5 7. The Community Development Director or designee is hereby directed to distribute copies of the Richmond Housing Element Update in the manner provided in Government Code Sections 65357 and 65589.7.
----------------
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City council of the City of Richmond, California held on the 24th day of January 2023, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER :
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER :
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER:
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
Approved:
_______________________________________
EDUARDO MARTINEZ
Mayor
Approved as to form:
_______________________________________
DAVE ALESHIRE
City Attorney
Exhibit A: Addendum to the Certified General Plan EIR
Exhibit B: Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element
(redlined to show the Planning Commission’s recommended changes)
Exhibit C: Compliance with Statutory Provisions
CITY OF RICHMOND
General Plan Updates:
Housing Element,
Environmental Justice
Element, and
Amendments to the
Public Safety & Noise
Element
Addendum to the
Richmond General Plan Update
Final Environmental Impact Report
(SCH# 2008022018)
December 12, 2022
Planning Commission Hearing Draft
Prepared by
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose of Addendum and Legal Standards ................................................................................ 2
1.2 Project Background; General Plan EIR ........................................................................................ 4
1.3 Documents Incorporated by Reference ........................................................................................ 5 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Regional and Project Location ........................................................................................................ 6
2.2 The General Plan Updates .............................................................................................................. 6 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................................. 24
3.1 Land Use Consistency and Compatibility ................................................................................... 25
3.2 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................................ 26
3.3 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................................... 30
3.4 Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................................... 31
3.5 Climate Change/Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................ 34
3.6 Geology, Soils, and Minerals ......................................................................................................... 38
3.7 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ................................................................................................ 40
3.8 Hydrology and Water Quality ....................................................................................................... 42
3.9 Noise ................................................................................................................................................. 44
3.10 Parks and Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 45
3.11 Public Services ................................................................................................................................. 46
3.12 Public Utilities.................................................................................................................................. 48
3.13 Transportation and Circulation .................................................................................................... 50
3.14 Visual Resources ............................................................................................................................. 52
3.15 Population and Housing ................................................................................................................ 54 4 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 56 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 58
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ii
List of Tables
Table 1: RHNA Allocation and Percentage of Income Distribution for Richmond ...................... 9 Table 2: Richmond Housing Element Goals and Policies ................................................................10 Table 3: Summary of Implementation Actions ...................................................................................17 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
AB Assembly Bill
ABAG Association of Bay Area Governments
AMI Area Median Income
CalEPA California Environmental Protection Agency
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
City City of Richmond
County Contra Costa County
DEIR Draft Environmental Impact Report
DOF California Department of Finance
EIR Environmental Impact Report
FEIR Final Environmental Impact Report
GHG Greenhouse gas
HCD California Housing and Community Development Department NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Project General Plan Updates, including Housing Element, Environmental Justice Element, and Amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Allocation
RMC Richmond Municipal Code
SB Senate Bill
VMT vehicle miles traveled
1 Introduction
This Addendum Report is intended to serve as the environmental documentation for the City of Richmond‘s proposed General Plan Updates, which include a Housing Element, a new Environmental Justice Element, and Amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element. It is an addendum to the City of Richmond General Plan 2030 Final Environmental Impact Report ( EIR) SCH# 2008022018 to demonstrate that the analysis contained in that EIR adequately addresses the potential physical impacts associated with implementation of the City’s proposed General Plan updates, as required by the Califor nia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and that none of the conditions described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 calling for the preparation of a subsequent EIR or negative declaration have occurred.
The “proposed project” analyzed i n this addendum is the proposed 6th Cycle (2023 -2031) Housing Element, October 2022 Environmental Justice Element , and Amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element to include evacuation route analysis and associat ed policies and actions, as required by State law. State law requires that housing elements be updated every eight years (California Government Code Sections 65580 to 65589.8). The Housing Element Update identifies residential sites adequate to accommodate a variety of housing types for all income levels and needs of special population groups, defined under State law (California Government Code Section 65583). It analyzes governmental constraints to housing maintenance, improvement, and development; address es conservation and improvement of the condition of existing affordable housing stock; and outlines policies that promote housing opportunities for all persons. The City of Richmond Housing Element is being updated as part of the State’s 6th cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
The proposed General Plan Update is also intended to meet the community’s and City Council’s vision for environmental justice, hazard mitigation, evacuation route planning , and emergency preparedness ensuring that the City maintains the character established in the 2030 General Plan and the policies and implementing actions for economic development, growth management, land use and transportation, community health and wellnes s, environmental stewardships, and community facilities and services. This section explains the background and purpose of the addendum, establishes its context and scope, and provides references to relevant previous environmental review documents and reports. The City of Richmond is the Lead Agency for the proposed project for purposes of e nvironmental review under CEQA.
The term “l ead agency” is defined by S ection 21067 of CEQA as “the p ublic agency which has the p rincipal responsibility for carrying out or approving a p roject which may have a significant effect upon the environment.”
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2 1.1 Purpose of Addendum and Legal Standards
As required by CEQA G uidelines, the City of Richmond has reviewed the i nformation regarding the proposed project and determined that it is appropriate to prepare an addendum to the certified Final EIR on the General Plan Updates. The p rimary purpose of this addendum is to satisfy CEQA requirements by fully documenting why impacts that may occur as a result of adopting the proposed amendment are consistent with impacts studied in the General Plan Final EIR. The addendum describes why the proposed project would not result in a s ubstantial increase in the severity of p reviously identified significant effects, or n ew information of substantial importance when compared to the analysis in the certified General Plan Final EIR. The proposed General Plan Updates are described in Section 2 of the addendum.
These General Plan Update s do not change the designation of f uture land uses , so new development will be subject to the same standards and review procedures current ly in place.
Additionally, all development will continue to be subject to review on a project -by-project basis to determine compliance with CEQA. If necessary, project-level CEQA review will be required to determine project-specific impacts.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 specifies the type of documentation required when changes are proposed to a project. CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 states:
“(a) When an EIR has been certified or a negative declaration adopted for a project, no subsequent EIR shall be prepared for that project unless the lead agency determines, on the basis of substantial evidence in the light of the whole record, one or more of the following:
(1) Substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or negative declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects;
(2) Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or negative declaration due to the involvement of new significa nt environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; or
(3) New information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence a t the time the previous EIR was certified as complete or the negative declaration was adopted, shows any of the following:
(A) The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR or negative declaration;
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3 (B) Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
(C) Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; or (D) Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mit igation measure or alternative.
(b) If changes to a project or its circumstances occur or new information becomes available after adoption of a negative declaration, the lead agency shall prepare a subsequent EIR if required under subdivision (a). Otherwise the lead agency shall determine whether to prepare a subsequent negative declaration, an addendum, or no further documentation.
(c) Once a project has been approved, the lead agency's role in project approval is completed, unless further discretionary ap proval on that project is required.
Information appearing after an approval does not require reopening of that approval.
If after the project is approved, any of the conditions described in subdivision (a) occurs, a subsequent EIR or negative declaration shall only be prepared by the public agency which grants the next discretionary approval for the project, if any. In this situation no other responsible agency shall grant an approval for the project until the subsequent EIR has been certified or subsequent negative declaration adopted. (d) A subsequent EIR or subsequent negative declaration shall be given the same notice and public review as required under Section 15087 or Section 15072. A subsequent EIR or negative declaration shall state where the previou s document is available and can be reviewed.”
Section 15164 of the CEQA Guidelines includes situations when a subsequent or supplemental EIR is not required. CEQA Guidelines Section 15164 states:
“(a) The lead agency or responsible agency shall prepare an addendum to a previously certified EIR if some changes or additions are necessary but none of the conditions described in Section 15162 calling for preparation of a subsequent EIR have occurred. (b) An addendum to an adopted negative declaration may be pre pared if only minor technical changes or additions are necessary or none of the conditions described in Section 15162 calling for the preparation of a subsequent EIR or negative declaration have occurred.
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4 (c) An addendum need not be circulated for public r eview but can be included in or attached to the final EIR or adopted negative declaration. (d) The decision making body shall consider the addendum with the final EIR or adopted negative declaration prior to making a decision on the project. (e) A brief ex planation of the decision not to prepare a subsequent EIR pursuant to Section 15162 should be included in an addendum to an EIR, the lead agency's findings on the project, or elsewhere in the record. The explanation must be supported by substantial evidence.”
The proposed project would fulfill none of the conditions outlined in the CEQA Guidelines above; it would not result in new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects requiring major revisions to the General Plan EIR. In fact, the General Plan Updates would reduce environmental impacts from the land uses contemplated in the 2030 General Plan. Therefore, consideration and approval of this addendum will satisfy the requirements of CEQA, and no further analysis is required. This is because th e proposed General Plan Updates (the Environmental Justice Element , the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element and the Housing Element Update) would not permit more development or land uses of greater height or greater intensity than permitted under the adopted General Plan and would not allow new development in areas where such development is prohibited under the General Plan.
1.2 Project Background; General Plan EIR
On April 25, 2012, the Richmond City Council certified the Richmond General Plan Update Environmental Impa ct Report (SCH# 2008022018) and approved the Richmond General Plan 2030. The City's General Plan 2030 contains elements addressing land use, economic development, transportation, climate change, public safety, arts and culture, and open space conservation strategies to establish the framework for population and job growth and for provision of public services and facilities. General Plan 2030 is intended to guide development in the city through the year 2050. The analysis in the General Plan EIR addressed the short- and long-term impacts of the city -wide General Plan. The General Plan EIR also included analysis of alternatives and cumulative impacts associated with buildout of the General Plan. The EIR evaluated the potential for environmental impacts in the followin g issue areas:
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5 • Land Use Consistency and
Compatibility
• Demographics
• Air Quality
• Biological Resources
• Climate Change
• Cultural Resources
• Geology, Soils, and Minerals
• Hazards, Public Safety, and Flooding
• Hydrology and Water Quality
• Noise
• Parks and Recreation
• Public Services
• Public Utilities
• Transportation and Circulation
• Visual Resources
1.3 Documents Incorporated by Reference
The General Plan Update Draft EIR (DEIR) and Final EIR (FEIR) evaluated impacts associated with the City’s General Plan, including cumulative impacts associated with future development occurring under the General Plan. These documents, in their entirety, as well as the General Plan EIR Addendum for Change Area 12 , the Addendum for the zoning and subdivision regulations update, the Addendum for the 100 38th Street Project, and the technical reports and appendices p repared in conjunction with the previous General Plan D EIR and FEIR, are incorporated by reference into this addendum. Technical documents supporting the General Plan DEIR and FEIR, the addenda noted above, and this addendum are available for review at the City of Richmond Community Development Department. The General Plan DEIR and FEIR are also a vailable online at: www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2608/General-Plan- 2030.
