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City Approves Downtown Plans

Posted Friday, January 29, 2010; 14:01 PM

The Fulton Corridor Specific Plan and the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan move forward

by James Olinger

Fresno, CA (Jan. 28, 2010) – The Fresno City Council decided unanimously Thursday to go forward on the contract with the consultant for the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan and the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan.

The plans will put into place new city laws that will make it easier and further entice developers to do projects in downtown Fresno. Also, by putting both of the plans together, the city stands to save $1.3 million, in part by conducting one environmental impact report rather than two.

Council Member Andreas made a statement saying that Fresno is good at high-priced consultants to do plans, and then nothing comes of them. Member Lee Brand brought up past plans that did not fully measure up to expectations, saying “Plans alone will not make change.”

Council President Larry Westerlund said that the changing of code is what sets this apart from other similar plans.

The city’s Downtown and Community Revitalization Dept. Director Craig Scharton called the council’s decision “historic.”

“This in history will be a moment when we changed our course as a community, and to have unanimous support I think should tell everyone that this city is serious about revitalization,” he said.

Scharton said that the plans’ necessary funds will come from the Community Development Block Grant funds, which are federal funds earmarked to invest in low-income communities to help alleviate poverty.

Art Farkas is on the consultant team for Moule and Polyzoides, which produced the specific plan. He also serves on the board of directors of the Downtown Association of Fresno.

“The passage of this moving to move forward on the specific plan, not just for downtown but for the neighborhoods as well, is historic because of all the things that you heard today,” Farkas said. “It’s gonna clear out the antiquated laws and codes that have been holding back development.”