Campus Pointe deal takes shape
Fresno Bee 3/6/07
The agreement centers on traffic-related projects to reduce effects of the development, which will be built west of Highway 168 and north of Shaw Avenue.
The agreement was reached with Campus Pointe's developer, Ed Kashian, and California State University, Fresno, Auxiliary Corporations.
Two of the projects were extending Tollhouse Road to Bullard Avenue in case an emergency backs up traffic along Barstow Avenue, and widening a portion of Barstow Avenue to four lanes with additional turn lanes.
Another project is installation of security cameras for traffic at Shaw and Willow avenues and Barstow and Willow avenues.
The city is requesting those projects be built by November.
Clovis officials pledged to work with university representatives and also suggested getting the city of Fresno, Fresno County and Caltrans involved in regular meetings to discuss transportation problems in the area.
The middle of Willow Avenue is the border between Fresno and Clovis, and the university is on the Fresno side, leaving Clovis little leverage over projects needing work west of Willow.
Cynthia Matson, the university's chief financial officer said the university's willingness to agree to several projects shows "we are trying to be good partners and good neighbors."
But council members continue to have issues with the environmental report for the project, including concerns that the city's two theaters could be in jeopardy if a 14-screen theater opens at Campus Pointe. A new 16-screen theater opened in December at Sierra Vista Mall, three miles from the campus.
Council Member Bob Whalen, an alumnus and one-time student body president at Fresno State, said he doesn't like to oppose the university. He said businesspeople in Clovis who support the university may now have to compete with businesses coming to Campus Pointe.
"Why does Fresno State, for lack of a better term, insist on biting the hand that feeds them?" he asked.
With restaurants and retailers proposed at Campus Pointe, the city also is concerned that blight along Shaw Avenue would be accelerated as Campus Pointe develops.
City officials also question whether those businesses reflect the university's mission.
The proposed hotel, theater and other businesses were a response to a survey of needs from the university community, said Deborah Adishian-Astone, associate vice president for auxiliary operations at the university.
The university, she said, is not trying to compete with the city even though that may be one result of Campus Pointe.
Clovis city officials will make their problems with Campus Pointe known next week in Long Beach when CSU trustees discuss certifying the project's environmental document.