REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION August 19, 2020 FROM: DAN ZACK, Assistant Director Development Services Division THROUGH: ISRAEL TREJO, Supervising Planner Development Services Division BY: CHRIS LANG, Planner Development Services Division SUBJECT ..Title Consideration of Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6308/UGM and related Environmental Assessment No. T-6308, for property located on the northeast corner of West Ashlan and North Bryan Avenues (Council District 1). 1. ADOPT a Mitigated Negative Declaration as prepared for Environmental Assessment No. T-6308 dated June 26, 2020. 2. APPROVE Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. T-6308/UGM for a phased 209-lot single family residential subdivision subject to compliance with the Conditions of Approval dated August 19, 2020. ..Body EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bonique Emerson of Precision Civil Engineering, on behalf of Ashlan & Hayes Investments LLC, has filed Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6308/UGM pertaining to approximately 27.07acres of property located on the northeast corner of West Ashlan and North Bryan Avenues. Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6308/UGM is a proposal to subdivide an approximately 27.07 net acres of property into a 209-lot conventional single-family residential subdivision in two phases. The proposed density of the subdivision is approximately 7.7 dwelling units per acre (du/ac). The subject property is located within the Fresno General Plan and the West Area Community Plan, and both plans designate the subject site for Medium Density Residential (5 to 12 dwelling units per acre) planned land uses. Approximately 150 lots [IT1] proposed to be less than 4,000 square feet in lot area, which requires compliance with Section 15-904-B of the FMC, respective to the provision of an Enhanced Streetscape. However, the proposed lots sizes and the provision of an enhanced streetscape do not otherwise alter the overall density of the proposed development. [IT2] Therefore, the subject application is consistent with the planned land use and zoning for the project site, and will implement goals, objectives, and policies of the Fresno General Plan and the West Area Community Plan. BACKGROUND / ANALYSIS Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6308/UGM proposes to subdivide approximately 27.07 net acres of property for purposes of facilitating a 209-lot conventional single-family residential development in two phases[IT3]. Phase One proposes 143 lots on the southerly portion of the property, while Phase Two proposes 66 units on the northerly portion of the property. The proposed project will require dedications for public street rights-of-way as well as the installation and construction of both public and private facilities and infrastructure in accordance with the standards, specifications and policies of the City of Fresno. The proposed subdivision has also been designed with consideration to the alignment and integration of quarter-mile Connector Streets as necessary to comply with the Connectivity requirements of Section 15-4107 of the FMC. The existing RS-5/UGM (Residential Single Family, Medium Density/Urban Growth Management) zoning for the subject property and the proposed residential density of approximately 7.7 dwelling units per acre is consistent with the Medium Density Residential (5.0-12 dwelling units per acre) planned land use designation for the subject property. The subject property is currently vacant and the northern portion of the property was annexed to the City of Fresno in 2006 as part of Annexation No. 1298, while the southern portion of the property was annexed in 2012 as part of Annexation No. 1333. The subject property was previously approved for subdivision and development in 2008 as part of Tentative Tract Map No. 5891/UGM, a 738-lot subdivision of approximately 122.93 acres of land comprising the majority of the quarter corner section located between North Bryan and North Hayes Avenues and West Ashlan and West Gettysburg Avenues. While the previously approved subdivision design has been abandoned and these lands have been sold into new ownership, the newly proposed subdivision design incorporates aggregate open space, pedestrian paths/paseos, and boundary streets, which will facilitate both vehicular and pedestrian connectivity for future development on adjacent lands and afford availability of open space amenities in order to facilitate a well-integrated and Complete Neighborhood for the area. The site is located within an area which is planned for urban residential uses and which has been substantially developed to the east and north with single family residences extending to Highway 99. Properties located directly to the north have been have recently been developed, and property to the east has been approved for the development of a subdivision with Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6258. Property directly to the west of the subject property across North Bryan Avenue is currently developed with an elementary school. Properties to the south of the subject property are developed with several rural residences on the south [IT4]side of West Ashlan Avenue. Vehicular access points will be provided to West Holland and North Olinda Avenues, which will provide access to North Bryan and West Ashlan Avenues, respectively. An additional stub will be provided for any potential future subdivision to the west of the subject property. Outlot "A," which is approximately 0.52 acres in area, is to be dedicated to the City of Fresno for open space purposes. Outlots "B", "C", "D" and "E" will be dedicated for landscape and public utility purposes, and Outlots "F" and "G" will be dedicated for landscape and pedestrian purposes (paseos). Public Services The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has identified that adequate sanitary sewer and water services are available to serve the project site subject to implementation of the Fresno General Plan policies and the migration measures of the related Master Environmental Impact Report; and, the construction and installation of public facilities and infrastructure in accordance with Department of Public Works Standards, specifications and policies. For sanitary sewer service these infrastructure improvements and facilities include typical requirements for construction and extension of sanitary sewer mains and branches, including the extension of a sewer main along West Ashlan Avenue, from the intersection of North Bryan and West Ashlan Avenues. The proposed project will also be required to provide payment of sewer connection charges. Implementation of the Fresno General Plan policies and the mitigation measures of the associated Master Environmental Impact Report, along with the