Fresno County Board of Supervisors Candidate Questionnaire 2008

Susan Anderson

1. Do you support the widening of Ashlan Avenue?

1. I support and will make this happen
2. I support this and will vote in favor for the issue should someone else present it
3. I oppose this
4. I oppose this and will work actively to prevent it

 ANSWER: d. Ashlan should not be widened. The Fig Garden neighborhood is a "jewel" in Fresno County and should be preserved. Widening of Ashlan would be detrimental to this historical neighborhood.

2. Do you support the annexation of the Fig Garden area into the city of Fresno?

1. I support and will make this happen
2. I support this and will vote in favor of the issue should someone else present it
3. I oppose this
4. I oppose this and will work actively to prevent it

ANSWER: d. The Fig Garden island is large enough so that services can be provided efficiently. Although both the city and county general plans call for annexation of all county islands, there should be careful consideration before the Fig island is reduced any further. At some point in the near future, the city and county should agree that the Fig island will not continue to be "chipped away" with one parcel annexed at a time. This would require a change in the county general plan and I will work with Fig residents to pursue this change.

3. Do you support parcel annexation into the city of Fresno? (Annexation of individual parcels that are contiguous to City)

1. I support and will make this happen
2. I support this and will vote in favor of the issue should someone else present it
3. I oppose this
4. I oppose this and will work actively to prevent it

ANSWER: c - as stated above, the county general plan should be changed so that the Fig Island is not "chipped away." Until this change is made and the city and county come to an agreement, parcel annexation will continue under the current rules.

4. Do you support street beautification in Old Fig Garden?

1. I support and will make this happen
2. I support this and will vote in favor of the issue should someone else present it
3. I oppose this
4. I oppose this and will work actively to prevent it

ANSWER: a, if changes are appropriate for Fig Garden. I have been working with residents to develop a plan for improvement to streets in the Fig Garden area. However, any changes to the neighborhood must be very carefully thought out, as many Fig residents prefer no change to landscaping and streets.

5. Do you support commercial or office zoning in the Fig Garden area that is not currently commercial?

1. I support and will make this happen
2. I support this and will vote in favor of the issue should someone else present it
3. I oppose this
4. I oppose this and will work actively to prevent it

Answer: d

6. Do you support the construction of a commercial development including but not limited to a convenience store, gas station and/or car wash on the northeast corner of Fruit and Ashlan?

1. I support and will make this happen
2. I support this and will vote in favor of the issue should someone else present it
3. I oppose this
4. I oppose this and will work actively to prevent it

Answer: d - I have worked with residents to prevent this from moving forward in the past.

7. Do you support maintaining current development standards that will maintain our current semi-rural atmosphere?

1. I support and will make this happen
2. I support this and will vote in favor of the issue should someone else present it
3. I oppose this
4. I oppose this and will work actively to prevent it

ANSWER: a. I have demonstrated my support in the past for preserving Fig Garden.

FURTHER COMMENTS: Thank you for the opportunity to address your neighborhood. I have great appreciation for the Fig Garden area. It is truly an asset to the entire County. Christmas Tree Lane is a wonderful gift to thousands of residents in Fresno County and many visitors. As your current supervisor, I understand and appreciate the issues facing your county island. I have consistently voted to protect the Fig area and will continue to do so if re-elected. I would appreciate your votes. Please contact my campaign at 222-7411 if you have questions or need further information.

Sincerely, Susan B. Anderson