  
opposed to Starbucks but wanted it to be relocated to Jensen Avenue,  
referencing safety of school children as their motivation.  
Applicant Rebuttal:  
Hall talked about the community benefits of the project and explained that  
the suggested location of Jensen and MLK would be an site with higher  
traffic and more dangerous for pedestrians in comparison. Shehadey added  
the benefits of having Starbucks walking distance from the college verses  
driving to the suggested location.  
Chair Vang praised the applicant for making the accommodations noted in  
the presentation and stated the area would benefit from a store that is  
similar to a Community Center.  
Criner explained his choice not to recuse from the item after participating in  
a commercial October 2022 that promoted the project and stated for the  
record he does not have any bias in his decision. He thanked Staff for  
answering his questions and talked about his passion for improvements in  
Southwest Fresno before making a motion to deny the appeal and approve  
the Environmental Assessment per Staff's recommendations.  
On motion of Commissioner Criner , seconded by Commissioner Diaz,  
that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Chairperson Vang, Commissioner Criner , Vice Chair Hardie,  
Commissioner Bray, Commissioner Diaz, and Commissioner  
Lyday  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Wagner  
IX. REPORT BY SECRETARY  
7:03pm  
None  
X. SCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
XI. UNSCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
N/A  
XII. ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Vang adjourned the meeting at 7:04pm