implementation of the Water Resources Management Plan and the identified project related conditions of approval, which include water main extensions within the interior of the proposed tract. Installation of these services with meters to proposed residential lots will provide an adequate, reliable, and sustainable water supply for the project's urban domestic and public safety consumptive purposes. According to the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD), the subject site is not located within a flood prone or hazard area. The Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District has indicated that permanent drainage service is available provided the developer can verify to the satisfaction of the City that runoff can be safely conveyed to the Master Plan Inlets. Grading and drainage patterns are to direct drainage toward the western portions of the subject property, where master plan facilities are existing. The subject property is located within the boundaries of the Fire Station 18 Service Area (which covers the northwest part of the City). Previously, development restrictions have been applied to the Fire Station 18 service area due to lack of a permanent station. Construction of permanent Fire Station 18 is now underway however, and there are no longer development restrictions for the service area or proposed tract map. Additional Fire service requirements for development of the proposed project will include installation of public fire hydrants and the provision of adequate fire flows per Public Works Standards, with two sources water; installation of fire sprinklers within future commercial buildings; and the provision of two means of emergency access during all phases of construction. Review for compliance with fire and life safety requirements for the interior of proposed buildings and the intended use are reviewed by both the Fire Department and the Building and Safety Services Section of the Planning and Development Department when a submittal for building plan review is made as required by the California Building Code. Lot Size The minimum lot size in the RS-5 zone districts 4,000 square feet. The applicant however is proposing several lots which fall below this threshold, and will require compliance with Section 15-904-B of the FMC, respective to the provision of an Enhanced Streetscape. However, the proposed lots sizes which will comply with the provision of an enhanced streetscape do not otherwise alter the overall density of the proposed development beyond the permitted range of 5-12 du/ac. Additionally, the minimum lot depth in the RS-5 zone district is 70 feet, and the minimum lot width for reverse corner lots is 50 feet. The applicant however is proposing approximately 48 lots which fall below this threshold. Fresno Municipal Code Section 15-4105-A-1 allows up to 25 percent of the total lots to be up to 20 percent smaller in width, depth and/or area than that normally required of the applicable zone district. Therefore, lots which provide less than 70 feet but greater than 56 feet in depth (i.e. lots 66-82 of Phase I) and less than 50 feet but greater than 40 feet in width for reverse corner lots (i.e. lots 63, 69, 105), comply with the provisions of FMC �15-4105-A-1, to permit a reduction in width or depth, and 48 of the proposed lots will utilize this provision. Landscaping/Walls/Open Space The proposed subdivision is located adjacent to and abutting North Bryan Avenue, a collector street, and West Ashlan Avenue, an arterial street, within the boundaries of the West Area Community Plan. The development will be required to install landscaping and irrigation within a minimum 15-foot wide landscape strip along North Bryan Avenue and a 20-foot wide landscape area along West Ashlan Avenue. A six-foot high concrete/masonry wall is required to be constructed at the rear of the landscaped areas along the major streets as well as along West Holland Avenue. [IT5] Furthermore, as referenced herein above, Outlot "A," which is approximately 0.52 acres in area, is to be dedicated to the City of Fresno for open space purposes. Outlots "B", "C", "D" and "E" will be dedicated for landscape and public utility purposes, and Outlots "F" and "G" will be dedicated for landscape and pedestrian purposes (paseos) to provide additional non-vehicular access points to North Bryan and West Ashlan Avenues. The developer is required to provide street trees on all public street frontages per Fresno Municipal Code and for the dedication of planting and buffer landscaping easements as determined by the Planning Department. Street trees shall be planted at the minimum rate of one tree for each 60' of street frontage or one tree per home (whichever is greater) by the Developer. Furthermore, the developer is required to provide irrigation for all street trees. The irrigation system shall comply with FMC Section 15-2309, Irrigation Specifications and AB1881. The long term maintenance and operating costs, including repair and replacement, of certain required public improvements ("Services") associated with all new single-family developments (e.g., landscaped areas, concrete curb and gutters, sidewalks, curb ramps, median islands, etc.) are the ultimate responsibility of the Developer. The Developer shall provide for maintenance of these "Services" either by a mechanism approved by the Public Works Department or by annexing to the City of Fresno's Community Facilities District No. 11 ("CFD No. 11"). Streets and Access Points[IT6] The Fresno General Plan designates West Ashlan Avenue as an arterial street and North Bryan Avenue as a collector street. The project will take access from one point along West Holland which will provide access to North Bryan Avenue, and North Olinda Avenue which will provide access to West Ashlan Avenue. The project will also connect internally to the previously approved Phase I of Tract 6258. Stubs for future connections are also proposed to adjacent properties to the west in order to afford access and facilitate connectivity for future development on adjacent undeveloped property. The developer of this project will be required to dedicate and construct improvements along all major street frontages and on all interior local streets within the subdivision. Direct vehicular access will be relinquished along all major street frontages of single family residential lots and along double frontage lots on West Holland Avenue.