Join us on Tuesday May 26, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at Café Via restaurant in Fresno for a fantastic buffet dinner and what promises to be an extremely informative discussion about the City of Fresno’s five year journey to update its General Plan culminating in its adoption on December 18, 2014 along with its certification of its second Master Environmental Impact Report. The best part about the certification of the MEIR and adoption of the new General Plan Update is that it did not result in any litigation challenging either the new General Plan or the MEIR.
Key staff from the City of Fresno and First Carbon Solutions will be anchoring the presentation, including Jennifer Clark, Director of the Development and Resource Management Department, Dan Zack, Assistant Director of DARM, Michelle Zumwalt, Architect (with DARM) and Talia Kolluri-Barbick, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Michael Houlihan, the Project Manager at FirstCarbon Solutions responsible for drafting the new Master Environmental Impact Report will also participate in the program and provide his insights regarding the benefits of an MEIR and the challenges in drafting one that will have lasting utility.
The presentation will discuss (1) the history of the update process including the extensive efforts the City took to reach out to various communities within the City, other local agencies and state agencies to gain input and buy-in on the content of the General Plan Update; (2) the City Council’s decision to approve a land use plan that does not expand the City’s current sphere of influence; (3) key General Plan policies to foster infill, transit oriented and mixed-use development to reduce green house gas emissions and encourage a robust multi-modal transportation network; (4) key considerations in the preparation of the MEIR to ensure that it can be used effectively to streamline subsequent development projects within its scope; (5) how the City intends to utilize the new General Plan and MEIR as the foundation for its “Business Friendly Fresno” initiative as well as its efforts to incentivize infill and sustainable development.
For some background regarding the City’s extensive community outreach efforts, you may want to read an article entitled “Fresno’s Planning Process Builds Trust” appearing in the March, 2013 edition of Western City magazine. (weblink: http://www.westerncity.com/Western-City/March-2013/Fresnos-Planning-Process-Builds-Trust/)
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a great discussion that will benefit planners and environmental professionals alike.
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Come at 5:30 pm to meet other environmental professionals before the meeting. The presentation will start at 6:00 pm.
Cost: AEP Central Chapter Members Free, Non-members $30 (If you join AEP at the event dinner is free.)
Directions: http://binged.it/1FdDFl3
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