South of Sunnyside

This is several weeks late at this point, but shortly after my previous posts regarding Fresh & Easy, I drafted a letter to the Sunnyside Property Owners Association to inquire about their objections. I never sent the letter, but since Kim decided to attend the board meeting tonight, I asked her to hand deliver it.

Based on delays at other locations, the issue seems moot, but I really am curious to know what SPOA supports, and how they justified their objections to the rezone that would have made this possible.

March 10, 2009

Sean Sagardia
President
Sunnyside Property Owners Association

Dear Sean,

My wife and I are Sunnyside property owners, residing in the Granville development south of the country club.

Several months ago—it may have been close to a year now—a representative from Granville shared with me plans for the vacant land that separates our neighborhood from Clovis Avenue. I was ecstatic to learn that these plans were anchored by Fresh & Easy, as our options for prepared food are very limited in Southeast Fresno. I’d prefer more restaurants, but I would certainly consider an option like Fresh & Easy as a step forward for our area.

Recently, The Business Journal outlined several proposed locations for the Fresh & Easy’s expansion throughout Fresno and Clovis; to my surprise, Sunnyside was not included in the list. I considered that the chain’s slowed development might be to blame, though other proposed locations were mentioned, but then I read in the recent edition of Sunnysider that SPOA has opposed the zoning change that would allow for the market, and that application has been put on hold.

I have no doubt that the mixed-use development described in the newsletter would increase traffic, but I’m curious to know if SPOA has access to any studies that quantify the specific affect on noise and traffic. Clovis Avenue, especially at this location, could handle additional vehicles—then again, such a development would serve residents already in the area more than it would provide a destination for those outside of Sunnyside.

I’d appreciate additional information on SPOA’s objections to this development and the required rezone. To that point, I’d also appreciate an outline of things—shared values, projects, plans for the future—that SPOA supports, as my only awareness at this point is of things the group has opposed.

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

James Collier

Similar Posts:

• Found (sort of): Fresh & Easy
• Not so Fresh & Easy
• I’m on a highway to…Kings Canyon