Meeting Summary: Fresno City Committee Meeting - June 24, 2026

The meeting convened at 5:31 PM with Chair Albert Sanchez, Vice Chair Debbie Garden, and Committee Member Ashley Morales Guerrero (Member Q sponsor absent). The committee reviewed three agenda items and received administrative updates.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda and minutes with no changes.

Discussion Items

Item 4A: Conditional Use Permit and Variance for Solar Canopy at 2831 Mariposa Street

• Dylan Demers of Barrier Solar presented a proposal to install a 74’6” x 120’8” solar structure (16’ tall) on a dirt lot to generate 178.56 kW for two adjacent properties at 2811 and 2820 Mariposa Street. Variances needed for setbacks due to maximizing space. The committee asked about security, drainage, and future landscaping. Demers stated no drainage plan, but brick ballards around columns for beautification. The committee supported the renewable energy aspect but recommended a maintenance plan for the land underneath. No vote taken as the committee is advisory.

Item 4B: Conditional Use Permit for New Church Event Center at 28 East Limit Avenue

• Efrain Gaeta of Design Nest Architecture and Deacon Kirk Hings of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church presented plans for a 2,800 sq ft event center with a kitchen and assembly hall for 75-100 people. The project seeks a 50% parking reduction. Discussion covered fencing height (desired 6 ft on Limit Avenue due to security), landscaping, and public outreach. The committee recommended pushing the front fence back to the average setback line to allow a 6-foot height and urged formal public outreach to neighbors.

Item: Text Amendment to Allow Temporary Parking Lots in Downtown Districts

• Sal of Lance Cash and Company proposed amending the municipal code to allow temporary asphalt parking lots on vacant lots via a 5-year conditional use permit with up to two 1-year extensions, applicable to downtown districts. The applicant owns a dirt lot at Tularie and Van Ness and plans a 128-stall lot while awaiting financing for a future 10-story mixed-use building. Committee members expressed concerns about creating permanent-looking temporary lots, especially at a high-visibility intersection. They recommended a 7-year CUP with three 1-year extensions (total 10 years), tied to the parcel (non-transferable), with no further extensions. Additionally, they suggested requiring lighting, progress reports for extensions, and incorporating greenery (e.g., pots) to mitigate heat island effect. The applicant was open to these recommendations.

Administrative Updates

• Staff reported City Council approved a $2.5 billion budget, including $500,000 for a new park in the Adams Elementary neighborhood, $500,000 for downtown litter abatement and pressure washing, and funds for tower district improvements, eviction protection, and street cleaning.
• Committee discussed maintenance of Kearney Boulevard medians (overgrown oleanders), parking meters for business owners, vacant residential properties, truck parking in residential zones, and a loud noise device at Wells Fargo on Fresno and Tularie Street. Follow-up on previous questions was requested.

Key Outcomes

• For Item 4A: Committee recommended approval with a suggestion to develop a maintenance plan for the land under the solar canopy.
• For Item 4B: Committee recommended approval with conditions to adjust fencing to 6 feet by setting it back to the average setback line and to conduct neighborhood outreach.
• For the text amendment: Committee recommended a 7-year CUP with three 1-year extensions (total 10 years), tied to the parcel, non-transferable, with no further extensions. Additional recommendations included requiring lighting, progress reports for extensions, and greenery. The recommendations will be forwarded to the planning department.