Shall Richmond's General Plan Support Shoreline Parks and Open Space?

CESP looks forward to a time when all Richmond residents will have access to their entire shoreline. The 2 year-long public outreach phase of the general plan process has demonstrated that this is the will of the people of Richmond.

A rare opportunity exists now for the City to envision and plan for greatness. Richmond's 32-mile shoreline could be planned for public ownership and become one of the dazzling jewels in the Bay's necklace of shoreline parks.

In 2008, the City Council set forth a range of land use options to be studied for the general plan Environmental Impact Report. Finally, the General Plan will be released to the public July 15, 2009.

The following public meetings will give more opportunity for the City to hear from the public about its desire to protect Richmond's shoreline (exact dates to be determined):

  • Two Planning Commission study Sessions (one in August and one in September)
  • City Council study session in October
  • Draft EIR released in October and public review of draft EIR in November
  • City Council and Planning Commission hearing in December for an approved plan in December 2009 or January 2010

It is essential that the Council and Planning Commission hear from the public about the environmental, economic, social, and recreational values of protecting the Richmond Shoreline!

North Richmond Shoreline. CESP is committed to preserving the waterfront as open space by preventing any further development. The North Richmond shoreline, where Rheem Creek flows into San Pablo Bay, is home to millions of migrating birds. Its 500 acres of tidal marshes and 800 acres of mudflats shelter many threatened and endangered species. Just off shore is the largest eelgrass bed in SF Bay - important feeding, escape and breeding habitat for many species of invertebrates, waterfowl, and fishes. Preserving this shoreline corridor as open space offers a unique opportunity to create a visible edge to the city with stunning long views in every direction.

Pt. San Pablo Peninsula, including Point Molate. San Pablo Peninsula separates San Francisco and San Pablo bays. Chevron is on the east and beautiful views are to the west. Pt. San Pablo was the site of the last operating whaling station in the U.S. and is a great candidate for future parkland and trails. Pt. Molate's scenic 5 miles of shoreline include a tranquil beach, open space, historic buildings, stunning views of Mt. Tam, and populations of native fish offshore and grasses on shore.

South Richmond Shoreline. North of Pt. Isabel Regional Park and south of Marina Bay, the Zeneca/Campus Bay site is an integral part of the South Richmond Shoreline, offering great views of SF Bay and hosting a stretch of the Bay Trail. It is also one of the most toxic sites in California. Despite the clean-up challenges, CESP envisions the shoreline of the Zeneca site becoming an extension of the adjacent Eastshore State Park.

You can help preserve a legacy of shoreline open space and access for all.

  • Write or call Richmond City Council (contact information on bottom of page)
  • Attend Planning Commission Study Sessions. Check City website www.cityofrichmondgeneralplan.org/ or send CESP your email address so we can alert you when they are scheduled: pjones@eastshorepark.org.
  • Share our information with your neighbors and urge them to participate in the general plan process.
  • Volunteer to call and write to residents of Richmond
  • Donate money to support our effort to save the shoreline!

Things you might want to ask of the City Council:

  • Oppose development of the shoreline.
  • Support open space, parks and recreation along our shorelines for cleaner air and better public health.
  • Provide permanent protections for the bay shores that are part of the Public Trust.
  • Support public access to the Richmond shoreline for all its residents.

The general plan must include policies that firmly state and assure specific measures to prevent damage caused by development, including:

  • Any mitigation money should be spent in Richmond.
  • Any shoreline properties with commercial designations should be zoned with the lowest intensity possible under the law.
  • The City should adopt a comprehensive "Transfer of Development Rights" ordinance to enable property owners to transfer development rights from shore-line properties to inland lands better suited to development.

For more specific details about CESP's position on each of these Richmond shoreline areas, visit our website at www.eastshoreparks.org or view the Richmond General Plan.

Richmond City Council meets Tuesdays, 7 pm
Council Chambers, City Hall, 440 Civic Center Plaza (@ 27th between Barrett Ave. and MacDonald Ave.), Richmond
Televised on KCRT, Channel 28

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, Gayle_McLaughlin@officeofthemayor.net
ph: 620-6503, fax: 412-2070, City Hall @ 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804

COUNCIL MEMBERS

PLANNING COMMISSIONERS CITY STAFF

City of Richmond General Plan web sites:
http://www.cityofrichmondgeneralplan.org or http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=840

 

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