Perea promotes urban sprawl
In 2013, Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea initiated a study of 5,000 acres near Friant. The study was funded by development interests, several of which support him for mayor of Fresno.
In 2015, Perea called a joint meeting of the Madera and Fresno County boards of supervisors to share land-use visions for the construction of 25,000 new homes in rural southeast Madera County and thousands more in rural northeast Fresno County.
Perea and other Fresno County supervisors support a major change in county land-use policy. The General Plan policy limits growth to areas where essential infrastructure already exists. The change would allow development wherever infrastructure can be provided.
According to Bee reporter John Ellis, during Perea’s 2013 State-of-the-County address, Perea said, “I know there are some folks saying, ‘Well, gosh, what does that mean to downtown Fresno?’ What does that mean to the inner city? Is it going to hurt it more? Some will call it sprawl. I don’t. I mean, there was a time I would have, but I think downtown will rise and fall on its own.”
Fresnans, please choose as your new mayor someone who champions urban renewal over urban sprawl.
Radley Reep, Clovis
This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Perea promotes urban sprawl."