FRESNO, Calif (KFSN) — The Fresno Planning Commission voted Wednesday night to approve staff recommendations for the proposed Southeast Development Area (SEDA) plan after a packed meeting in which community members voiced both support for and opposition to the plan.
The meeting drew enough attendees to fill the council chambers and require opening the balcony. Because so many people wanted to speak, commissioners reduced public comment time from three minutes to two minutes.
SEDA is a multi-phased project covering about 9,000 acres in southeast Fresno. According to city staff, the plan aims to add housing, create jobs and improve environmental sustainability. Project plans include up to 45,000 housing units and an estimated 30,000 to 37,000 jobs.
Many speakers opposed the proposal, with some attendees wearing red shirts reading “NO TO SEDA.”
“I brought a list of 50 reasons to vote against SEDA,” one speaker told commissioners.
Others raised concerns about environmental impacts, finances, and school enrollment.
“It’s our farms, our tax revenue, our neighborhoods. We are not getting honest and transparent planning,” another speaker said.
Supporters of the project also addressed commissioners, emphasizing the potential economic benefits.
“It’s the part that puts jobs and tax revenue generation first and comes back to benefit all the residents in the city. Sequencing South SEDA first allows the city to develop and determine job-creating capacity,” one supporter said.
Adrienne Asadoorian-Gilbert of the Planning and Development Department outlined the project’s scope during the meeting.
“The full plan area includes 9000 acres, generally bounded by the Gould Canal on the North, McCall and Highland on the east, Jensen and North on the south, and Temperance and Minnewawa on the west,” Asadoorian-Gilbert said.
Phase 1 focuses on South SEDA, located east of Temperance Avenue and south of Jensen Avenue. Under the full buildout plan, the development would eventually extend toward Clovis Unified School District’s Terry Bradley Education Center.
School enrollment was among the key concerns raised during the meeting. Earlier this year, both the Fresno Unified and Central Unified school boards passed resolutions opposing the project.
“We are currently already suffering from a decline in attendance and enrollment. SEDA would further our enrollment decline,” Fresno Unified School District Board President Veva Islas said.
The project previously came before the Fresno City Council in December. Council voted not to approve it and directed staff to conduct further review and revisions.
At Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners were also shown three environmental impact reports before voting to approve staff recommendations.
“I see this as another good chance to get some decent jobs in Fresno,” Planning Commission Chair Kathy Bray said.
The commission is also recommending that the Fresno City Council strengthen requirements for SEDA funding of community provisions that would benefit existing SEDA residents.
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