City Council Annexes 235 Acres Near Hayes Avenue, Approves Rezoning for Medium-Density Housing
The Fresno City Council approved a reorganization in September 2020 to annex approximately 235 acres on the west side of North Hayes Avenue between West Ashlan and West Shields Avenues into the city limits. The vote also changed the property’s planned land use from a mix that included low-density residential, open space, and a neighborhood park to medium-density residential across the entire parcel.
The Dakota-Hayes No. 4 Reorganization detached the property from the North Central Fire Protection District and the Kings River Conservation District. The council’s approval was subject to a tax-sharing agreement between the City of Fresno and Fresno County under Revenue and Taxation Code Section 99.
The council adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act for the project, dated March 13, 2020. Staff reports prepared by the Development Services Division recommended approval of Annexation Application No. P19-02239, Plan Amendment/Rezone Application No. P19-02237, and Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6234/UGM.
The original land-use plan included approximately 1.06 acres of low-density residential, 9.76 acres of medium-high density residential, 17.26 acres of urban neighborhood, and 5.25 acres designated for open space and a neighborhood park. The approved amendment replaced all of these with a single medium-density residential designation covering about 35.88 acres of the property.
The Breakdown
- The council annexed 235 acres into Fresno city limits in a vote on September 17, 2020.
- The property is located on the west side of North Hayes Avenue between West Ashlan and West Shields Avenues in Council District 1.
- The annexation detached the land from the North Central Fire Protection District and the Kings River Conservation District.
- The council changed the land-use designation from a mix that included low-density residential, open space, and a 5.25-acre neighborhood park to medium-density residential across approximately 35.88 acres.
- A tax-sharing agreement between the city and county was required as part of the approval.
What This Means for You
This 2020 decision by the City Council brought 235 acres into city jurisdiction and replaced a plan that set aside over five acres for a neighborhood park with a plan for medium-density housing across the entire developed portion of the property. The council’s approval set the framework for what could be built on that land going forward.
What to Watch
The material does not state who applied for the annexation and rezone, who owns the property, or who stands to profit from developing it as medium-density residential rather than the original mix.
The original plan set aside 5.25 acres for a neighborhood park. That designation was eliminated under the approved rezone.
The material gives no cost figure for infrastructure, no detail on the tax-sharing agreement’s terms, and no record of public comment or opposition at the hearing.