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6 2 Project Description
The project analyzed in this Addendum is the proposed Environmental Justice Element, the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element , and the Housing Element Update , which together constitute the General Plan Updates. The proposed General Plan Updates are intended to implement State law, which calls for an Environmental Justice Element in General Plans, evacuation route planning in Safety Elements, and periodic updates to the General Plan Housing Element and reflect the community’s and City Council’s vision on these subjects .
This project description provides background information regarding the scope of the Environmental Justice Element, the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element, and the Housing Element Update , as well as the goals and policies of the proposed updates.
Additional details are provided in the proposed Hearing Drafts for General Plan Update, which are included as attachments to the City Staff Report for this action and can be reviewed on the City’s website (www.ci.richmond.ca.us/151/Council-Agenda-Documents or www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2864/Planning-Commission).
2.1 Regional and Project Location
The City of Richmond is located i n western Contra Costa County, California, on the San Francisco Bay. It is east of San Francisco and north of Berkeley and Oakland. The city boundaries of Richmond include the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in the north, Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve in the northeast, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in the east, and the more urbanized areas of downtown Richmond and the Richmond Harbor in the southeast and central Richmond. Between these different areas of Richmond are the City of San Pablo and the unincorporated area known as North Richmond. San Pablo is entirely surrounded by Richmond, and North Richmond is surrounded by Richmond and a small area of coastline on the San Pablo Bay.
This project applies to all land within the City’s planning area, as establi shed for the 2030 General Plan.
2.2 The General Plan Updates
BACKGROUND
The City of Richmond’s General Plan governs the land use and physical development within the City. The General Plan sets the long -range policy for the City and provides a unified and coherent framework and vision for the future of the community. The General Plan is the primary means for guiding future land use changes in Richmond.
State law requires that housing elements be updated every eight years (California Government Code Section 65588). The Housing Element must identify residential sites adequate to accommodate a variety of housing types for all income levels and to meet the needs of special
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7 population groups as defined under State law (California Government Code Section 65583).
The Housing Element analyzes market and governmental constraints to housing maintenance, improvement, and dev elopment; addresses conservation and improvement of the condition of existing affordable housing stock; and outlines policies that promote housing opportunities for all persons. The City of Richmond Housing Element is now being updated as part of the 6th cycle RHNA allocation, which is for planning period 2023 through 2031.
The following items represent substantive changes to State housing law since the City’s last Housing Element was adopted and certified in 2013. The Housing Element update has incorporated and addressed all pertinent housing law changes. • Affordable Housing Streamlined Approval Process: Senate Bill 35 (2017) • Additional Housing Element Sites Analysis Requirements: Assembly Bill 879 (2017) and Assembly Bill 1397 (2017)
• Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: Assembly Bill 686 (2017) • No-Net-Loss Zoning: Senate Bill 166 (2017)
• Safety Element to Address Adaptation and Resiliency: Senate Bill 1035 (2018) • By Right Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing: Assembly Bill 2162 (2018) and Assembly Bill 101 (2019)
• Accessory Dwelling Units: Assembly Bill 2299 (2016), Senate Bill 1069 (2016), Assembly Bill 494 (2017), Senate Bill 229 (2017), Assembly Bill 68 (2019), Assembly Bill 881 (2019), Assembly 587 (2019), Senate Bill 13 (2019), and Assembly Bill 671 (2019) • Density Bonus: Assembly Bill 1763 (2019)
• Housing Crisis Act of 2019: Senate Bill 330
• Surplus Land Act Amendments: Assembly Bill 1486 and AB 1255 (2019) • Housing Impact Fee Data: Assembly Bill 1483 (2019)
• Emergency and Transitional Housing Act of 2019: Assembly Bill 139 (2019) • Standardization of Sites Inventory Analysis and Reporting: Senate Bill 6 (2019) • Evacuation Routes: Senate Bill 99 and AB 747 (2019)
Further, since the adoption of General Plan 2030, new information on shoreline planning has been released. Specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has prepared and issued new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for many of Richmond’s shoreline areas.
Also, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) released its Adapting to Rising Tides Contra Costa County Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment report in February 2016, which includes a broad assessment of the county’s shoreline exposure to flooding or inundation from sea level rise and extreme tide events. Finally, the City participated with
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8 Contra Costa County in preparation of a local hazard mitigation plan1; Volume 2 of the Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan includes the Richm ond Annex, which is proposed to be adopted by the City as part of the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element.
In addition, the City adopted the Richmond Bay Specific Plan (RBSP) in 2016 , which is intended to accommodate growth along Richmond’s s outhern shoreline, including approximately 11.4 million square feet of new research and development, business, and service space, as well as housing near transit within the South Richmond Priority Development Area (PDA). With adoption of the RBSP, the City reassessed whether anticipated job growth in certain sectors should be directed to the Richmond Bay Specific Plan area and whether the supply of vacant and underutilized industrial land elsewhere in the City is more than sufficient to meet future needs for industrial space. The results of this assessment were reflected in a General Plan amendment for Change Area 12.
As a result of the General Plan Housing Element update required by State law, the City is required to update the Public Safety and Noise Element of the General Plan to include additional information on emergency preparedness, fire risks and evaluation routes, including route mapping and capacity analysis under alternative emergency preparedness. In addition, because two General Plan elements would be updated, the City is obligated, under the provisions of Senate Bill 1000, passed in 2016, to address environmental justice in the General Plan as well because the City has CalEPA identified disadvantaged communities within its boundaries. This could be done in a freestanding Environmental Justice Element pr through amendments to the other General Plan elements to integrate environmental justice goals, policies and objectives into them. The City has decided to prepare a separate Environmental Justice Element along with the required amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element.
The amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element include specific information required by State law (Assembly Bill (AB) 747 and Senate Bill (SB) 99:
• Map(s) of hazard zones;
• Identification and mapping of evacuation routes under a range of emergency scenarios and an analysis of their capacity (AB 747); and
• Identification of residential development with one point of egress (SB 99).
1 https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6842/Local-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan
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9 THE HOUSING ELEMENT
Regional Housing Needs Allocation
The RHNA reflects the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s determination of the projected housing needs in a region by household income level as a percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) was tasked with allocating this regional housing need among the jurisdictions in the ABAG region, which includes Richmond. Error! Reference source not found. shows the breakdown of the RHNA for Richmond during the 2023-2031 planning period. As shown in the Table, the City’s total RHNA is 3,614 units. The City had 40,831 households as of January 2022 (California Department of Finance [DOF] 2022).
Table 1: RHNA Allocation and Percentage of Income Distribution for Richmond Income Level Percent of Area Median Income (AMI) Units Percent Extremely Low and Very Low <50% 840 23%
Low 50-80% 485 13%
Moderate 80-120% 638 18%
Above Moderate >120% 1,651 46%
Total – 3,614 100%
Source: Association of Bay Area Governments Methodology and numbers were approved by ABAG’s Executive board on January 21, 2021 (Resolution No. 02-2021).
Housing Element Update Components
The 2022 Housing Element Update has the following major components:
• Introduction: An introduction to review the requirements of the Housing Element, public participation process, and data sources (Section I)
• Projected Housing Need: A profile and analysis of the cit y’s demographics, housing characteristics, and existing and future housing needs (Section II) • Housing Resources: A review of resources available to facilitate and encourage the production and maintenance of housing, including land available for new constru ction, financial and administrative resources available for housing, and opportunities for energy conservation (Section III)
• Housing Plan: A statement of the Housing Plan to address the city’s identified housing needs, including an assessment of past accom plishments, and a formulation of housing goals, policies, and programs (Section IV)
A series of appendices provide additional documentation. Appendix A provides information on the housing needs assessment, Appendix B is the sites inventory and methodology , Appendix C is the Housing Constraints, Appendix D is the Existing Programs Review, Appendix E is a summary of Public Participation, Appendix F includes information on Furthering Fair Housing, and Appendix G includes Housing Resources.
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10 Meeting the RHNA
State law requires that the goals and policies of the housing element shall encourage and facilitate the production of a range in types of housing affordable to households of varied income levels. The City supports this goal by identifying adequate sites for residential development (vacant sites and underutilized sites) that are appropriately zoned for the type and density that can accommodate housing for certain income levels. The Housing Element also identifies programs the City will take to support and incentivize housing development and address the City’s housing needs.
The vacant and underutilized sites identified for new housing can adequately accommodate the City’s RHNA as determined by the state Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) for t he 2023-2031 planning period. The City has identified an adequate number of sites so as to not require rezoning as part of the Housing Element Update ; therefore, no rezones are proposed. HCD reviews the Housing Element for adequacy.
Goals, Policies, and Programs
The primary objective of the Housing Element is to encourage the production of new housing units to meet the RHNA and housing for special needs populations. This is done by adopting a series of goal and policies that support housing programs related to housing production, special needs housing, neighborhood quality and fair housing. Table 2, below, includes a full list of Housing Element Update goals and associated policies.
Table 2: Richmond Housing Element Goals and Policies
Goals Supportive Policies
Goal 1: Promote new housing
construction to create more
equitable and affordable options
that meet Richmond’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation
(RHNA).