[IT7] Dedication of outlots located between Lots 23 & 24 of Phase One and Lots 32 & 33 of Phase Two and to lots for pedestrian purposes (paseos) are also proposed to provide access to West Ashlan and North Bryan Avenues, respectively. The Department of Public Works has also conditioned the construction of a safe route to school pathway from the southern boundary of T-6056, located to the north of the subject site, along the east side of North Bryan Avenue to West Ashlan Avenue. The proposed project is located within Traffic Impact Zone III pursuant to Figure MT-4 of the Fresno General Plan, which generally represents areas near or outside the City Limits but within the SOI as of December 31, 2012. The analysis of traffic operations within the MEIR was conducted based on roadway segments representative of the City's overall transportation network. Traffic volumes on the selected roadway segment analysis is based on traffic counts taken at single location or link, which was intended to be representative of the entire segment. A link connects two intersections; a segment is a series of links. Traffic operations on the study roadway segments were measured using a qualitative measure called Level of Service (LOS). LOS is a general measure of traffic operating conditions whereby a letter grade, from "A" (the best) to "F" (the worst), is assigned. These grades represent the perspective of drivers and are an indication of the comfort and convenience associated with driving, as well as speed, travel time, traffic interruptions, and freedom to maneuver. The threshold established by the Fresno General Plan in TIZ III is Level of Service "D" representing a high-density, but stable flow. Users experience severe restriction in speed and freedom to maneuver, with poor levels of comfort and convenience. Vehicle trips projected to be generated by the proposed project were calculated using the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, 10th Edition. Based upon the calculations, the proposed project is projected to generate 1,973 Average Daily Trips (ADT) with 155 vehicle trips occurring during the morning (7 to 9 a.m.) peak hour travel period and 207 vehicle trips occurring during the evening (4 to 6 p.m.) peak hour travel period. The project is anticipated to generate traffic volumes exceeding 100 peak hour trips, and a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) was prepared to assess the impacts of the new development on existing and planned streets. This assessment evaluated the impacts of the project by analyzing the following 16 study intersections in the vicinity of the project during the AM and PM peak hours for the Existing Conditions; Existing plus Project Conditions; Near Term Plus Project Conditions; and, Cumulative Year 2035 plus Project Conditions study scenarios: Study Intersections: 1. Herndon Avenue / State Route 99 Northbound Off-Ramp 2. Grantland Avenue / State Route 99 Southbound On-Ramp 3. Bryan Avenue / Shaw Avenue 4. Hayes Avenue / Shaw Avenue 5. State Route 99 Southbound Ramps / Shaw Avenue 6. State Route 99 Northbound Ramps / Shaw Avenue 7. Bryan Avenue / Gettysburg Avenue 8. Hayes Avenue / Gettysburg Avenue 9. Polk Avenue / Gettysburg Avenue 10. Grantland Avenue / Ashlan Avenue 11. Bryan Avenue / Ashlan Avenue 12. Hayes Avenue / Ashlan Avenue 13. Polk Avenue / Ashlan Avenue 14. State Route 99 Southbound Off-Ramp / Ashlan Avenue 15. State Route 99 Northbound Off-Ramp / Ashlan Avenue 16. Hayes Avenue / Dakota Avenue Based on the analyses included in the TIA and supplemental assessment, all of the intersections, with the exception of Bryan Avenue at Ashlan Avenue, are currently operating above the TIZ III LOS standard of LOS D and all of the study roadway segments are currently operating above the TIZ III LOS D Standard. These findings comprise the Existing Conditions Scenario. With the addition of the project (Existing plus Project Conditions Scenario), all intersections and roadway segments are projected to continue to operate above the TIZ III LOS D standard with the addition of the project, again with the exception of Bryan Avenue at Ashlan Avenue which would operate below the TIZ III LOS D Standard. The TIA also analyzed the operational impacts with the addition of previously approved and pending projects along with the proposed project (Near Term plus Project Conditions Scenario). This is one future assumed scenario which is utilized to consider indirect or secondary effects or impacts which are caused cumulatively by the project and other future projects at a point later in time or farther removed in the distance, but which are still reasonably foreseeable. The study intersections below are projected to operate below the TIZ III LOS D standard in the Near Term with Project scenario: * Bryan Avenue at Ashlan Avenue * Hayes Avenue at Shaw Avenue * Grantland Avenue at Ashlan Avenue * Hayes Avenue at Dakota Avenue The analysis in the TIA showed the additional study intersections are projected to operate below the TIZ III LOS D standard in the Cumulative Year 2035 Plus Project scenario: * Polk Avenue at Gettysburg Avenue * Polk Avenue at Ashlan Avenue In addition to operational analyses, the TIA prepared traffic signal warrants at all unsignalized study locations. Traffic Signal Warrant 1 - Eight Hour Volumes and Traffic Signal Warrant 2 - Four Hour Vehicular Volumes as defined in the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) were prepared for all unsignalized study intersections in the Existing scenario. Traffic Signal Warrant 3 - Peak Hour Vehicular Volumes was prepared for all unsignalized intersections in all scenarios. The following study intersections currently meet or are projected to meet Warrant 1, Warrant 2, and/or Warrant 3 in the identified scenario and all subsequent scenarios. * Bryan Avenue at Shaw Avenue - Warrant 3 (Existing) * Hayes Avenue at Shaw Avenue - Warrant 3 (Existing) * Polk Avenue at Gettysburg Avenue - Warrant 3 (Cumulative Year 2035) * Grantland Avenue at Ashlan Avenue - Warrant 3 (Near Term Plus Project) * Bryan Avenue at Ashlan Avenue - Warrant 3 (Existing) * Hayes Avenue at Ashlan Avenue - Warrant 2, Warrant 3 (Existing) * Polk Avenue at Ashlan Avenue - Warrant 2, Warrant 3 (Existing) * Hayes Avenue at Dakota Avenue - Warrant 3 (Near Term Plus Project) The TIA reviewed collisions at all study intersections for the period of January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. The State Route (SR) 99 ramp end intersections at Herndon Avenue Shaw Avenue and Ashlan Avenue reported between five (5) and nine (9) correctable collisions at each location. The remaining study intersections reported at most one (1) correctable collision during the three year time period. Conditions of approval and the project specific mitigation measures for the proposed project require the installation of a traffic signal with protected left-turn phasing at the intersections of Bryan Avenue at Gettysburg Avenue, and Hayes Avenue at Gettysburg Avenue (at ultimate location, including right-of-way acquisition as necessary) prior to issuance of 150 building permits. The project TIA notes that between the Existing Traffic Conditions and the Near Term plus Project Traffic Conditions scenarios, the Project accounts for 5.6 percent