Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Fresno Suspect Caught After Jumping Out of Second-Floor Window, 2 Others Arrested

7 hours ago

Tesla Has Applied to Arizona for Robotaxi Service Certification, State Transport Department Says

7 hours ago

Evacuations Ongoing as San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Scorches Tens of Thousands of Acres

7 hours ago

US Senate to Vote on Trump Aid, Broadcasting Cuts as Deadline Looms

7 hours ago

US Health Department Widens Immigrant Benefit Restrictions

8 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Stabbing That Left Man Critically Injured

8 hours ago

Madera County Authorities Seek Next of Kin for North Fork Man

8 hours ago

Froot Loops Maker WK Kellogg Agrees to $3.1 Billion Deal From Italy’s Ferrero

9 hours ago

China Signals Willingness to Sell Fighter Jets as Iran Eyes J-10 Aircraft

9 hours ago

Tulare County Man Arrested in Ivanhoe Shooting, Second Suspect Still at Large

10 hours ago
After 16 Months, Controversial Southwest Fresno Rezone Advances
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
June 2, 2022

Share

On a 3-2 vote, the Fresno Planning Commission has finally approved a controversial rezoning in southwest Fresno.

“To go with this plan is wrong. We have been dumped on all the years I’ve been in Fresno.” — southwest Fresno activist Mary Curry

The commission’s action Wednesday night came 16 months after the rezone was introduced. The item now heads to the Fresno City Council for a final decision.

The city rezoned nearly 93 acres from light industrial to mixed-use in 2017 as part of the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan. But business owners in the area wanted to zone the land back to its original use.

John Kinsey, an attorney for the light-industry land owners, told the commission there were no plans to expand.

“It’s all built out,” Kinsey said of the area, which contains 15 parcels. Kinsey said businesses have invested $150 million there.

Kinsey said the rezone threatened the ability to recruit new tenants and obtain financing. There have been no vacancies since 2017. If there were, the grandfathered-in zoning as light industrial could expire in 90 days, he explained.

Businesses in the development include IFCO Systems, which washes agricultural bins; Plastic Industries, Inc., a plastic fabrication company; and GlaxoSmithKline, which has a pharmaceutical preparations plant.

Aerial map of the proposed rezone in southwest Fresno. (City of Fresno)

 

Several in Community Oppose

Not all area developers were on board with the rezone. Sylvesta Hall, with Blue Ocean Development America, opposed reverting to the former zoning.

“None of them look like the folks in southwest Fresno,” Hall said of consultants who spoke at the meeting.

Several other people spoke in favor of keeping the zoning as is, saying it protects the neighborhood residents and promotes racial justice.

Mary Curry, the elder stateswoman of southwest Fresno issues, opposed any changes.

“To go with this plan is wrong,” Curry said. “We have been dumped on all the years I’ve been in Fresno.”

 3-2 Vote to Approve

Following two hours of testimony, the commission voted down a motion to deny the application for the rezoning on a 3-2 vote.

A motion to recommend the rezoning passed by the same margin. In both votes, commissioners Haley Wagner, Monica Diaz, and Brad Hardie were in the majority; Peter Vang and Robert Fuentes were in the minority.

Commissioner Kathy Bray recused herself because of a conflict of interest, and commissioner Pastor DJ Criner was not present.

This was the first meeting back for Fuentes and Bray. Both resigned from the commission in 2021 to explore elected offices, although neither ultimately ran.