Policy 1.1 Housing Element Implementation. Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the City’ s Housing Element
Policy 1.2 Adequate Supply of Housing Sites. Ensure an adequate supply of housing sites to achieve the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers for the 2023-2031 planning period
Goal 2: Facilitate different
housing types to accommodate
housing needs of moderate- and
lower-income households and
create inclusive neighborhoods
for all income levels.
Policy 2.1 Supply of Affordable Housing. Promote the development of homes that are affordable to extremely low, very low, low, and moderate- income households in all new residential developments as well as in existing single-family neighborhoods.
Policy 2.2 Variety of Housing Choices and Access. Promote a variety of housing types that meet the different lifestyle and life cycle needs of residents including young adults, young couples and single professionals, small and large families, empty-nesters, and older couples.
Policy 2.3 Funding for Affordable Housing Development. Identify and secure funding sources to assist with affordable housing development Policy 2.4 Balanced Neighborhoods. Encourage a mix of affordable and market rate housing within neighborhoods.
Policy 2.5 Rent Subsidies for Affordable Housing. Identify and secure funding to provide rent subsidies that assist extremely low and very low- income families, seniors, and persons.
Goal 3: Remove constraints to
the development of housing.
Policy 3.1 Reduction of Housing Production Constraints. Implement measures to remove or reduce constraints to housing production in Richmond.
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11 Goals Supportive Policies
Policy 3.2 Collaboratively Address Constraints. Consult with stakeholders (e.g., housing organizations, for- and non-profit developers) to identify and seek solutions to address constraints to housing production.
Goal 4: Create housing
opportunities for people with
special needs, including seniors,
persons with disabilities, single-
parent households, first-time
homebuyers, large families,
unhoused individuals and
families.
Policy 4.1 Senior Housing Development. Actively seek to expand the development of affordable housing for extremely low, very low, low and moderate-income seniors.
Policy 4.2 Accessible Housing Opportunities. Actively seek to expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities in new and existing single- family and multifamily developments.
Policy 4.3 Child Daycare. Actively seek to expand child daycare opportunities to assist single-parent and dual-income households, especially those who are extremely low, very low, low, and moderate income.
Policy 4.4 First-Time Homebuyer Opportunities. Actively seek to expand housing opportunities for extremely low, very low, low, and moderate income first-time homebuyers
Policy 4.5 Large-Family Housing. Actively seek to expand housing opportunities for large families that are extremely low, very low, low, and moderate income
Goal 5: Conserve and improve
the existing housing stock to
enhance quality of life and
provide greater housing stability
and community resiliency.
Policy 5.1 Preservation and Modernization of Public Housing.
Preserve and systematically modernize Richmond’s public housing developments.
Policy 5.2 Conservation of At-Risk Affordable Housing Units. Facilitate the conservation of subsidized housing developments that are at risk of converting to market rate housing.
Policy 5.3 Abatement of Foreclosures, Substandard Housing, and Blight. Improve the physical, social, and economic health of neighborhoods by addressing foreclosures, substandard housing conditions, and neighborhood blight through a balanced program of education, code enforcement, inspections, acquisition, and financial assistance.
Goal 6: Promote fair housing
access and opportunities for all
persons.
Policy 6.1 Tenant Protections. Explore reasonable and enforceable regulations that protect tenants from evictions and exorbitant rent increases and refer residents with issues such as foreclosures, landlord-tenant disputes, and unlawful evictions, and housing discrimination to counseling services.
Policy 6.2 Discrimination Prevention. Identify, monitor, and prevent discriminatory housing practices.
Policy 6.3 Displacement Avoidance. Create housing stability for current residents by supporting limited equity and community ownership models and facilitating the preservation and production of affordable housing units.
Policy 6.4 Resources Alignment. Prioritize programming and align funding and resources, including City staff, with highest needs.
Policy 6.5 Lower Income Family Needs. Assess unit size production of publicly subsidized units and align target units sizes of publicly funded and private development projects with the needs of lower income families with children as feasible
Goal 7: Encourage energy and
resource conservation and
sustainability measures.
Policy 7.1 Green Building Measures and Practices. Promote the incorporation of green building measures and practices in new residential development projects and existing residential structures.
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12 THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT
The Environmental Justice Element provides a specific lens through which to advance equity and protect human health. The scope of environmental justice has broadened beyond its original focus on environmental contamination and degradation to include policy topics such as food access and physical activity. State legislation has adopted several laws and programs that promote and incorporate environmental justice into decision-making.
In 2016, State lawmakers passed Senate Bill (SB) 1000 (Government Code Section 65302(h)), requiring that cities that have “disadvantaged communities ” within their borders include environmental justice goals, policies, and objectives in their general plans to improve health outcomes in such areas. Specifically, the environmental justice goals, policies, and actions must do all of the following:
• Identify objectives and policies to reduce the unique or compounded health risks in disadvantaged communities by means that include, but are not limited to, the reduction of pollution exposure, including the improvement of air quality, and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity. • Identify objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in the public decision-making process.
• Identify objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of disadvantaged communities.
As defined in SB 1000, a “disadvantaged community” refers to “an area identified by the California Environmental Protec tion Agency [CalEPA] pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area that is a low-income area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.” As of 2022, there are approximately 10 census tracts within or intersecting the City of Richmond that are designated as “disadvantaged communities” by CalEPA pursuant to SB 535. Moreover, SB 1000 stipulates that jurisdictions subject to this subdivision shall adopt or review the environmental justice element or related goals, policies, and objectives upon the adoption or next revision of two or more elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018. In addition to the Public Safety and Noise Element included in the General Plan Update, the City of Richmond is also updating its Housing Element for the sixth housing cycle (2023 to 2031), as previously noted . Given these conditions, t he proposed Environmental Justice Element fulfills the C ity of Richmond’s obligation to meet these legal requirements.
Key Findings
The following list summarizes the key findings based on assessment of existing conditions related to environmental justice:
• There is a moderate degree of neighborhood segregation b y race, with a clear delineation between areas in which white residents represent the majority or highest concentration versus those that are communities of color. In addition, there has been a substantial
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13 increase in the number and overall proportion of H ispanic or Latinx populations, while the Black or African American racial group is the only one that declined in Richmond over the last 10 years.
• There is a clear health equity gap that most affects communities living in western Central Richmond, while neighborhoods in the hills are least impacted. This geographic pattern is consistent across issues such as pollution exposure, income, and race – all of which are correlated with lack of health insurance or access to healthcare, other health risks, and negative health outcomes.
• Provision and access to healthy food can be better aligned with populations that lack affordable sources of nutritious food. For example, there is a relatively higher concentration of households receiving assistance from the Supplement al Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or “food stamps”) in the Metro, Pullman, and Park Plaza neighborhoods.
• Residents that live nearest to industrial land uses, freeways, major roads, and railways continue to be most impacted by air pollution, water quality threats, and risk of exposure to hazardous substances.
• The effects of climate change will exacerbate environmental and natural hazards for certain geographic areas and impact certain vulnerable populations in Richmond. Extreme heat, for example, will affect livability most in places that lack shade from tree canopy and incur greater energy costs for air conditioning. Sea level rise and extreme storm events will also increase likelihood of flooding, especially for neighborhoods along the coast. • Housing quality concerns such as incomplete plumbing or kitchen facilities, overcrowding, exposure to lead or asbestos , lack of proper ventilation, and poor maintenance of older structures disproportionately affect communities of color, l ow-income households, and renters. In addition to having less access to affordable housing opportunities, which are not well -distributed throughout the City, these populations are more likely to face tradeoffs in housing quality and affordability at the cost of their health and their children’s health.
• Community facilities and services are generally well-distributed throughout the City, and although there are fewer City parks in the Hilltop and hills neighborhoods, local park access in these areas is supplemented by access to regi onal parks and open space.
Walkability and connectivity to these destinations can be enhanced by prioritizing the needs of Environmental Justice Communities and other areas with poor access. • Meaningful c ivic involvement and community engagement of Environm ental Justice Communities can be strengthened by creating a new City staff position charged with advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all City programs as well as responding to residents’ concerns and facilitating interdepartmental coordination. Other Citywide efforts can include staff education about cultural competency that will enable more effective outreach and services.
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14 Goals, Policies, and Implementing Actions
The following goals, policies and implementing actions were developed for the Environmental Justice Element in response to the key findings summarized above with the objective of improving health outcomes and advancing equity in Richmond.
Proposed Goals for the Environmental Justice Element
Goal EJ-1. Reduced Exposure to Pollution and Toxics . Develop a comprehensive approach to coordinating efforts to improve air quality and reduce exposure to toxics, considering the specific needs of Environmental Justice Communities and low -income residents.
Goal EJ-2. Community Health. Strive to improve community health citywide and reduce health inequities in Environmental Justice Communities.
Goal EJ -3. Equitable Access to Healthy Food . Address the needs for healthy food in Environmental Justice Communities and among residents with limited transportation options.
Goal EJ-4. Reduced Risks from Climate Change and Urban Heat . Address future risks and burdens on neighborhoods and vulnerable populations.
Goal EJ -5. Protection from Natural Hazards . Focus on affected neighborhoods and mitigation/protection strategies.
Goal EJ -6. Safe and Sanitary Housing . Focus on physical conditions and disparities, housing insecurities, and residents’ ability to stay in homes; address distribution of affordable housing especially in areas with higher access to resources and opportunities.
Goal EJ-7. Equitable Access to C ommunity Facilities and Physical Activity . Facilitate multi-modal access to parks and recreation facilities, libraries, senior services, and community centers, and improve walkability in neighborhoods.
Goal EJ-8. Community Engagement and Investment Prioritization. Support community participation in planning and implementation, including budgeting for capital improvements and funding for services relative to needs, particularly in Environmental Justice Communities.