of the daily trips, 5.3 percent of the AM peak hour trips and 6.1 percent of the PM peak hour trips of growth in traffic, while the rest can be attributable to the near term projects. Therefore, the TIA provides that the majority of the mitigation measures presented under this scenario may not be necessary immediately upon completion of the proposed Project. The City of Fresno General Plan includes multiple policies related to transportation funding and regional level coordination. These policies are crafted so that new development pays the proportional share of the developments impacts. These policies identify continued support for the implementation of metropolitan-wide and region-wide transportation impact fees to cover the proportional share of the developments impacts and need for a comprehensive multi-modal transportation system that are not funded by other sources. The project conditions of approval and mitigation measures also require payment of the Fresno Major Street Impact (FMSI) Fee, the Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact (TSMI) Fee, and the Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee (RTMF) The Fresno General Plan establishes growth projections through the General Plan Horizon year of 2035 as well as through build out of the General Plan. The General Plan includes goals, objectives, and implementing policies for the transportation system. A General Plan traffic model was prepared that was consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan. In accordance with the identified transportation needs based on traffic volume growth forecasts generated by the traffic model, the City's Public Works Department subsequently provided an FMSI Fee Program Capital Improvement Program (Street CIP) that outlines the planned facilities and costs for FMSI Fee Program funded transportation improvements through General Plan build out. The Street CIP details the roadway improvement projects needed to accommodate future development that will be funded through the FMSI Fee Program. For each street segment, the Street CIP includes: travel lanes; medians and median landscaping; parking lanes; bike lanes; curb and gutter; bus bays; irrigation pipes and canals; railroad crossings; and, soft costs (engineering, plan check, and inspection costs). In addition to the street improvements, the Street CIP also includes associated right of way acquisition, ancillary costs (mobilization traffic control, dust control, and storm water pollution prevention), bridge widening, and other miscellaneous improvements. Asphalt concrete dikes, utilities, sidewalks, street lights, sound walls, and frontage landscaping are specifically excluded from the Street CIP. The FMSI Fee Program also will not fund construction of improvements required to cure existing street deficiencies, as measured by level of service standards. The proposed project will pay both FMSI Program fees, including: (1) The Citywide Regional Street Impact Fee (Citywide Fee) applicable to all new residential, retail, office, and industrial development in both the Infill and New Growth areas. (this fee funds larger regional transportation improvements that are designed to accommodate traffic volumes resulting from development on a citywide basis); and, (2) The New Growth Area Major Street Impact Fee (New Growth Fee) applicable to only development in the New Growth areas of the City (this fee funds major streets that are located in the New Growth Area and primarily serve and benefit new development in the New Growth Area). The TSMI fee facilitates project impact mitigation to the City of Fresno Traffic Signal infrastructure so that costs are applied to each new project/building based on the generated ADT. The TSMI fee is credited against traffic signal installation/modifications and/or Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) improvements (constructed at their ultimate location) that plan to build out the 2035 General Plan circulation element and are included in the Nexus Study for the TSMI fee. The TSMI fee is regularly updated as new traffic signals are added, new grant funds offset developer improvement costs, and/or construction costs increase/decrease. Failure to pay this fee or construct improvements that are credited/reimbursable with this fee will result in a significant unmitigated impact as this fee is applied to all projects within the City Sphere of Influence. The Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee (RTMF) is an important part of the Measure "C" Extension approved by Fresno County voters in 2006 (continuing a one-half cent sales tax for transportation purposes). The RTMF is intended to ensure that future development contributes to its fair share towards the cost of infrastructure to mitigate the cumulative, indirect regional transportation impacts of new growth in a manner consistent with the provisions of the State of California Mitigation Fee Act. The fees will help fund improvements needed to maintain the target level of service in the face of higher traffic volumes brought on by new developments. Current Measure "C" projects include but are not limited to the Veteran's Boulevard project for northwest Fresno which will include a new interchange on State Route 99 and a two and one-half mile arterial from Herndon Avenue to Grantland Avenue. The new interchange will be located on State Route (SR) 99 between the Herndon Avenue and Shaw Avenue interchanges; and, is expected to improve access to SR99, provide congestion relief to northwest Fresno, and connect northwest Fresno to the communities west of State Route 99. The RTMF is governed by a Joint Powers Agency which is the same as the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) Board. Fresno COG's primary functions are transportation planning and programming. As a state-designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) and federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Fresno County, Fresno COG must comply with both designation requirements. Fresno COG prepares a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that looks 25 years into the future, and sets policies for a wide variety of transportation options and projects. It guides how and where people and goods will travel by identifying both existing and needed transportation facilities. Fresno COG prepares the region's Federal Transportation Improvement Program, a four-year program of financially constrained transportation projects consisting of highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects that are selected through an approved project selection process. The Citywide Regional Street Impact Fee Program and the New Growth Area Major Street Impact Fee Program are collectively referred to as the Fresno Major Street Impact Fee Program (FMSI Fee Program). The FMSI Fee Program was implemented to provide