III. Provide for a range of commercial and industrial uses to stimulate a strong growing local economy and job opportunities for residents.
Land use section states:
Light Industry/919 (FAR - not to exceed 0.65):
In addition to the types of uses permitted under the Industrial/Office Flex category, the uses within this category include warehousing, distribution centers, commercial nurseries and related establishments which have limited external impact on the surrounding area. It is assumed that these uses are located within open and attractive settings where development is carefully controlled to ensure compatibility between the industrial operations and other activities in the area. Where light industrial uses are adjacent to residential neighborhoods, particular care should be give to "buffer" the uses.
Heavy Industry/901 (FAR - not to exceed 0.65):
This category accommodates a wide variety of industrial uses including, but not limited to, oil refining, contractors' storage yards, warehouses, machine shops, co-generation plants, and other "heavy" industrial type uses. The industrial activities are traditionally larger scale and include very little to no office space. Most patently obnoxious uses are in this category and require conditional use permits. Commercial nurseries relating to non-edible agricultural products and support retail/service uses are allowed within this category.
Port/Marine Terminal/Ship Repair/906 (FAR - not to exceed 0.5):
The Port of Richmond is a valuable component of the City's economic base whose long-term viability needs to be sustained. Use of lands within this district should therefore be reserved for a wide range of municipal or private maritime marine terminals, cargo handling, ancillary manufacturing or related establishments that are dependent on direct port access for the import or export of raw materials or finished products. There is a large concentration of these uses along the Santa Fe Channel. Included in this designation are areas designated for Port-Priority Use under the BCDC/MTC Seaport Plan, and land uses included within port priority use areas (see Glossary for definition). In addition to marine terminals, cargo handling (e.g. autos, containers, iron, steel, commodity handling), and ancillary manufacturing and office uses, the following types of uses may be found within this category: ship/boat repair, sales, and storage, marinas, moorage, scrap yard, support services for the fishing industry, trucking and railroad yards, manufacturing uses which extensively use rail or transport facilities, and other ancillary uses allowed within port priority use areas. Uses not requiring a proximity to the port should be located elsewhere in the City, in an otherwise appropriate district.
LU-B.2 Accommodate heavy industrial uses in large areas buffered from major arterials and adjacent uses.
LU-B.3 Locate light industrial and industrial/office flex uses so as to ensure compatibility between the industrial operations and other activities and to enhance the character of the district, community and environment in which they are located.
LU-B.4 Establish performance standards to govern the development and operation of industrial facilities to safeguard adjacent industrial uses, residential areas, and other land uses in the community which might otherwise be affected.
LU-B.5 Require sufficient visual open space and/or landscaped screening between industrial operations and adjacent residential or recreational activities in order to create adequate buffers.
LU-O.7 Avoid land uses that place residential dwellings with "heavy" industrial and maritime uses. (Same as Noise Element NE-A.4.)
LU-O.8 Continue to explore ways of modernizing and renovating the port and marine terminal facilities. (Same as Economic Development Element Policy ED-B.5)
LU-O.9 Actively encourage shipping firms to utilize local marine terminals as a starting point or destination for overland shipment of goods. (Same as Economic Development Element Policy ED-B.6)
LU-O.10 Reserve certain segments of the shoreline having access to navigable water for marine terminals and closely associated uses. (Same as Economic Development Policy ED-B.7)
LU-O.11 Require the creation of a port and water-related industry zoning district, which encompasses the area surrounding the Santa Fe/Harbor Channels which should protect, preserve and enhance the District for marine terminals and water-related industry. (Same as Economic Development Policy ED-B.10)
LU-P.1 Promote industrial development which creates maximum job opportunities for area residents. (Similar to Economic Development Element Policy ED-A.1.)