Proposed Policies for the Environmental Justice Element Policy EJ1.1. Air Pollution Reduction. Continue to reduce air pollution and the incidence of respiratory illness through land use and transportation planning and transportation demand management.
Policy EJ1.2. Mobile Source Emissions. Continue to reduce the mobile source emissions by supporting transit use, a multi-modal transportation system, and transportation demand management (TDM) programs that working together reduce solo driving and offers opportunities for biking and walking.
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15 Policy EJ1.3. Regional Coordination. Proactively coordinate City’s air quality improvement activities and pollution controls with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and other regional programs, as well as with neighboring communities.
Policy EJ2.1. Reduce Health Disparities and Inequities. Seek to improve citywide health out-comes and reduce disparities between census tracts by focusing on prevention and interventions, and by addressing the root causes of health disparities and inequities in Richmond.
Policy EJ2.2. Expansion of Medical Facilities and Services. Support expansion of and access to medical facilities and services that serve Richmond residents, particularly in Environmental Justice Communities.
Policy EJ2.3. Protection from Toxics and Hazardous Materials. Protect community health from pollution by toxics and hazardous materials, especially in areas with vulnerable or sensitive populations and in Environmental Justice Communities.
Policy EJ2.4. Regional Coordination. Coordinate with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to ensure all residents have access to high quality drinking water.
Policy EJ3.1. Expanding Supply of Healthy Food Sources. Support development of venues, including farmers’ markets, community gardens, food cooperatives, and local grocery stores, with healthy food options, such as fresh produce and plant-based food. Seek to provide for healthy, affordable food in areas that are currently underserved.
Policy EJ3.2. Education. Promote nutrition education and expand access to healthy foods in schools.
Policy EJ4.1. Protection from Sea Level Rise. Proactively protect vulnerable shoreline land and low-lying residential neighborhoods from the effects of sea level rise.
Policy EJ4.2. Green Streets and Urban Forestry. Expand programs for green streets and urban forestry to all areas of the City, consistent with the City’s Urban Greening Master Plan, and prioritize areas that currently lack tree canopy.
Policy EJ4.3. New Green Spaces. Actively pursue the creation of new green spaces in areas with the highest heat-related vulnerability and/or highest ambient temperatures.
Policy EJ4.4. Green Design. Promote green design, as provided for in the California Green Building Code, to mitigate the effects of urban heat and enhance livability of the built environment throughout the City.
Policy EJ5.1. Flood Hazards. Continue to protect vulnerable areas from flood hazards with a comprehensive flood management program.
Policy EJ5.2. Wildfires and Emergency Evacuation. Minimize the risks of wildfire damage in developed areas with wildfire management programs and emergency evacuation procedures.
Policy EJ5.3. Geologic and Seismic Hazards. Continue to protect development from geologic and seismic hazards through the land use planning process and building standards.
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16 Policy EJ6.1. Safe, Healthy and Affordable Housing. Continue to foster healthy, diverse neighborhoods with a robust supply of safe, healthy, affordable, and stable housing available to residents of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities.
Policy EJ7.1. Opportunities for Recreation and Physical Activity. Provide convenient and safe opportunities for public recreation and physical activities in the City’s parks that meet the needs of residents of all ages, backgrounds, identities, abilities, and in-come levels.
Policy EJ7.2. Improving Access. Improve bicycle, pedestrian, and transit connectivity to community facilities and services, including parks and schools, especially in under-served areas.
Policy EJ8.1. Community Capacity. Strengthen community capacity to actively participate in civic life and in development and implementation of solutions for neighborhood priorities, particularly historically underrepresented groups.
Policy EJ8.2. Refining Outreach. Utilize diverse methods of outreach that promote public participation and ensure City events are communicated to all communities, especially to linguistically isolated households, households without internet access, seniors, low-income residents, and residents with limited computer literacy.
Policy EJ8.3. Focusing on Highest Needs. Focus planning and intervention in and with communities with the highest need by ensuring that policies, services, and programs are responsive to community members, especially in historically marginalized communities, who are most impacted by pollution and most vulnerable to the potential impacts of natural hazards, particularly wildfires and flooding, and future risks from climate change.
Proposed Implementing Actions for the Environmental Justice Element Table 3 summarizes the proposed implementing actio ns for the Environmental Justice Element; in the element itself departmental responsibilities are assigned and the policies that would be addressed by each action are listed.
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17 Table 3: Summary of Implementation Actions
Number Action Number Action
EJ1.A Air Pollution Monitoring. EJ4.E Community Education EJ1.B Ban on Coal and Petroleum Coke Storage and Handling. EJ5.A Implementing Contra Costa County LHMP.
EJ1.C Zoning Enforcement. EJ5.B Establishing Resilience Hubs.
EJ1.D Transportation Demand Management. EJ5.C Updating Hazard Maps.
EJ1.E Regional Collaboration EJ5.D Seismic Upgrades of Critical Facilities in Environmental Justice Communities.
EJ1.F Development Review Procedures. EJ5.E Addressing Dam Failure Risks.
EJ2.A Update Data Base to Track Changes in Community
Health.
EJ5.F Community Input for Wildland Protection Program.
EJ2.B Attract a Replacement Hospital. EJ5.G Community Education in High Fire Hazard Areas.
EJ2.C Funding for Adaptive Reuse. EJ6.A Monitor Implementation of Housing Programs.
EJ2.D Partnerships and Leveraging Resources. EJ6.B Work with Housing Authority of Contra Costa County and Nonprofit Housing Providers.
EJ2.E Community Education. EJ6.C Support Removal of Lead-based Paint and Protection from Asbestos-Containing Materials in Older Housing.
EJ2.F Timely Notification. EJ7.A Assessing Walkability to Parks and Recreation Facilities.
EJ2.G Reporting Illegal Dumping. EJ7.B Addressing Needs of Environmental Justice Communities.
EJ2.H 311 Reporting System. EJ7.C Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan.
EJ3.A Leveraging Resources to Attract Grocery Stores. EJ7.D Programming Transportation Improvements.
EJ3.B Protecting Supermarkets. EJ7.E Funding Improvements to Correct Deficiencies.
EJ3.C Healthy Food Displays at Checkout. EJ7.F Co-Location to Facilitate Access.
EJ3.D Sites for Farmers’ Markets and Urban Agriculture. EJ8.A Continue to participate in Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE).
EJ3.E Cottage Food Operations. EJ8.B Staff Position for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
EJ3.F Expanding Urban Agriculture. EJ8.C Support for Community Organizations and Partners.
EJ3.G Lists of Resources on Healthy Food. EJ8.D Consultation on CIP.
EJ3.H School Food Programs. EJ8.E Community Benefits Program to Support Environmental Justice.
EJ3.I Healthy Employee Food Programs EJ8.F Adding Culturally Competent Policies and Practices.
EJ4.A Heat Reduction Strategies. EJ8.G Expanding Methods of Outreach and Communications to Non-English Speakers.
EJ4.B Community Outreach. EJ8.H Identifying and Removing Barriers.
EJ4.C Implementation of Urban Greening Master Plan. EJ8.I Indigenous Land Acknowledgement.
EJ4.D Targeting Heat Mitigation Strategies. EJ8.J Action Plan Supporting Indigenous People and Communities.
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18 AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND NOISE ELEMENT
The proposed Amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element include the information required by the California Government Code due to State legislation (SB99 and related bills) in the form of draft text inserts for the “Richmond Today” and “Key Findings and Recommendations” sections and additional policies and implementing actions on evacuation route planning to be added to the “Policies and Implementing Actions” section.
Hazard Mapping
The maps in the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element illustrate the geographic extent of the hazards identified in Richmond, using current (2022) geographic information available to the City from regional, State, and federal sources. These include maps of geologic and seismic hazards, liquefaction susceptibility, flood and tsunami hazards, and fire threats.
Hazard Mitigation
The amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element incorporate as an appendix Volume 2 - Planning Partner Annexes of the 2018 Contra Costa Hazard Mitigation Plan (2018 HMP) which assesses risks posed by natural hazards and presents a mitigation strategy for reducing these risks. The Annex contains information specific to the City of Richmond and therefore constitutes Richmond’s local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP). The LHMP lays o ut a process to prepare for and lessen the impacts of specified natural hazards that are most likely to impact Richmond, such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods, debris flows, wind damage, and tsunamis.
Evacuation Route Planning
As required by State law (Senate Bill 99 and Assembly Bill 747 – 2021 Statutes), the City has reviewed emergency evacuation preparedness as foundational information for the General Plan Public Safety and Noise Element. This analysis provided an assessment of roadway capacity under fire, tsunami and earthquake scenarios that are consistent with the Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The assessment provides the City with broad “planning level” information on the capacity of the transportation system during an evacuation scenario for use in formulating policies and implementation actions to be incorporated into the General Plan.
Hazard zones used for this analysis include:
• Fire Hazard Severity Zones
• Tsunami Evacuation Zones
• Flood Hazard Zones
• Landslide Hazard (Rainfall Induced)
• Probabilistic Earthquake Shaking Hazard Zones
• Earthquake Liquefaction Susceptibility Zones
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19 The emergency evacuation scenarios selected for specific analysis included a localized wildfire event, a tsunami event causing flooding in low -lying areas, and a localized earthquake event causing seismic damage to buildings. An event associated with the refinery was not considered as it had been addressed previously in environmental documents 2 and would large ly be confined to land owned by the refinery and it would be less likely to require an evacuation (as opposed to sheltering in place). In addition, adjacent urban uses are well served by transportation facilities, with multiple routes available in a grid system, and so do not pose the same challenges for evacuation route planning as in the other areas selected for the analysis.
