FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Big changes could be coming to parts of Fresno.<\/p>\n
However, proposed development plans are on pause for now as the city continues to consider the controversial Southeast Development Area, or SEDA.<\/p>\n
After recently sparking intense debate, SEDA talks were tabled.<\/p>\n
The proposal, one of two that would bring major developments to the southeast and central portions of the city.<\/p>\n
The second: the Central-Southeast Specific Plan, which was first introduced as a possibility for future planning when now-County Supervisor Luis Chavez was still on the city council.<\/p>\n
“Really, the purpose was to, essentially, get community input on what they would like to see on the Kings Canyon Corridor, the southeast community, the Roosevelt area…” said Chavez, who currently represents Fresno County’s District 3.<\/p>\n
The current council says gathering feedback has brought changes to the item, along with challenges.<\/p>\n
“Earlier this year, we did receive a number of letters from different lawyer associations that were questioning different parts of the project. And so, in order to make sure that we are setting up this plan for success, we wanted to just take a step back, evaluate those letters, and ensure that we are doing everything possible to position this planning document to be approved and to avoid any potential lawsuits moving forward,” said Annalisa Perea, the Fresno City Council representative for District 1.<\/p>\n
For that reason, the council continued the plan to next month.<\/p>\n
Perea said the concerns came mainly from environmental advocates but could not specify what they were.<\/p>\n
According to Chavez, other obstacles are coming from residents and schools.<\/p>\n
Roosevelt High School is just across the street from the former site of Valley Medical Center, and so is the Fresno Fairgrounds.<\/p>\n
“That was envisioned to have senior housing and affordable housing there. I understand that that vision has not materialized,” Chavez said. “There were conversations of putting a substance abuse treatment center there, which I think is challenging and problematic.”<\/p>\n
But Perea says she’s not aware of those plans, and they could happen only if the city’s zoning ordinance allows it.<\/p>\n
The city is taking time to address current concerns before discussing the specific plan in October.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, it’s not clear when talks over SEDA will return.<\/p>\n
If both projects are approved, questions over funding will need to be answered.<\/p>\n
“Where is the funding going to come from? Do you decide to invest in infill growth? Do you decide to expand? And then if you do decide to expand, and this council does decide to do that, they’re going to have to find a funding mechanism for that,” said Chavez.<\/p>\n
Perea says the council wants to approve more plans moving forward to mitigate what she calls “future bad planning decisions.”<\/p>\n
At this point, though, she says there’s no guarantee that either plan will be approved.<\/p>\n
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