a funding mechanism for transportation facilities required to serve future development through 2025. The FMSI Fee Program is a successor fee program that replaced the previous transportation facility components of the City's Urban Growth Management (UGM) fee program. As noted within the Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the proposed project, the environmental assessment was tiered from the City of Fresno General Plan Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR). Section 5.13 of the MEIR related to Transportation and Traffic describes potential impacts to the transportation system associated with adoption of the City of Fresno General Plan Update. The study area for cumulative transportation and traffic impacts included the Planning Area and the immediate surrounding County of Fresno, City of Clovis, and surrounding Counties areas because cumulative development in the areas immediately surrounding the Planning Area could combine with development under the proposed project and result in cumulative transportation and traffic impacts. Project specific impacts identified due to increases in peak hour traffic volumes were based on build out of the City of Fresno General Plan Update along with existing development in the remainder of Fresno County. Along with build out of planned population and employment, the analysis assumed the transportation system displayed in Appendix H-7 and H-8. The findings of the MEIR concluded that build out of the City of Fresno General Plan Update would add vehicle trips to roadways that would result in operations below the adopted level of service thresholds in the City, unincorporated Fresno County, City of Clovis, and to Caltrans facilities constituting a significant impact. Build out of the City of Fresno General Plan Update would add vehicle trips to roadways that would result in operations below the City of Fresno General Plan LOS D under existing conditions. Based on the LOS identified in Exhibits 5.14-5 and 5.14-6 (See Appendix H-8 and H-9, respectively, for detail), the roadway segments of Shaw Avenue from the State Route 99 Northbound Ramps to Cornelia Ave was projected to operate at LOS E during the AM Peak hour and LOS F during the PM Peak hour; and, the segment of Shaw from Cornelia to Jennifer Avenues was projected to operate at LOS F during the PM Peak hour. Although some study intersections have been projected to operate below the TIZ III LOS D standard under various scenarios, it must be noted that the General Plan Update allows LOS E and LOS F on the roadway segments identified in Exhibits 5.14-5 and 5.14-6 with the implementation of the General Plan Update in TIZ III. This reflects a change in policy for the City of Fresno to acknowledge that transportation planning based solely on roadway LOS, which considers only driver comfort and convenience, is not desirable since it fails to acknowledge other users of the circulation system and other community values. In evaluating the roadway system, a lower LOS may be desired when balanced against other community values related to resource protection, social equity, economic development, and consideration of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. The Fresno General Plan utilizes and encourages strategic initiatives in compliance with the California Complete Streets Act, which provides priority and emphasis on a multi-modal transportation system; more transportation options result in fewer traffic jams and the overall capacity of the transportation network increases. Therefore, providing more transportation options will allow the City to meet its future travel demands without solely relying on motorized vehicles. In addition, roadway LOS is directly linked to roadway infrastructure costs. A higher LOS results in greater expenditure of infrastructure for wider roadways that do not necessarily serve all users of the circulation system and may compete with other policies of the General Plan Update. The City of Fresno General Plan will accommodate planned population and employment growth without expanding its current SOI, accommodating 180,000 more people than the previous General Plan in the same area. The intent is to accommodate anticipated growth though compact, walkable, infill, new complete neighborhoods, and mixed-use development through intensification of the downtown planning area, high capacity transit corridors, intensive urban activity centers, and multi-modal districts. This focus will locate population and employment closer to services. As discussed under Impact TRANS-1 in the MEIR, increased development density and intensity is correlated with reduced vehicle trips. Mixing complementary uses in a neighborhood setting increase internal trip "capture," and different urban design approaches increase transportation connectivity and provide high-quality bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities by increasing the relative attractiveness of non-automobile modes of travel to promote travel mode shifts. The City of Fresno General Plan Update also provides a complete streets approach, which considers all modes of transportation, in the planning, design and implementation facilities to support planned population and employment growth. Even with this focus on more compact development and complete street concepts, vehicle travel as measured in terms of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is forecasted to increase. This General Plan shifts emphasis from a city dominated by suburban growth to one that also shares increased urban development in the form of infill and rehabilitation, along with new Activity Centers with mixed-uses and neighborhoods in growth areas. The basis of this Plan's concepts are formed by balancing more efficient infill, Downtown, and neighborhood revitalization; transit-oriented development along major streets; mixed-uses in new Activity Centers in growth areas; and the building of Complete Neighborhoods. Major urban form components include Activity Centers with mixed-uses, intensification, and infill development. Some of these Activity Centers are generally located on land along the first phase of the BRT system. The first phase is composed of BRT corridors along Blackstone Avenue between Downtown and the major shopping centers from Herndon Avenue to Nees Avenue, and along Ventura Avenue-Kings Canyon Road from Downtown to Clovis Avenue. Concurrently there will be enhanced bus service along Shaw Avenue. As demand necessitates, later phases of BRT may include the Shaw Avenue corridor, which will support the opportunity for focused intensity at the West Shaw Activity Center proposed at Veterans Boulevard and Shaw Avenue west of State Route 99, extending south along Grantland Avenue to the Grantland Transit Village between Ashlan and Shields Avenues. Employment centers in existing