Evacuation routes (including roadways, BART, and ferry routes ) were identified in consultation with the City of Richmond’s Fire and Police Departments. Emergency access out of the City is limited to a few major routes:
• I-580 and ferry routes to the west over the San Francisco Bay; • I-80 and San Pablo Avenue to the north;
• Hilltop Drive, Pinole Valley Road/Alhambra Valley Road, Castro R anch Road, and San Pablo Dam Road to the west; and
• I-580, I-80, San Pablo Avenue, and BART to the south
Places that could serve as emergency evacuation centers also were identified; some of these are privately-owned and the City will need to negotiate acce ss during an emergency, which could be done ahead of time. In the event that an area of the City needed to be evacuated, these emergency evacuation centers would serve as the designated gathering points and shelters, and also staging areas for buses that could evacuate those without access to vehicles.
Residential streets in very high fire hazard areas that provide one emergency access route are considered “evacuation-constrained,” consistent with the requirements of Senate Bill 99. A total of 1,713 residential single access parcels, which aggregate to 213 acres, were identified.
Key Findings
The City’s evacuation routes can accommodate evacuation needs with support from AC Transit, BART, and the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) for those without access to automobiles. Evacuation times can be reduced with operational strategies and parking restrictions to increase the traffic -carrying capacity of evacuation routes. The capacity of the transportation system during evacuation events was evaluate d for the three evacuation scenarios.
2 https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/45966/Fina-EIR?bidId=
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20 • Scenario 1 – Localized Evacuation due to Fire: This scenario evaluated evacuation of the hills in the northeast section of the City within a very high fire hazard severity zone. It assumed San Pablo Dam Road, Pinole Valley Road and Alhambra Valley Road would be blocked due to a wildfire. The emergency evacuation center closest to the evacuation would be the Hilltop Mall.
• Scenario 2 – Localized Evacuation due to Tsunami : This scenario evaluated evacuation of the southern coastal portion of the City within a tsunami hazard area. It assumed that I-580 would not be available for use during the evacuation. The emergency evacuation center closest to the evacuation would be the Richmond Senior Center on Macdonald Avenue.
• Scenario 3 – Localized Evacuation due to Earthquake : This scenario evaluated evacuation of the southwestern coastal portion of the City near the landslide and liquefaction zones. It assumed that the El Cerrito BART station would not be available for evacuation purposes due to the hazard. The emergency evacu ation center closest to the evacuation would be the Richmond Recreation Complex near Nicholl Park.
For each scenario, the analysis determined how many residents would need to be evacuated and the anticipated vehicle ownership per household; it also estimat ed the number of employees in the area that would need to evacuate. The evacuation of vehicles in each scenario is controlled by bottlenecks in the evacuation routes. In Scenario 1, all of the roads flow into three main evacuation routes that limit the eva cuation capacity down the hill. In Scenario 2, the capacity is limited to the roadways that access I -580 or cross under or over I -580, and in Scenario 3, the three main evacuation routes can be taken north or south out of the evacuation zone. This assessment assumes that traffic signals throughout the evacuation routes distribute approximately half of the green time in the direction of evacuation such that only half of the available through capacity is available on the evacuation routes.
For persons without access to a vehicle, the analysis determined how long it would take a fleet of buses to mobilize, stage, load/unload, and drive people to the nearest emergency evacuation center. The average AC Transit bus has capacity for 37 people, and it would take approximately 30 minutes following an emergency alert to identify and route the appropriate buses to the evacuation staging areas. The round-trip time from the staging areas to the closest evacuation center was determined to be, on average, 45 minutes, includ ing loading and unloading. With eight buses, approximately 395 people per hour could be evacuated under ideal conditions.
If BART were still in operation following a declared emergency, typical BART trains have five cars with capacity for up to 70 people, or 350 people per train.
Evacuation times could be significantly improved if fewer people drove and more used transit.
Time to reach an evacuation point by foot also may vary significantly from that assumed for vehicles or transit. Finally, traffic signa l synchronization between City intersections and/or Caltrans ramps, or power issues that would trigger traffic signals to operate in “red flags” would have an effect on evacuation capacity.
The specific findings of the evacuation route assessment are as follows:
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21 • Scenario 1 – Localized Wildfire Hazard. Just under 12,000 vehicles could be evacuated in approximately three hours and 15 minutes in this scenario. If the evacuation route of Castro Ranch Road to Pinole Valley Road was not accessible due to fire or other hazards, the evacuation would take approximately four hours and 15 minutes. The evacuation of the remaining 513 people without access to vehicles would take approximately two hours utilizing eight buses.
• Scenario 2 – Localized Tsunami Hazard. In this scenario, around 7,400 vehicles could be evacuated in approximately 40 minutes. If half of the roads flooded due to the tsunami or were inaccessible due to some other hazard, the evacuation could be completed within an hour and a half. The evacuation of the remaining 314 people without access to vehicles would take approximately an hour and 20 minutes utilizing eight buses. • Scenario 3 – Localized Earthquake Damage. About 9,600 vehicles could be evacuated in approximately an hour and 15 minutes. If half of the roads were blocked by landslide or were inaccessible due to some other hazard, evacuation could be completed within two and a half hours. The evacuation of the remaining 1,235 people without access to vehicles would take approximately and three hours and 15 minutes utilizing eight buses. The same 1,235 people could be evacuated on BART using four trains in as little as 20 minutes utilizing empty trains in both directions, not counting walk time to BART stations.
Proposed Policies and Implementing Actions
The following policies and implementing actions are proposed to supplement the existing policies and implementing actions in the Public Safety and Noise Element on emergency and disaster preparedness.
Policies
Policy SN3.1. Evacuation Route Planning . Ensure redundancy of critical transportation routes to allow for continued access and movement in the event of an emergency.
Policy SN 3.2 Access to Emergency Routes. Increase connectivity within areas with evacuation constraints through the use of easements, and emergency access roadways, if the addition of new roadways or roadway extensions are deemed infeasible by the City.
Policy SN3.3. Increase Evacuation Capacity. Include evacuation capacity in f uture roadway design, especially in areas that have less accessibility and on key evacua tion routes.
Incorporate design treatments such as painted medians (instead of raised medians) that could assist in creating reversible lanes and facilitate additional capacity in an evacuation event scenario. Coordinate with AC Transit and BART to develop procedures and protocols for use of their transit facilities during emergencies.
Policy SN 3.4. Evacuation Centers for Emergencies . Identify and r egularly evaluate the availability and anticipated demand for community facilities to serve as evacuation centers or designated cooling or smoke relief center during emergencies. Designate such facilities and
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22 maintain them to comply with industry standards. Establish solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage for evacuation centers and other critical facilities in the event of power outages.
Policy SN 3.5. Emergency Assistance for Vulnerable Populations. Evaluate the evacuation needs of vulnerable populations, such as senior housing facilities , homeless shelters, transitional housing, residential care facilities, and schools, and others without access to a personal vehicle in City emergency preparedness and evacuation plans. Develop and implement outreach programs to explain emergency preparedness and offer technical assistance on preparing emergency evacuation plans.
Policy SN3.6. Emergency Communicati ons Systems . Continue to develop and test emergency communications systems to inform residents to evacuate in a timely manner in order to reduce last-minute evacuations and concentrated demand on the roadway network.
Coordinate with the school district to build awareness regarding school evacuation protocols which include sheltering-in-place or evacuating off-site using school buses.
Implementing Actions
Action SN3. F. Emergency Access in New Development Citywide. Require new development in subdivisions to provide adequate access (ingress, egress) and a minimum of two roadways with widths and lengths. This requirement would not apply to infill sites.
Action SN3.G. Evacuation Alternatives for Access -Constrained Residential Neighborhoods. Work with homeowners’ associations and local residents in access - constrained neighborhoods to identify evacuation alternatives and/or alternative emergency access routes.
Action SN3.H. Evacuation Route Signage. Create a signage system to permanently identify evacuation routes, particularly in areas of the City subject to high wildfire hazards or other risks.
Action SN3.I. Safety Zones. Designate safety zones or shelter-in-place locations as potential places of refuge when evacuation routes are blocked and communicate where these are to those living in hazard areas.
Action SN3.J. Traffic Operations Strategies. Implement transportation operations strategies for evacuation events to be managed by the Emergency Operations Center, with contingency plans for loss of power and communications grids. Incorporate Caltrans operations into the City’s emergency operations protocols and jointly agree on emergency evacuation signal timing. Restrict parking on red flag days along critical evacuation routes if necessary to ensure critical capacity is maintained.
Action SN3.K. Emergency Wayfinding Signage. During declared emergencies, d eploy clear wayfinding, signs, and barriers to direct traffic, and allow for prioritizing traffic signals in vulnerable areas during declared emergencies.
Action SN3. L. Evacuation Management for Areas with Access Constraints. Ensure targeted evacuation management to areas of the community that do not have redundancy in critical transportation routes, such as those that rely on one roadway for evacuations and the movement of goods and services, as well as areas that have multiple evacuation routes but are not as prepared for an evacuation event.
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23 Action SN3.M. Emergency Communications Systems. Establish and periodically upgrade emergency communications infrastructure to warn residents of potential evacuation events.
Ensure that this system is designed to provide for uninterrupted emergency operations and communications with backup power sources.
Action SN3.N. Bi-Lingual Information Materials. Create bi -lingual materials for emergency preparedness for households where English is not the primary language.
Action SN3.O. Emergency Access Mitigation Fee. Evaluate developing an Emergency Access Mitigation Fee for new developments to assist in funding improvements to alleviate evacuation constraints.
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24 3 Environmental Analysis
This addendum focuses on potential impacts associated with the General Plan Update compared to impacts identified in the General Plan DEIR and FEIR. The analysis corresponds to the environmental issue areas presented in Chapter 3 of the General Plan DEIR.
Agricultural resources and land use are not addressed; no agricultural lands are designated for conversion, and no changes in land use would occur as a result of the proposed General Plan Updates.
