A major industrial project in southeast Fresno has overcome a legal roadblock to construction, combatting an environmental suit designed to prevent the project from proceeding.
Attorneys for a Southern California environmental activist group moved to dismiss a lawsuit against the City of Fresno and the developer of the project, Scannell Properties, over its proposed warehouse plans.
Driving the news: Scannell Properties received approval from city lawmakers last year to develop a $100 million warehouse project in southeast Fresno that will provide an estimated 1,000 jobs to the community.
- The plan is to develop 48 acres located at the northeast corner of N. Marks and W. Nielsen avenues.
- The development, as approved in 2024, will have four offices and warehouse buildings over 900,000 square feet that would be zoned for heavy industrial uses.
Flashback: Corona-based Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance initially filed a lawsuit against the city just before City Council members approved the project. After a dismissal over ripeness, they refiled the suit in March 2024 to block the project, mere weeks after the Fresno City Council approved it.
- The environmental justice group claimed the project would bring damaging emissions to a region that is already burdened by pollution.
- Golden State Environmental also claimed that the project’s environmental review violated state law.
The big picture: A year after the suit was filed, Golden State Environmental filed a motion to dismiss, enabling Scannell to proceed with construction.