developed areas and in growth areas, composed of high concentrations of office, business parks and districts, and industrial clusters, are also important components of urban form. These areas have traditionally been served by freeways, freight rail, and major streets, and now will be additionally served by proposed BRT corridors with more intense land uses generating many new business and employment opportunities. These General Plan objectives and policies are intended to reduce regional trips and citywide congestion. The General Plan and MEIR acknowledge that even if local congestion increases due to an increase in population from infill, this will eventually improve air quality by reducing per capita vehicle emissions and VMT through shorter commutes and increase in transit and non-motorized modes of travel. This will also reduce the need for regional travel demand transportation improvements. Therefore, with implementation of the General Plan, impacts to roadways within TIZ III were concluded to be less than significant by the MEIR based upon a cumulative year 2035 study scenario. While implementation of the policies included in the City of Fresno General Plan are recognized in the MEIR as adequate to ensure funding for new development's impacts to transportation facilities that would contribute to planned expansion of the transportation system, it must be acknowledged that improvements to the freeway system are for roadways under Caltrans' jurisdiction. Therefore, the City of Fresno does not have control over their timing or implementation, and the respective impacts identified within the MEIR were identified as remaining significant and unavoidable. In 2014, through passage of Council Resolution No. 2014-225, the City of Fresno adopted Findings of Fact related to Significant and Unavoidable Effects as well as Statements of Overriding Considerations including but limited to the those streets with an acceptable LOS E or F standard in order to certify Master Environmental Impact Report SCH No. 2012111015 for purposes of adoption of the Fresno General Plan. Section 15093 of the California Environmental Quality Act requires the lead agency to balance the benefits of a proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve the project. In keeping with the strategic initiatives and with consideration to balancing the roadway system against other community values, the adopted Statements of Overriding Considerations for the MEIR addressed Findings of Significant Unavoidable Impacts within the categories/areas of Transportation and Traffic; citing specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations, including provision of employment opportunities for highly trained workers as project goals, each and all of which were deemed and considered by the Fresno City Council to be benefits, which outweighed the unavoidable adverse environmental effects attributed to development occurring within the City of Fresno Sphere of Influence (SOI), consistent with the land uses, densities, and intensities set forth in the Fresno General Plan.[IT8] The Public Works Department, Traffic Engineering Division has reviewed the potential traffic related impacts for the proposed project and has determined that the streets adjacent to and near the subject site will be able to accommodate the quantity and kind of traffic which may be potentially generated subject to the requirements outlined within the memoranda from the Traffic Engineering Division dated May 29, 2020. These requirements generally include: (1) The provision of a minimum two points of vehicular access to major streets for any phase of the development; (2) Major and local street dedications; (3) Dedications of bicycle, pedestrian and landscape easements for trail purposes; (4) Street improvements, (including, but not limited to, construction of concrete curbs, gutters, pavement, underground street lighting systems; and, (5) Payment of applicable impact fees (including, but not limited to, the Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact (TSMI) Fee, and the Fresno Major Street Impact (FMSI) Fee). The project has also been conditioned to comply with mitigation measure requirements of the Traffic Engineer Manager outlined in the memoranda dated May 21, 2020, for review of the traffic impact analysis for TIS 20-012. Mitigation measures, in addition to payment of required fees, include the installation of a traffic signals at the intersections of Ashlan and Bryan Avenues and Ashlan and Hayes Avenues[IT9] prior to occupancy of 150 lots, as well as construction of a 4' wide safe route to school along the east side of Bryan Avenue from the southern boundary of Tract 6056 to Ashlan Avenue prior to occupancy of any dwelling unit. Therefore, the Public Works Department/Traffic Engineering Division has determined that, based upon the proposed traffic yield from and the expected traffic generation of the proposed project for the subject property, the proposed project will not adversely impact the existing and projected circulation system based upon implementation of the mitigation measures included within the MEIR and based upon compliance with the project specific mitigation measures referenced herein. Housing Element The proposed project is located on two sites listed in the 2013-2023 RHNA Housing Sites Inventory. The Housing Sites Inventory establishes the total minimum capacity of these sites to be 153 units with an affordability categorization of Above Moderate. The proposed project includes 209 units of market rate housing (Above Moderate), and therefore is consistent with the Housing Element. Council District Plan Implementation Committee The project was reviewed by the District 1 Project Review Committee on July 2, 2020. The Committee recommended approval of the project with a vote of 4-0-1 in favor of the project. Notice of Planning Commission Hearing The Planning and Development Department mailed notices of this Planning Commission hearing to surrounding property owners within 1,000 feet of the subject property (see attached Noticing Vicinity Map - Exhibit G). Public Response At the time of publication, no comments have been received by the public for the specific project, however one member of the public has expressed concern regarding an existing business located on the southwest corner of North Bryan and West Ashlan Avenues in the County of Fresno. The property owner operates a banquet facility and is worried that new residents moving into the area will be impacted by noise that is generated by the permitted business, and will not have this information disclosed to them prior to moving into the neighborhood. The applicant has been notified of this comment, and has agreed to include reference the existing banquet facility within their disclosure forms.