As stated in the Project Description, the vacant and underutilized sites identified for new housing would be able to adequately accommodate the City’s RHNA for the 2023 -2031 planning period. As shown in Error! Reference source not found. , the City’s total RHNA is 3,614 units. The City had 40,831 households as of January 2022 (DOF 2022). The City has identified an adequa te number of sites so as to not require rezoning as part of the Housing Element Update. Because no rezoning or General Plan land use designation changes would occur, for any given parcel within the City, the proposed General Plan Updates would not allow increased building area, density, or height compared to what is currently allowed under the General Plan for that parcel. The General Plan EIR identified anticipated growth of 30,147 residents, 15,548 residential units, and 22,488 jobs between 2012 and 2030. Approximately 750 units have been built since 2011. Given growth that has occurred, and assuming all 3,614 units to meet the RHNA are built, total buildout under the Housing Element Update would be within the buildout anticipated under the General Plan an d analyzed in the General Plan EIR of 15,548 residential units.
Under California law, zoning and subdivision regulations must be consistent wit h a General Plan; adopting the zoning amendments required for General Plan consistency is part of the project. Individual development projects that require discretionary action from City decision makers will be subject to separate site-specific environmental review . These General Plan Updates have no substantive impact on land use and development consistent with the 2030 General Plan, as previously amended. In fact, the policies and implementing actions in the General Plan Updates could limit development in hazard areas.
This section of the addendum provides analysis and cites substantial evidence that supports the City’s determination that the proposed General Plan Updates (the proposed project) are activities within the scope of the General Plan Program E IR, and no further CEQA environmental review is required. The analysis in this chapter focuses on the criteria under Section 15162. The analysis in each issue area section first summarizes the impacts identified in the General Plan EIR for that issue and t hen addresses impacts of the proposed General Plan Amendment for Change Area 12 and compares them to impacts in the General Plan EIR.
In all cases, the addendum finds that no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant land use impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
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25 3.1 Land Use Consistency and Compatibility
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS IN THE RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN
FINAL EIR
The General Plan Update DEIR determined that implementation of the General Plan land uses and policies would not physically divide an existing community. The DEIR also concluded that implementation of the General Plan development strategy to integrate uses within the City’s core areas would not result in substantial land use incompatibilities. Land use consistency and compatibility issues were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.1-1 through -9.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
Since the proposed General Plan Updates do not change policies and land use designations for future development and resource conservation in the City, they would not have an impact on future development. Land uses in the vast majority of the city, such as established residential neighborh oods, shopping areas, commercial corridors, and industrial districts , would not be affected by this update. Richmond’s “change areas” were deemed most suitable for a shift in intended use as compared to existing conditions and have experienced changes in land use and development character as envisioned by the 2030 General Plan . They largely represent areas that are underutilized, have incompatible land uses, high potential for redevelopment, or are inconsistent with current community priorities. Each of these areas has characteristics that demand a more focused approach to land use regulation, infrastructure investment, services and redevelopment. The General Plan Update s would not change the City’s vision of development in these change areas and the land us e policies and zoning regulations that would implement that vision. Therefore, the impacts associated with the General Plan Update would not be greater than those analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
The Housing Element Update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development; potential development on these sites was evaluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall impact assessment of General Plan buildout . The Housing Element Update would not involve circulation changes and individual development projects would occur within private property in already developed areas. Moreover, consistent with the General Plan, development under the Housing Element Update would be subject to existing zoning and development regulations in the Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) and policies in the General Plan. Compliance with these regulations and policies and required development and planning review would ensure individual projects would not conflict with applicable land use policies, plans, and regulations. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in additional impacts beyond those identified for the General Plan as analyze d in the General Plan EIR.
Regarding potential division of a community, the General Plan Updates do not include any policies or actions that would physically divide an existing established community.
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26 In sum, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant land use impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
3.2 Air Quality
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED AIR QUALITY IMPACTS IN THE RICHMOND
GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.3-1 Implementation of the proposed
General Plan could provide new
sources of regional air emissions
that would conflict with or
obstruct implementation of the
Clean Air Plan. Though all
feasible mitigation measures
would be implemented to reduce
this impact, there is insufficient
evidence to quantify the effect of
those measures. Because it
cannot be stated with certainty
the mitigation would reduce the
impact to a less-than-significant
level, this impact would be
considered significant and
unavoidable.
Mitigation Measure 3.3-1:
a. Encourage the inclusion of the ferry terminal within the shuttle service feasibility study and within the
current transportation system to promote the use of
public transportation and provide for convenience
of use.
b. Promote reduced transit fares for daily commutes
within the City, and encourage the cooperation
between all modes of transportation to provide for
ease of use, such as the institution of a monthly
commuter pass that would provide access to the
ferry, as well as bus, train, and/or BART system.
c. Continue to expand the Bay Trail and other routes
for bicycle and pedestrian travel.
d. Provide bicycle and pedestrian amenities, such as
benches and bike storage, along routes leading to
the Richmond and El Cerrito Del Norte BART
stations to promote non-motorized travel to and
from public transit.
e. Provide development incentives, such as reduced
parking requirements, for businesses that provide
transit incentives to employees.
Impact 3.3-2 Implementation of the proposed
General Plan would result in
construction and operational
emissions that could contribute
substantially to an existing or
projected air quality violation.
Though all feasible mitigation
measures would be
implemented, the impact of
operational emissions remains
uncertain and, therefore, would
be considered significant and
unavoidable.
Mitigation Measure 3.3-2a:
a. All construction projects shall incorporate the most recent Best Management Practices as required by
the BAAQMD.
b. Future development under the proposed General
Plan shall be subject to review to determine
construction air quality impacts in accordance with
CEQA.
Mitigation Measure 3.3-2b:
a. The City of Richmond shall continue to require
individual developers to implement applicable new
stationary source control measures as proposed in
the most recent CAP, while conforming with
existing BAAQMD stationary source regulations
and requirements and complying with BAAQMD
rules and regulations regarding indirect sources.
b. The City of Richmond shall consult with project
proponents during the pre-application review
process to ensure that uses with a high level of
operational emissions are appropriately designed
and sited to avoid impacts on neighboring uses and
regional air quality.
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27 Impact 3.3-3 Operational activities under the
proposed General Plan would
not expose sensitive receptors to
substantial pollutant
concentrations in excess of the
established thresholds. This
impact would be considered less-
than-significant.
Mitigation Measure 3.3-3:
a. The City of Richmond shall implement special
overlay zones around all planned sources of TACs
to minimize the potential impacts to sensitive
receptors. Land Use diagrams within the adopted
General Plan will indicate the Special Overlay
Zones which shall include an overlay zone of at
least 500 feet on either side of all freeways and
high volume roadways (100,000 vehicles per day or
more).
b. The City of Richmond shall require all new
industrial and commercial development projects
that have the potential to emit TACs to be located
an adequate distance from existing and proposed
development used by sensitive receptors—
including residential, schools, day care facilities,
congregate care facilities, hospitals, or other places
of long-term residency. The determination of
development projects that have the potential for
TAC emissions and adequate distances from
sensitive receptors as identified in CARB’s Air
Quality and Land Use Handbook—A Community
Health Perspective (April 2005; CARB Guidance)
are as follows:
• Proposed dry cleaners and film processing
services that use Perchloroethylene shall be
sited at least 500 feet from sensitive land uses.
• Proposed auto body repair services shall be sited
at least 500 feet from sensitive land uses.
• Proposed gasoline dispensing stations with an
annual throughput of less than 3.6 million gallons
shall be sited at least 50 feet from sensitive land
uses. Proposed gasoline dispensing stations with
an annual throughput at or above 3.6 million
gallons shall be sited at least 300 feet from
sensitive land uses.
• Other proposed sources of TACs including
furniture manufacturing and repair services that
use Methylene Chloride or other solvents
identified as a TAC shall be sited at least 300 feet
from sensitive land uses.
• Proposed distribution centers with more than 100
trucks per day; more than 40 trucks with operating
transport refrigeration units per day; or where
transport refrigeration unit operations cumulatively
exceed 300 hours per week should not be sited
within 1,000 feet of sensitive land uses.
• Proposed rail yards for major service and
maintenance operations should not be sited within
1,000 feet of sensitive land uses.
• Proposed chrome platers should not be sited
within 1,000 feet of new sensitive land uses.
• Proposed port developments should not site the
heavily impacted areas immediately upwind of
sensitive land uses. Siting of port developments
should be done in consultation with the BAAQMD.
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Addendum to the Final EIR
28 • Proposed petroleum refineries should not site the
heavily impacted areas immediately upwind of
sensitive land uses. Siting of refineries should be
done in consultation with the BAAQMD.
c. Proposed sensitive land uses including schools,
daycare facilities, congregate care facilities,
hospitals, or other places of long term residency for
people shall be sited:
• At least 500 feet from dry cleaners and film
processing services that use Perchloroethylene.
• A least 500 feet from auto body repair services.
• At least 50 feet from existing gasoline dispensing
stations with an annual throughput of less than 3.6
million gallons and 300 feet from existing gasoline
dispensing stations with an annual throughput at
or above 3.6 million gallons.
• At least 300 feet from existing land uses that use
Methylene Chloride or other solvents identified as
a TAC, including furniture manufacturing and
repair services.
• At least 1,000 feet from distribution centers with
more than 100 trucks per day; more than 40 trucks
with operating transport refrigeration units per day;
or where transport refrigeration unit operations
cumulatively exceed 300 hours per week. In
addition sensitive land uses should not be sited
near facility entry and exit points.
• At least 1,000 feet from major service and
maintenance rail yards.
• At least 1,000 feet from chrome plating facilities.
• Avoid siting sensitive land uses immediately
downwind from the most heavily impacted areas
of existing port facilities.
• Avoid siting sensitive land uses immediately
downwind from petroleum refineries.
d. The City of Richmond shall consult with the
BAAQMD to identify TAC sources and determine
the need for and requirements of a health risk
assessment for proposed developments.
Impact 3.3-4 Implementation of the proposed
General Plan would not create
objectionable odors that would
affect a substantial number of
people. This is a less-than-
significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.3 -17 through -31 with minor modifications made in the FEIR.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
The proposed General Plan Updates would not change any land use designations. A prior General Plan amendment did change industrial land use designations in Change Area 12, reducing development potential from that envisioned under the 2030 General Plan. The
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Addendum to the Final EIR
29 proposed project would not result in further change in the severity of air quality impacts beyond those analyzed in the General Plan FEIR. The Housing Element update includes sites located throughout the city designated for residential development, potential development was evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in additional impacts beyond those identified for the General Plan as analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Potential air quality - related impacts cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site and development design is known, including the number of units and potential vehicle miles traveled (VMT) that would be generated . Short -term air quality impacts resulting from construction of the sites, such as dust generated by clearing and grading activities, exhaust emissions from gas - and diesel -powered construction equipment, and vehicular emissions associated with the commuting of construction workers will be subject to Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules and protocols. Similarly, operational impacts would be addressed by provisions in the General Plan a nd other regulations and standards that govern air quality in Richmond. Impacts identified for an individual project would be addressed through the project approval process specific to concerns for that project. Future development in Richmond would be subj ect to mitigation measures 3.3 -1 and 3.3 -2 from the General Plan EIR, which would reduce emissions to the extent feasible. In addition, future development would be subject to Chapter 9.64 of the RMC, which prohibits the use of natural gas in most new buildings, which would reduce natural gas and associated air pollution emissions in future development. The addition of new residential units under the Housing Element update would not result in long-term objectionable odors. Temporary odors may occur during construction activities and cease upon completion. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse air quality impacts to a greater extent tha n buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
In addition, the Environmental Justice Element includes an implementing action intended to avoid creation of new sources of air pollution ( Action EJ1.F). Also, t he proposed Environmental Justice Element would serve to reduce future air quality impacts and support the Climate Action Plan (CAP) greenhouse gas reduction strategies by promoting active modes of transportation such as biking and walking in addition to p ublic transit in place of solo driving throughout more communities in Richmond (Policy EJ1.2 and Actions EJ3.I and EJ7.B through EJ7.E). Policies that seek to expand local access to services and amenities such as parks, health care, grocery stores, and mor e would also reduce vehicle miles traveled (Policies EJ3.1 and EJ7.2). Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of pre viously identified significant air quality impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
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30 3.3 Biological Resources
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN THE
RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.4-1 The proposed General Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through
habitat modification, on any species identified as a
candidate, sensitive, or special status species in
local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or
by the California Department of Fish and Game or
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This is considered a
less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.4-2 The proposed General Plan would not interfere substantially with the movement of native resident
or migratory fish or wildlife species or with
established native resident or migratory wildlife
corridors or impede the use of native wildlife
nursery sites. This is considered a less-than-
significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.4-3 The proposed General Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or
other sensitive natural community identified in local
or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the
California Department of Fish and Game or U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. This is considered a less-
than significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.4-4 The proposed General Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected
wetlands as defined by section 404 of the Clean
Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh,
vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal,
filling, hydrological interruption, or other means.
This is considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.4-5 The proposed General Plan would not conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting
biological resources, such as a tree preservation
policy or ordinance. This is considered a less-than-
significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.4-6 The proposed General Plan would not conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation
Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or
other approved local, regional, or State habitat
conservation plan since none exist. As a result, the
proposed project would have no impacts on
adopted conservation plans.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.4-28 through -37 with minor refinements made in the FEIR.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
The General Plan DEIR determined that all impacts related to biological resources were less than significant because of the General Plan provisions that ensure protection of sensitive
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Addendum to the Final EIR
31 species and habitats . The proposed General Plan Updates would not change any land use designations, so there would be no change in habitat conservation from what was envisioned under the adopted General Plan . The Housing Element Update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development; potential development on these sites was evaluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall impact assessment of General Plan buildout. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan . Potential impacts to biological resources cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site and development design is known potential biological resources on site, and construction activities. Individual projects would also be subject to policies under the General Plan such as Policy CN1.1: Habitat and Biological Resources Protection and Restoration, CN1.2: Local Native Plant Species, and CN1.3: Urban Creek Restoration, as well as state and fede ral regulations. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to biological resources to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. The General Plan Update would have no impact, either directly or indirectly on natural areas identified in the General Plan, such as the eight County- designated Significant Ecological Areas or the one are a of the City that ma y support the Alameda whipsnake.
No portion of the General Plan Update s would change any General Plan policies or action items related to biological resources.
With these findings in mind, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant biological impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR. All future development projects would be subject to applicable City requirements pertaining to biological resources, as well as further CEQA analysis of project specific impacts.
3.4 Cultural Resources
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON CULTURAL RESOURCES IN THE
RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.5-1 Development activities associated with the proposed Richmond General Plan Update
could cause a substantial adverse change
in the significance of a historical resource
as defined in section 15064.5 of the CEQA
Guidelines. Because mitigation is not
certain to reduce impacts to a less-than-
significant level, this would be considered a
significant and unavoidable impact.
Mitigation Measure 3.5-1: Future projects
shall implement the City’s Historic
Structures Code to minimize impacts on
historical resources by requiring thorough
scrutiny before any resource may be
demolished and ensuring that alteration
conforms to the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties.
Impact 3.5-2 Development activities associated with the proposed Richmond General Plan Update
Mitigation Measure 3.5-2a: The City shall
require that impacts on unique
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32 could cause a substantial adverse change
in the significance of an archaeological
resource as defined in section 15064.5 of
the CEQA Guidelines or disturb human
remains, including those interred outside of
formal cemeteries. With the implementation
of mitigation measures, this is considered a
less-than-significant impact.
archaeological resources be mitigated to a
less than significant level through methods
identified in Public Resources section
21083.2, including planning construction
to avoid archaeological sites, deeding
archaeological sites into permanent
conservation easements, capping or
covering archaeological sites with a layer
of soil before building on the sites, or
planning parks, greenspace, or other open
space to incorporate archaeological sites.
Mitigation Measure 3.5-2b: The City shall
require new development within the City to
evaluate the potential for
impacts on human remains. The City shall
require that the treatment of human
remains and of associated or
unassociated funerary objects discovered
during any soils disturbing activity shall
comply with applicable state and federal
laws, including
notification of the County Coroner and, in
the event of the Coroner’s determination
that the human remains are Native
American remains, notification of the
California State Native American Heritage
Commission (NAHC).
Impact 3.5-3 Development activities associated with the proposed Richmond General Plan Update
could directly or indirectly destroy a unique
paleontological resource or site or unique
geologic feature. With the implementation
of mitigation measures, this is considered a
less-than-significant impact.
Mitigation Measure 3.5-3: The City shall
require new development within areas of
high sensitivity paleontological resources
to evaluate the potential for impacts on
significant paleontological resources. The
City shall require that impacts on
significant paleontological resources be
mitigated to a less than significant level
through data recovery or other methods
determined adequate by a professional
paleontologist.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.5-18 through -27.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
Development activities directly or indirectly resulting from the General Plan Updates would not have the potential to cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an historical resource through demolition or alteration of a historical resource’s physical characteristics that convey its historical significance beyond those identified in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan. The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would be built in locations that were assumed f or development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan. Potential impacts to cultural resources cannot be assessed in a meaningful way
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33 until a specific project site is known, including the potential for cultural resources on site.
Impacts identified for an individual project would be addressed through the project approval process specific to concerns for that project. Future development in Richmond would be subject to mitigation measures 3.5-1 through 3.5-3 from the General Plan EIR, which would reduce impacts to historic, archaeological, and paleontological resources to the extent feasible.
Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to cultural resources to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
All development projects are required to comply with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5 and California Public Resources Code Section 5097.98, which require specific procedures if buried remains are inadvertently discovered. No additional adverse effects on human remains are likely that were not previously disclosed in the General Plan DEIR. Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant cultural or paleontological impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR. All future development projects would be subject to applicable City requirements pertaining to cultural and paleontological resources, as well as further CEQA analysis of project-specific impacts.
Tribal Cultural Resources was added to the 2016 CEQA Guidelines as a separate environmental issue area. Thus, the 2012 EIR does not include a chapter or section dedicated to analysis of impacts to tribal c ultural resources. However, it does analyze general impacts to cultural resources (including archeological resources that may originate from Native American tribes) in Section 3.5, Cultural Resources and concludes that impacts would be less than significan t.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. However, development, including ground disturbance would occ ur in the same areas as analyzed in the General Plan; there would be no changes to the land use or zoning maps and no change to the General Plan boundaries. The General Plan and General Plan EIR do not discuss compliance with Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52), whic h was approved in 2014 and requires lead agencies to complete consultation with California Native American Tribes regarding proposed projects, because it was approved after adoption of the General Plan. However, individual future projects would likely be s ubject to project -level CEQA review and would thus be required to meet the requirements of AB 52; the City of Richmond would be required to notify tribes of pending projects and complete consultation when requested. Further, as part of its tribal cultural resources identification process under AB 52 and SB 18 for the Housing Element Update, the City of Richmond sent letters via certified mail on July 18, 2022 to ten Native American tribes that had previously requested to be informed through formal notification of proposed projects in the geographic area that is traditionally and culturally affiliated with the Tribes. The Tribal Chair of the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Tribe reached out to request more information on the project site and the Sacred Lands File (SLF) results and the information request was responded to. However, to date, the City has not received any responses requesting consultation under AB 52 or SB 18.
Lastly, future development would be required to implement Mitigation Measures 3.5-2a and
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Addendum to the Final EIR
34 3.5-2b which prohibit actions that would cause a substantial change to cultural resources.
Therefore, impacts to tribal cultural resources would be less than significant.
3.5 Climate Change/Greenhouse Gas Emissions
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED GREENHOUSE GAS IMPACTS IN THE RICHMOND
GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.6-1 Implementation of the proposed
General Plan would result in the
generation of GHGs that may have a
significant impact on the environment.
