{"id":66842,"date":"2025-11-23T20:46:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T20:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/66842\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T20:46:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T20:46:26","slug":"southeast-mega-plan-clears-a-major-hurdle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/66842\/","title":{"rendered":"Southeast mega-plan clears a major hurdle"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Quote of the Week
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\u201cThis plan is tantamount to a really big middle finger to Fresno residents.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Brannick, a Fresno attorney, on the Southeast Development Area plan that narrowly passed a consequential vote by the Planning Commission this week, despite residents\u2019 fierce opposition.<\/p>\n

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This Week in Fresnoland
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Fresno City Council to weigh in on megadevelopment with a $3 billion shortfall<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a $3 billion funding shortfall, no financing plan and fear from neighborhood residents over steep price tags for looming infrastructure upgrades \u2014 and, now, at least some momentum to add a 45,000-home mega-development on the southeastern outskirts of Fresno.<\/p>\n

In a narrow and dramatic vote this week, a divided Fresno Planning Commission formally recommended that City Hall approve the Southeast Development Area (SEDA) Specific Plan, which at full buildout would be roughly the size of Clovis, Gregory Weaver reported for Fresnoland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The plan next goes before the Fresno City Council \u2014 possibly as soon as Dec. 4 \u2014 for a final showdown vote.<\/p>\n

City leaders have been educating the two newest city councilmembers for months, waiting to bring the SEDA plan back once it appeared there\u2019d be enough support, Gregory Weaver reported Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The planning commission\u2019s recommendation came after a dramatic last-minute vote change by Commissioner Linda Calandra, who first voted against the project, but then flipped her vote on a second motion \u2014 and has not explained what changed her mind in the sparse few minutes between her first and second votes.<\/p>\n

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Fresno\u2019s critical road tax spending plan takes major step forward<\/p>\n

Fresno County\u2019s transportation politics are shifting \u2014 and not everyone is happy about it.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Fresno County\u2019s transportation policy board narrowly approved a spending plan for a new version of Measure C, the current sales tax for roads and transit, for the November 2026 ballot \u2014 despite angry objections from Supervisor Buddy Mendes and several east-side mayors.<\/p>\n

Fresnoland\u2019s Danielle Bergstrom<\/a> broke the story Friday, after the Fresno Council of Governments Policy Board refused to cut public transit spending in favor of more major road expansion projects.<\/p>\n

The current plan draft dedicates about 65% of the sales tax revenues to fix and improve local roads, with 25% toward public transit, reflecting the top items on residents\u2019 wish lists<\/a> during community outreach and surveys this past year.<\/p>\n

Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez said he expects the plan will be met with a second, competing plan on the same November 2026 ballot, which would make passing either tax renewal plan much more difficult.<\/p>\n

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Tower District\u2019s new plan sets up neighborhood\u2019s future<\/p>\n

A three-year effort between Tower District neighborhood leaders and residents and the city ended Thursday in applause, Fresnoland\u2019s Pablo Orihuela reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Fresno City Council approved the newly drafted Tower District Specific Plan, setting new guidelines for design and land use policies in the city\u2019s historic neighborhood.<\/p>\n

Updating the neighborhood\u2019s plan, a document created in 1991, including numerous community meetings and feedback sessions over the last three years, with residents pushing hard for more parks and better access to grocery stores and doctor\u2019s offices.<\/p>\n

Plan committee chair Chris Johnson: \u201cI think our passion over the past three-and-a-half years to sustain this effort and to do what we needed to do to get this to you today is evident.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Credit: Rob Parsons \/ Fresnoland<\/p>\n

Fresno council recycles city\u2019s trash contract \u2014 again<\/p>\n

The Fresno City Council also granted a one-year extension to a controversial trash contract and allowed operator Orange Avenue Disposal the right to seek price increases whenever regulations change, an advantage no other city vendors have.<\/p>\n

City Manager Georgeanne White said the extension was tied to a legal settlement over a multi-million dispute with the influential Caglia family<\/a>, Fresnoland\u2019s Gregory Weaver reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Beginning in the spring of 2023, City Hall withheld numerous payments from the company after determining the city had overpaid by more than $3 million.<\/p>\n

And while city leaders noted that Thursday\u2019s vote does not approve a new rate hike or necessarily guarantee future hikes, one councilmember \u2014 who has supported previous contract extensions \u2014 said the most recent changes went too far.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Councilmember Miguel Arias: \u201cThis vendor is uniquely positioned to increase rates for residents across the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

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La Hacienda Mobile Home Park residents celebrate victory<\/p>\n

More than four years after a deadly tragedy \u2014 and years of contentious fallout and battles over control \u2014 residents celebrated this week.<\/p>\n

La Hacienda Mobile Home Park residents, in partnership with Self-Help Enterprises, finally have control over their homes.<\/p>\n

