Thursday, March 22, 2012, 7pm
Parchester Village Community Center, 900 Williams Street, Richmond

Thanks to all of you who came out to Richmond City Council on Jan 10 to URGE the Council to envision greatness for its City!

And, THANKS to Mayor McLaughlin and Councilmember Beckles for remaining firmly in support of Parks and Open Space!

In spite of your eloquent pleas, it was unfortunately business as usual as Councilmembers Bates and Booze remained firm for development, with support from Ritterman. Vice Mayor Rogers remained the swing vote who prevented either side from getting a majority. Butt was recused because of a complaint from one of the property owners.

Because the Council could not agree on any of the three options, the General Plan goes back to the Planning Commission to add 'development standards'. This is a bit irregular and a possible slippery slope. This also means that the whole General Plan cannot be approved until the North Shore element is completed.

The votes:

• First Vote was Option B (Motion-Booze/Bates)- Business/Industrial .25-30 FAR; 55' height maximum w/ ammendment from Ritterman to add development standards. This option allows more intense development than current zoning.
  Vote: Ayes-Booze, Ritterman, Bates; Noes- Rogers, Beckles, McLaughlin.
• Second Vote was Option A - Open Space, Parks and Recreation with limited development.
  Vote: Ayes- Beckles, McLaughlin; Noes - Rogers, Booze, Ritterman, Bates
• Third Vote was Option C Limited/Light Industrial up to .5 FAR, height 35" (current land use) + adding developing standards (Ritterman/Booze). This option is most similar to the 1993 North Richmond Specific Plan.
  Vote: Ayes: Booze, Ritterman, Bates; Noes- Rogers, Beckles, McLaughlin

Rogers made the motion and Beckles second to send this back to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Bates objected. Vote: Ayes - Rogers, Beckles, McLaughlin, Ritterman;

Stay tuned for next steps-- Possibly Richmond Planning Commission on February 2.

                 Breuner Marsh Restoration & Public Access Project

The East Bay Regional Park District is developing a restoration and public access project at the Breuner Marsh at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. Key project goals are to restore historic San Francisco Bay wetlands, close a key gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail and develop other public access facilities.

1. Download: Breuner Marsh Proposed Project, Project Alternative, and Cross Section Illustration (3 pages)
2. Download: Breuner Marsh Project - Initial Study Checklist (26 pages)
3. Download: Breuner Marsh Project - Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Scoping Session for
   an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (6 pages)
4. Download: Breuner Marsh Project - PowerPoint Presentation (25 pages)
5. Download: Breuner Marsh Project - Fact Sheet (2 pages)

Please copy the message below into your email with your personal edits & your name & address!
NOTE: If the email button below does not work properly, just send your message to info@northrichmondshoreline.org and we'll gladly forward it. Thank you!

SUGGESTED MESSAGE:

Subject: Please Protect the North Richmond Shoreline

Dear Richmond City Council,  

We have an historic opportunity to create a legacy of open space and wildlife habitat along Richmond's North Shoreline. Instead of protecting poor investments of land developers at the shoreline, we should prioritize open space and recreation for all of Richmond to enjoy.  

We urge you to zone this shoreline so that there will be economic value for the property owners, yet save them from building warehouses that will be under water in the near future.   

Please support changing the land use on this shoreline to: (1) Open Space, (2) Parks and Recreation, (3) Public, Cultural and Institutional and (4) Agriculture into a Mixed Use called "Community Low Intensity Commerce and Recreation." Apply it to the currently undeveloped properties along the North Richmond Shoreline adjacent the Richmond Parkway.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Name & Address