[IT10] LAND USE PLANS AND POLICIES As proposed, the project will be consistent with the Fresno General Plan goals and objectives related to residential land use and the urban form: * Provide for a diversity of districts, neighborhoods, housing types (including affordable housing), residential densities, job opportunities, recreation, open space, and educational venues that appeal to a broad range of people throughout the city. * Plan for a diverse housing stock that will support balanced urban growth, and make efficient use of resources and public facilities. * Make full use of existing infrastructure, and investment in improvements to increase competitiveness and promote economic growth. * Promote orderly land use development in pace with public facilities and services needed to serve development. * Encourage the development of Complete Neighborhoods and districts with an efficient and diverse mix of residential densities, building types, and affordability which are designed to be healthy, attractive, and centered by schools, parks, and public and commercial services to provide a sense of place and that provide as many services as possible within walking distance. Healthy communities demonstrate efficient development patterns providing for: Sufficient affordable housing development in appropriate locations; A mix of land uses and a built environment that supports walking and biking; Multimodal, affordable transportation choices; and, Safe public spaces for social interaction. These Goals contribute to the establishment of a comprehensive city-wide land use planning strategy to meet economic development objectives, achieve efficient and equitable use of resources and infrastructure, and create an attractive living environment in accordance with Objective LU-1 of the Fresno General Plan. Policy UF-1-d further emphasizes provisions for a diversity and variation of building types, densities, and scale of development in order to reinforce the identity of individual neighborhoods, foster a variety of market-based options for living and working to suit a large range of income levels, and further affordable housing opportunities throughout the city. Likewise, Objective LU-5 of the General Plan calls for a diverse housing stock that will support balanced urban growth, and make efficient use of resources and public facilities; and, Implementing Policy LU-5-c promotes medium density residential use to maximize efficient use of residential property through a wide range of densities. Objective UF-12 of the Fresno General Plan directs the City to locate roughly one-half of future residential development in infill areas - defined as being within the City on December 31, 2012 - including the Downtown core area and surrounding neighborhoods, mixed-use centers and transit-oriented development along major BRT corridors, and other non-corridor infill areas, and vacant land. Supporting Policy LU-1-a of the Fresno General Plan also promotes new development within the existing City limits as of December 31, 2012. Policies LU-1-e and LU-1-g recommend that annexations to the City conform to the General Plan Land Use Designations and maintain the City's current Sphere of Influence (SOI) Boundaries without additional expansion. The subject property (approximately 27.07 acres) qualifies as infill development under the definition provided in the Fresno General Plan as the subject property was annexed with Annexations No. 1298 on April 13, 2006 and No. 1333 on November 19, 2012. Evaluation of public services capacity and availability for the area has determined that public infrastructure improvements exist within the area to serve existing development within the vicinity as well as future development on the subject property. Water mains and sewer mains have been developed in the subject quarter section to provide service for the proposed development. Furthermore, the proposed project will be obligated to pay fair share and proportional payment of fees and all development mitigation costs. The goals of the West Area Community Plan include developing the West Area as a planned community with a complete range of services and facilities for the needs of the community residents, in adherence to a set of specific standards for residential, commercial, industrial, and public infrastructure development, with special emphasis on minimization of land use conflict between agriculture and urban uses. Objective W-1 of the West Area Community Plan supports this goal by promoting compatibility between areas planned for, or committed to, active farming operations and areas planned for urban development. Objective W-3 of the West Area Community Plan encourages providing streetscapes which create a positive image of the West Area and contribute to the West Area Community's quality of life. Objective W-4 of the West Area Community Plan also encourages the establishment and maintenance of safe, attractive, and stable residential neighborhoods; to preserve the long-term integrity of the community. This project supports the above mentioned policies in that the density and intensity of the proposed development conform to the applicable Medium Density Residential land use designation of the Fresno General Plan and West Area Community Plan. The proposed development of the subject property will contribute to the completion of missing roadway and infrastructure improvements within the area in a manner which is consistent with the land use designations and circulation element of the Fresno General Plan. The proposed project will also provide for connectivity through both vehicular and pedestrian integration with adjacent land for future development. The project is located to the east of the Central Unified School District Harvest Elementary and Glacier Point Middle Schools and is approximately half a mile west of Teague Elementary School. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING An environmental assessment initial study was prepared for this project in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. This process included the distribution of requests for comment from other responsible or affected agencies and interested organizations. Preparation of the environmental assessment necessitated a thorough review of the proposed project and relevant environmental issues and considered previously prepared environmental and technical studies including the Fresno General Plan Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR SCH No. 2012111015). These environmental and technical studies have examined projected sewage generation rates of planned urban uses, the capacity of existing sanitary sewer collection and treatment facilities, and optimum alternatives for increasing capacities; groundwater aquifer resource conditions; water supply production and distribution system capacities; traffic carrying capacity of the planned major street system; and, student