Summary: The Planning Commission
has submitted it's recommendations for changes to the
General Plan to the City Council. The City Council
will conduct a meeting to review these at a later date.
Your Action Required: The recommendations in the Resolution
will be constrictive to business growth and expansion
in the City of Richmond.
We are asking you to
contact City Manager Bill Lindsay, City Planning Director
Richard Mitchell, The Mayor and City Council Members AND
ASK THEM TO SUPPORT A GENERAL PLAN THAT DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
The email and hardcopy letter should be sent out as soon
as possible.
We also recommend that you attend the City
Council meeting on January 17th -
presence at a City Council meeting is very impactful
as others in the audience do not see or hear
the concerns that are emailed or mailed in -
standing up and expressing your concerns become
part of the public record.
Concerns:
- The Planning Commission did not follow due process.
They entered recommendations from the Citizen's for
a Better Environment (CBE) letter that was submitted
after the public and written comment was closed. This
shows a lack of transparency by the Planning Commission
and undermines a multiple year public review process.
- The recommended changes circumvented the Environmental
Review Process.
- Regulatory duplication -- The proposals
provide for duplication of Federal, State and Regional
authorities and existing complex and highly technical
air regulation programs already in place. The
City lacks the personnel and the budget to support duplication
of these services.
- Proposed measures will result in existing
and potential new businesses to either defer or terminate
investment and development in the City at a time where
we are experiencing 15.3% unemployment and tax revenues
from smart growth are needed.
Specifics: ASK THE COUNCIL TO:
- REJECT - Industrial/Commercial Land Use ordinance
(GP Action EC1.D) This would require:
- Installing new or replacement equipment only
with "efficient, least-emitting technology". This does
not consider the financial burden nor the lack of available
technology to address this.
- Companies to provide financial
support for public transit access to serve "100% of direct and indirect
transportation needs associated with major industrial
and commercial uses." It is unclear what "direct" and "indirect" needs
refer to, the cost for an employer to support such a
program or whether there is a need for such a program.
- Achieving "maximum feasible energy efficiency" for
fossil-fueled uses. This could include equipment,
vehicles, transportation modes that are "fossil-fueled".
2. REJECT - Local Air
Quality Regulation that would duplicate and conflict with
Federal, State,
and
Regional Regulation (GP Actions EC5.C, CR5.E; Policies
EC1.1, EC5.3; Action HW9.U)
- Ask the City continue to collaborate with established
regulatory agencies and state frameworks for comprehensive
regulation of air pollution by air pollution control
agencies using specified health, economic and technical
criteria.
- Ask the City to continue to utilize CEQA standards
of significance for air emissions and other subjects
established by the BAAQMD.
3. REJECT - Climate
Action, Leadership and Advocacy Changes (Actions EC1.A,
HW10.A and CN5.E)
- Ask the City to continue to collaborate with the community
on the Climate Action Plan Leadership and Advocacy elements
of the General Plan as it originally was proposed by
City Staff and delete the amendments proposed by the
CBE.
- Ask the City not to adopt the proposed CBE amendments
to the General Plan Policy EC1.1 (Leadership and Advocacy)
and General Plan Actions EC1.A, HW10.A, CN5.E (Climate
Action Plan)
Please feel free to call should you have any questions.
Download the Planning Commission
Recommendations which are included in Resolution 11-20 >>
Download the COI review of Resolution 11-20 and recommended changes >>
Download the COI letter to Richmond Mayor,
Council and City Staff >>