Mayor Jerry Dyer renominated Fuentes and Bray, and the Fresno City Council confirmed them last week.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Some of Iran’s Enriched Uranium Survived Attacks, Israeli Official Says

DON'T MISS

Mahmoud Khalil Seeks $20 Million From Trump Administration Over Immigration Arrest

DON'T MISS

Madera County Authorities Seek Public’s Help Finding Next of Kin for Man Who Died in Hospital

DON'T MISS

Six Secret Service Agents Punished Over Trump Assassination Attempt

DON'T MISS

Fresno Teens Arrested in Violent Assaults That Injured Two Men, Including Elderly Victim

DON'T MISS

Wonderful Co. Has a New Face Promoting Pistachios: MVP Josh Allen

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Francisco Salvador Zuniga

DON'T MISS

Fire Damages Donations at Fresno Mission Thrift Store

DON'T MISS

Oil Falls Amid Bearish Trump Tariff Outlook

DON'T MISS

Higher Premiums and Lost Coverage: How Trump’s Budget Will Change Health Care in California

UP NEXT

Mahmoud Khalil Seeks $20 Million From Trump Administration Over Immigration Arrest

UP NEXT

Madera County Authorities Seek Public’s Help Finding Next of Kin for Man Who Died in Hospital

UP NEXT

Six Secret Service Agents Punished Over Trump Assassination Attempt

UP NEXT

Fresno Teens Arrested in Violent Assaults That Injured Two Men, Including Elderly Victim

UP NEXT

Wonderful Co. Has a New Face Promoting Pistachios: MVP Josh Allen

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Francisco Salvador Zuniga

UP NEXT

Fire Damages Donations at Fresno Mission Thrift Store

UP NEXT

Oil Falls Amid Bearish Trump Tariff Outlook

UP NEXT

Higher Premiums and Lost Coverage: How Trump’s Budget Will Change Health Care in California

UP NEXT

Fresno County Fire Destroys Structures, Contained at 20 Acres

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Six Secret Service Agents Punished Over Trump Assassination Attempt

3 hours ago

Fresno Teens Arrested in Violent Assaults That Injured Two Men, Including Elderly Victim

4 hours ago

Wonderful Co. Has a New Face Promoting Pistachios: MVP Josh Allen

5 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Francisco Salvador Zuniga

5 hours ago

Fire Damages Donations at Fresno Mission Thrift Store

5 hours ago

Oil Falls Amid Bearish Trump Tariff Outlook

5 hours ago

Higher Premiums and Lost Coverage: How Trump’s Budget Will Change Health Care in California

6 hours ago

Fresno County Fire Destroys Structures, Contained at 20 Acres

6 hours ago

State Department Says Reorganization Plan Moving to Implementation

6 hours ago

Fresno Suspect Caught After Jumping Out of Second-Floor Window, 2 Others Arrested

7 hours ago

Some of Iran’s Enriched Uranium Survived Attacks, Israeli Official Says

WASHINGTON — Israel has concluded that some of Iran’s underground stockpile of near-bomb-grade enriched uranium survived American and Israel...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

Some of Iran’s Enriched Uranium Survived Attacks, Israeli Official Says

Mahmoud Khalil speaks in an interview with Reuters in New York City, U.S., July 2, 2025. (Reuters File)
3 hours ago

Mahmoud Khalil Seeks $20 Million From Trump Administration Over Immigration Arrest

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help locating the next of kin of Jeffrey Keith Cable, who died June 24, 2025, and whose family remains unidentified. (Madera County SO)
3 hours ago

Madera County Authorities Seek Public’s Help Finding Next of Kin for Man Who Died in Hospital

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump with his bloodied face is assisted by the Secret Service as multiple shots rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 13, 2024. (AP File)
3 hours ago

Six Secret Service Agents Punished Over Trump Assassination Attempt

4 hours ago

Fresno Teens Arrested in Violent Assaults That Injured Two Men, Including Elderly Victim

5 hours ago

Wonderful Co. Has a New Face Promoting Pistachios: MVP Josh Allen

Francisco Salvador Zuniga is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for July 10, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
5 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Francisco Salvador Zuniga

A fire at the Fresno Mission Thrift Store on Thursday, July 10, 2025, damaged up to 30 pallets of donations, forced a road closure, and led to a temporary halt in operations, officials said. (Google Maps Screenshot)
5 hours ago

Fire Damages Donations at Fresno Mission Thrift Store

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend