City of Fresno  
City Hall Council Chambers  
2600 Fresno Street  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Wednesday, May 3, 2023  
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 6:03pm  
Present 6 -  
Chairperson Peter Vang, Commissioner David Criner ,  
Commissioner Haley M. Wagner, Commissioner Kathy Bray,  
Commissioner Monica Diaz, and Commissioner Jacqueline  
G. Lyday  
Absent 1 - Vice Chair Brad Hardie  
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
6:03pm  
III. PROCEDURES - PROCEDIMIENTOS - KEV SAB LAJ  
6:03pm  
Vang read procedures aloud  
IV. AGENDA APPROVAL  
6:05pm  
Availability of Hmong & ASL Translation services were announced.  
No changes to the agenda were made by Staff or Commission  
On motion of Commissioner Diaz, seconded by Commissioner  
Wagner,the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Chairperson Vang, Commissioner Criner , Commissioner  
Wagner, Commissioner Bray, Commissioner Diaz, and  
Commissioner Lyday  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Hardie  
V. CONSENT CALENDAR  
On motion of Commissioner Bray, seconded by Commissioner Criner,  
the above CONSENT CALENDAR was APPROVED. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Chairperson Vang, Commissioner Criner , Commissioner  
Wagner, Commissioner Bray, Commissioner Diaz, and  
Commissioner Lyday  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Hardie  
March 15, 2023 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes  
V-A  
April 5, 2023 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes  
V-B  
VI. REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS  
N/A  
VII. CONTINUED MATTERS  
CONTINUED FROM MARCH 15, 2023  
VII-A  
Consideration of Development Permit Application No. P22-01346 and  
related Environmental Assessment No. P22-01346 for approximately  
±0.69 acres of property located on the northwest corner of East McKinley  
and North Fine Avenues. (Council District 4) - Planning and Development  
Department.  
1. CONSIDER Categorical Exemption Class 32 (In-Fill Development  
Project) prepared for Environmental Assessment (EA) No. P21-  
01346, dated December 8, 2022, for the proposed project pursuant  
to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  
2. DENY the appellant’s appeal and UPHOLD the action of the  
Planning and Development Department Director to approve  
Development Permit Application No. P22-01346,  
a
request to  
construct a carwash, subject to Conditions of Approval dated  
December 8, 2022.  
6:06pm  
Valenzuela reminded the Commission of the project and Staff's  
recommendations.  
Commissioner Bray confirmed property lines and Siegrist also explained the  
parking regulations for the situation.  
Applicant representatives reported on the April meeting, outreach, and  
results of communication with the neighboring property. They reminded the  
Commission that the use proposed is a permitted. Their legal representation  
also spoke to the permitted use, parking restrictions, noise study, and  
categorical exemption eligibility.  
Vang asked for clarification on information in opposition letter regarding  
discussions of purchasing property. The applicant explained that the parties  
could not agree on pricing and that they would not be moving forward with  
that route. Vang followed up with whether or not the applicant was open to  
another type of business, but the they explained why they wanted to  
continue with the Car Wash.  
Wagner and the property owner discussed details of the purchasing  
agreement, including the size and placement, as well as work completed  
and next steps.  
Bray asked for clarification on the ADA parking stall compromise that was  
previously discussed  
A vote was taken to open this item to public comment and passed. The  
public was then allowed to speak:  
No one spoke in favor of the item  
5 people spoke opposed to the item. They talked about the humanity aspect  
of the situation, the eligibility of exemption status to the categorical  
exemption due to unique circumstances, and the impact on clientele  
(particularly the negative influence of the noise). A neighboring property  
owner reported disappointment with the previous process of zone changing  
in 2016 and losing parking spaces.  
Upon completion of public comment, staff spoke to the land use before and  
after the rezone that was mentioned, explaining the limited change and  
influence for the current situation.  
Clark explained to the Commission the required findings to be met if they  
decided to move forward contrary to staff's recommendations.  
Wagner asked for clarification on the timeline for the proposed project, but  
the property owner was unsure.  
Commissioners admitted to being conflicted. Wagner made a motion to  
uphold staff's recommendations, with the requirement of engagement with  
residents in the process, to allow for education from the ground up.  
On motion of Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner  
Lyday, that the above Action Item be APPROVED AS AMENDED. The  
motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 4 -  
Commissioner Wagner, Commissioner Bray, Commissioner  
Diaz, and Commissioner Lyday  
No: 2 - Chairperson Vang, and Commissioner Criner  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Hardie  
Public Comment was closed on this item on March 15, 2023 when originally  
in front of the Planning Commission.  
A motion was made to open to Public Comment, passing.  
On motion of Chairperson Vang, seconded by Commissioner Criner  
,the above ITEM was APPROVED to open for Public Comment. The  
motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Chairperson Vang, Commissioner Criner , Commissioner  
Wagner, Commissioner Bray, Commissioner Diaz, and  
Commissioner Lyday  
Absent: 1 - Vice Chair Hardie  
VIII. NEW MATTERS  
N/A  
IX. REPORT BY SECRETARY  
6:56pm  
Director Clark reported a schedule of events available for May's Historic  
Preservation Month and challenged Planning Commissioners to take on  
Historic Preservation Commissioners at the pub quiz. Staff will email  
Commissioners the complete list.  
X. SCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
N/A  
XI. UNSCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS  
N/A  
XII. ADJOURNMENT  
Meeting adjourned at 6:59pm