Last year, a federal bankruptcy judge slammed former park owners<\/a>, Harmony Communities, for bad-faith tactics, which involved attempted evictions and rent hikes to pressure others to leave.<\/p>\n

Last month, the state awarded $5 million<\/a> for Fresno and Self-Help Enterprises, a Visalia-based nonprofit, to acquire and rehabilitate the park in the city\u2019s Pinedale neighborhood. They also plan to add 17 new mobile homes for veterans.<\/p>\n

Attorney Mariah Thompson of California Rural Legal Assistance: \u201cThe resilience of this community over the last four years of fighting against incredible odds and incredibly powerful wealthy people is so inspiring. I knew we would win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outside the Lines<\/p>\n

The Trump Administration hasn\u2019t given up their fight with Fresno over federal funding tied to compliance with executive orders, just yet. Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresno city and county leaders announce \u2018new era\u2019 of partnership to tackle regional challenges around homelessness together. Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n

Calling it \u201cgas station heroin,\u201d Fresno leaders began cracking down this week on the synthetic form of kratom, a plant that some claim has medicinal properties but health officials are increasingly frowning upon. Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n

Faculty in the State Center Community College District formally requested that the California Community College Board of Governors remove Chancellor Carole Goldsmith from office immediately \u2014 saying her retirement next year is too long to wait for leadership changes. KVPR<\/a><\/p>\n

Beefed up training evaluation standards for the Fresno Unified superintendent and the district\u2019s teachers and staff took center stage at this week\u2019s school board meeting. Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresno Unified\u2019s chronic absenteeism rate \u2014 which represents the percentage of students who miss at least 10% of school days each year \u2014 dipped slightly in 2025, but it\u2019s still much higher than pre-pandemic levels. Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresnoland put together a guide on how a new state law works, aimed at combatting family separation when a parent gets detained or deported. Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresno County named a new public health director. Fresnoland<\/a><\/p>\n

Naturalization applications are surging ahead of the new civics test. The Fresno Bee<\/a><\/p>\n

On this week\u2019s Fresnolandia podcast, Jordan and Danielle spoke with Mike McKeever, a regional planning expert based in Sacramento. Fresnolandia<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fresno Arts Council invites you to share your ideas for the next cycle of \u201cExpanded Access to Arts and Culture\u201d grants, funded by Measure P. The first meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2 with a second session at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Both meetings will be held at the Fresno Arts Council, 1245 Van Ness Ave. Fresno Arts Council<\/a><\/p>\n

The Central Valley Blue Star Moms are in the middle of their holiday drive, putting together care packages stuffed with essentials and snacks \u2014 and they\u2019d like your help. ABC30<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresno Unified schools still have yet to recover more than $2 million in stolen money after a fraudster managed to cash at least two large checks meant for a local construction company. The Fresno Bee<\/a><\/p>\n

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Block Beat
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FRESNO STATE: The real \u201cWeird Al\u201d Yankovic<\/a> is coming to Fresno\u2019s Save Mart Center in a stop during his \u201cBigger and Weird\u201d tour. The Fresno Bee<\/a><\/p>\n

DOWNTOWN: Snag your tickets, because the Mariposa Winter Village and its outdoor ice skating rink is coming to Mariposa Plaza starting Dec. 5. Confia<\/a><\/p>\n

FRESNO YOSEMITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Hayward-based Coast Aluminum, Inc, broke ground in Fresno this week on a $42 million, 163,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility at 5255 E. Home Ave. The Business Journal<\/a><\/p>\n

WEST OF 99: Share Fresno is hosting another \u201cShare Fest,\u201d plus a free food distribution event, at Jaswant Singh Khalra Park (3861 W. Clinton Ave.) in West Fresno this Saturday, Nov. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. \u201cNo buying or selling\u201d at the \u201cBlack Friday Alternative,\u201d the mutual aid organization says \u2014 only items for \u201cfree or trade.\u201d Share Fest<\/a><\/p>\n

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER: The San Joaquin River Parkway teamed up with California State Parks Watershed Program for a free series of readings and workshops this Sunday, Nov. 23, at the River Center (11605 Old Friant Road) from 12 to 3 p.m. The free event includes a poetry workshop, nature walk, readings from current and former Fresno poets laureate and more. San Joaquin River Parkway<\/a><\/p>\n

DOWNTOWN: Live Again Fresno is hosting a screening of the documentary \u201cMotel Drive\u201d<\/a> \u2014 chronicling the experiences of a family dealing with constant uprooting on Fresno\u2019s infamous strip of rundown hotels and inns \u2014 in Fresno on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at Warnors Theater downtown. Showtime is at 6 p.m., followed by a panel discussion. Tickets are available for purchase online<\/a>. Live Again Fresno<\/a><\/p>\n

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