generation projections and school facility site location identification. The proposed project has been determined to be a subsequent project that is not fully within the scope of the MEIR SCH No. 2012111015 as provided by the CEQA, as codified in the Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 21157.1(d) and the CEQA Guidelines Section 15177(c). Therefore, the Planning and Development Department proposes to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed project, which is tiered off the Fresno General Plan Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR No. 2012111015) It has been further determined that all applicable mitigation measures of SCH No. 2012111015 have been applied to the project, together with project specific mitigation measures, as necessary to assure that the project will not cause significant adverse cumulative impacts, growth inducing impacts and irreversible significant effects beyond those identified by SCH No. 2012111015 as provided by CEQA Section 15178(a). In addition, pursuant to Public Resources Code, Section 21157.6(b)(1), staff has determined that no substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the MEIR was certified and that no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time that the MEIR was certified as complete, has become available. Therefore, it has been determined based upon the evidence in the record that the project will not have a significant impact on the environment and that the filing of a mitigated negative declaration is appropriate in accordance with the provisions of CEQA Section 21157.5(a)(2) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15178(b)(1) and (2). Based upon the attached environmental assessment and applicable mitigation measures, staff has determined that there is no evidence in the record that the project may have a significant effect on the environment and has prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project. A public notice of the attached Mitigated Negative Declaration for Environmental Assessment Application No. T-6308 was published on June 26, 2020; there have been no comments received to date. FRESNO MUNICIPAL CODE FINDINGS Based upon analysis of the applications, staff concludes that the required findings contained within FMC Section 15-3309 (Vesting Tentative Tract Map Findings) of the Fresno Municipal Code can be made. These findings are attached as Exhibit F. GROUNDS FOR DENIAL OF TENTATIVE MAP The Subdivision Map Act (California Government Code �� 66410, et seq.) provides that approval of a proposed subdivision map shall be denied if any of the following findings are made. 1. That the proposed map is not consistent with applicable general and specific plans as specified in Section 65451 of the SMA. 2. That the design or improvement of the proposed subdivision is not consistent with applicable general and specific plans. 3. That the site is not physically suitable for the type of development. 4. That the site is not physically suitable for the proposed density of development. 5. That the design of the subdivision or the proposed improvements are likely to cause substantial environmental damage or substantially and avoidably injure fish or wildlife or their habitat. 6. That the design of the subdivision or type of improvements is likely to cause serious public health problems. 7. That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements will conflict with easements, acquired by the public at large, for access through or use of, property within the proposed subdivision. In this connection, the governing body may approve a map if it finds that alternate easements, for access of or use, will be provided, and that these will be substantially equivalent to ones previously acquired by the public. This subsection shall apply only to easements of record or to easements established by judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction and no authority is hereby granted to a legislative body to determine that the public at large has acquired easements for access through or use of property within the proposed subdivision. Staff has reviewed the proposed vesting tentative tract map and has determined that none of the findings above apply to the project and, therefore, has recommended approval subject to the conditions of approval. CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATION The appropriateness of the proposed project has been examined with respect to its consistency with goals and policies of the Fresno General Plan and the West Area Community Plan; its compatibility with surrounding existing or proposed uses; and its avoidance or mitigation of potentially significant adverse environmental impacts. These factors have been evaluated as described above and by the accompanying environmental assessment. Upon consideration of this evaluation, it can be concluded that Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. T6308/UGM is appropriate for the project site. Planning Commission action of the proposed Vesting Tentative Tract Map, unless appealed to the Council, is final. Attachments: Exhibit A: Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6308/UGM dated May 1, 2020[IT11] Exhibit B: Operational Statement Exhibit C: 2020 Aerial Photograph of Site Exhibit D: Vicinity Map Exhibit E: Fresno General Plan Planned Land Use Map Exhibit F: Fresno Municipal Code Findings Exhibit G: Noticing Vicinity Map (1000 feet) Exhibit H: Conditions of Approval for Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6308/UGM dated August 19, 2020 Exhibit I: Comments and Requirements from Responsible Agencies[IT12] Exhibit J: Environmental Assessment No. T-6308, Mitigated Negative Declaration, dated June 26, 2020[IT13][IT14] [IT1]Do we know which lots? If so, we should probably call out in the COA's and ask for them to submit a plan showing which enhanced streetscape they are utilizing. [IT2]Which sample report was used? I'm not sure if we need to go in this detail in the summary. [IT3]If not described elsewhere, please give a brief description of phase 1 and phase 2, i.e number of lots and generally located on the northern portion of the property.. [IT4]South? [IT5]Wall required along West Holland? [IT6]Please also include safe route to school discussion somewhere in this section. [IT7]What about West Holland? Update COAs as appropriate. [IT8]Where did this language come from? [IT9]At 150 lots? [IT10]Let's follow-up with Will and Bonique on how we want to handle this. [IT11]This date is the date the map was received. Also, please electronically stamp the map with said date. [IT12]Remove PD and Long Range from the memo as they do not apply. [IT13]These titles must match exactly the titles in Granicus [IT14]The appendix G was not signed. Also, I couldn't locate all components of the EA, i.e. NOI, checklists, mit, measures, etc.