Implementation of BAAQMD BMPs
would ensure that construction
emissions of GHGs would be less than
significant. However, even with the
implementation of all feasible mitigation
measures, the impacts of operational
emissions would remain uncertain and,
therefore, be considered significant and
unavoidable.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1a: All construction
projects shall incorporate the most recent Best
Management Practices for Greenhouse Gas
Emissions as indicated by the BAAQMD.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1b: All new
development and all retrofits of single-family
developments, multi-family developments of
over 10 units, and all commercial/industrial
remodels of over 10,000 square feet shall be
required to exceed Title 24 standards by 20
percent by 2020 and 30 percent by 2030. This
mitigation measure enhances General Plan
Action EC3.C. Measures to reduce emissions
can include, but are not limited to:
• Install energy efficient appliances,
including air conditioning and heating
units, dishwashers, water heaters, etc.;
• Install solar water heaters;
• Install top quality windows and insulation;
• Install energy efficient lighting;
• Optimize conditions for natural heating,
cooling and lighting by building siting and
orientation;
• Use features that incorporate natural
ventilation;
• Install light-colored "cool" pavements, and
strategically located shade trees along all
bicycle and pedestrian routes; and
• Incorporate skylights, reflective surfaces,
and natural shading in buildings design
and layouts;
• Replace inefficient air conditioning and
heating units with new energy efficient
models;
• Replace older, inefficient appliances with
new energy efficient models;
• Replace old windows and insulation with
top-quality windows and insulation;
• Replace inefficient and incandescent
lighting with energy efficient lighting; and
• Weatherize existing buildings to increase
energy efficiency.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1c: Require all new
City-owned and operated facilities and 50
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Addendum to the Final EIR
35 percent of all new development to generate at
least 10 percent of their energy use from
renewable sources. Enhances General Plan
Action EC3.B.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1d: All new
commercial and multi-family developments
installing boilers shall be required to install
energy efficient boilers such that they achieve
a minimum 4.5 percent reduction in energy
usage. The same reductions shall be required
of all remodeled multi-family developments of
over 10 units and all commercial/industrial
remodels of over 10,000 square feet.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1e: Develop improved
waste reduction and expanded recycling
programs such that a 75 percent diversion rate
is achieved by 2020 and an 85 percent
diversion rate is achieved by 2030 for all non-
construction waste streams. Potential
measures could include: providing recycling
containers in parks and public spaces;
establishing computer reuse and recycling
programs; enhancing recycling and green
waste services for all residents; and providing
locations for household hazardous wastes to
be recycled. Enhances General Plan Actions
EC3.D.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1f: Develop a
program that requires all construction and
demolition activities to evaluate energy use
and waste and to reduce or mitigate
construction-related impacts by 75 percent.
Enhances General Plan Actions EC3.E.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1g: Implement an
Anti-Idling Policy for heavy-duty diesel trucks,
including local delivery trucks and long-haul
truck transport within the City. This policy
would prohibit idling of on- and off-road heavy
duty diesel vehicles for more than 5 minutes.
Enhances General Plan Policy EC5.3.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1h: Provide tax and
development incentives for employers with
more than 100 employees within the City to
establish a trip reduction plan that would
incorporate annual employee commute
surveys, marketing of commute alternatives,
ride matching assistance, and transit
information at a minimum, and implement
secure bicycle parking, showers and lockers
for employees who bike to work. This measure
could encourage smaller businesses to
cooperate in establishing joint trip reduction
plans. Enhances General Plan Actions EC2.F
and EC2.I.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1i: Implement
Citywide car and bicycle sharing programs.
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36 Collaborate with service providers to identify
potential sites for locating carshares.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1j: Require new local-
serving mixed-use in residential areas to
provide needed services and amenities close
to where people live and work. Require new
development and redevelopment projects to
provide community amenities and uses that
serve priority community needs. Enhances
General Plan Policy EC4.1 and General Plan
Actions EC4.A, EC4.B, and EC4.D.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1k: Require mixed-
use development along transit-oriented
corridors that attracts people and facilitates
activity throughout the day. Prohibit isolated or
gated communities in order to improve physical
connectivity throughout the City, and remove
barriers in existing gated areas. Maintain
streets to ensure that neighborhoods and
streets are safe and well used. Enhances
General Plan Policy EC4.2 and Actions EC2.C,
EC2.E, EC2.G, EC4.A, EC4.B, EC4.C and
EC4.E.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1l: Collaborate with
AC transit, BART, West Contra Costa Transit
Agency, Amtrak, and major employers in
Richmond that provide shuttle service to
expand transit in the evenings and late nights,
and for people with special needs. Enhance
Richmond’s paratransit service. Collaborate
with major employers to provide employer-
based “open-door” shuttles to BART, the
planned ferry terminal and other transit hubs.
Collaborate with regional and Contra Costa
County transportation agencies to maintain
and enhance service within the City and
region. Explore strategies to address
affordability, access, and safety. Expand
outreach and information programs to promote
transit use. Measure results in a 10 percent
expansion of transit system, and an increase in
service frequency and speed for 2020; and a
15 percent expansion by 2030. Expand
outreach and information programs to promote
transit use. Enhances General Plan Policy
EC2.C.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1m: All new street
lighting and all re-modeled or replaced street
lighting shall consist of high-efficiency lamps
that reduce energy consumption by a minimum
of 16 percent.
Mitigation Measure 3.6-1n: All new traffic
lights and all replaced traffic lights shall consist
of LED lights. This high efficiency lighting
would reduce emissions from traffic lights by
90 percent.
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37 Mitigation Measure 3.6-1o: Require new
development to incorporate water-saving
measures demonstrating a minimum reduction
of 20 percent in water use over a similar
project completed within the previous five
years. This measure enhances General Plan
Action EC3.F. This measure would be
enhanced by General Plan Action EC3.G.
Impact 3.6-2 Construction and operation of the
proposed project could conflict with an
applicable plan, policy, or regulation
adopted for the purpose of reducing the
emissions of greenhouse gases.
Through the implementation of
Mitigation Measures 3.3-1, 3.3-2, and
3.6-1 and General Plan Policies, it is
anticipated that emissions would be
reduced to a less-than- significant level
and, therefore, would not be considered
cumulatively considerable.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.6-13 through -32 with minor refinements made in the Final EIR.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
The General Plan Updates would not result in a change in anticipated growth and the vehicle miles travelled (VMT) associated with that growth, so the greenhouse gas impacts identified for the adopted General Plan would not change as the future buildout is expected to be the same as identified in the Change Area 12 Addendum to the General Plan DEIR. Therefore, there would be no new greenhouse gas impacts that have not been previously disclosed, examined, or adequately addressed in the General Plan DEIR and associated addenda . No new greenhouse gas emissions would also mean that there would be no additional contribution to sea level rise beyond what was already considered in the General Plan FEIR . With greater commitments to open space and urban forestry, walkability, and support for alternative modes of travel in the Environmental Justice Element than in the adopted General Plan,), the General Plan Update would help reduce Richmond’s carbon footprint and support the CAP’s greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Development within the City of Richmond is required to comply with AB 32 and with the Richmond CAP. The CAP provides a clear roadmap to meet air pollution reduction target mandated by State law and includes measures that will enable the City to accomplish much deeper reductions by 2030.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development, potential development on these sites was evaluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall assessmen t of the General Plan buildout. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would not exceed the buildout capacity estimated under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Potential impacts to climate change/greenhouse gas emissions cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site and development design is known, including the number of units, the number of residents, and VMT associated with the project. Impacts identified for an individual
General Plan Update: Housing Element, Environmental Justice Element, and Public Safety and Noise Element Amendments
Addendum to the Final EIR
38 project would be addressed through the project approval process specific to concerns for that project. Future development in Richmond would be subject to mitigation measures 3.6 -1a through 3.6-1o from the General Plan EIR, which would reduce climate/ greenhouse gas impacts to the extent feasible. In addition, future development would be subject to Chapter
9.64 of the RMC, which prohibits the use of natural gas in most new buildings, which would reduce natural gas and associated GHG emissions in future development. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to climate/ greenhouse gas to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant climate change impacts would occu r beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
3.6 Geology, Soils, and Minerals
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON GEOLOGY, SOILS, AND MINERALS IN
THE RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.7-1 Buildout of the proposed General Plan would not expose people or structures to fault rupture, strong
seismic groundshaking, or seismic-related ground
failure beyond an acceptable level of risk which is
minimized through adherence to the California
Building Code. This is considered a less-than-
significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.7-2 Adherence to the California Building Code would ensure that development under the proposed
General Plan would not be subject to risk from
settlement and/or subsidence of land, lateral
spreading, or expansive soils, which could create
risks to life and property. This is considered a
less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.7-3 Project-specific review and conformity with the City’s Hillside Preservation Ordinance would
ensure that development under the proposed
General Plan would not result in soil erosion that
would result in long-term safety concerns or slope
instability beyond an acceptable level of risk. This
is considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.7-4 Development under the proposed General Plan would not result in landslide hazards beyond an
acceptable level of risk. This is considered a less-
than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.7-5 Development under the proposed General Plan would not affect mineral resource availability. This
is considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.7-20 through -31.
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Addendum to the Final EIR
39 PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
No portion of the General Plan Updates would change any General Plan policies and action items related to geology and soils. Furthermore, all structures are subject to stringent building codes established in State and local regulations regarding seismic safety, landslides, settlement, and expansive soils. In addition to Building Code regulations, existing General Plan policies and implementing actions regulate land use, development standards, an d construction practices to reduce the risk to humans and property in the event of an earthquake or other seismic activity. The amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element include details on hazard mapping related to geologic and seismic hazards and hazard mitigation, evacuation route planning, and emergency preparedness and provide for the City’s adoption of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference to the Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Volume 2 – Planning Partner Annexes.
Also, there are existing State and local regulations established to minimize erosion. E rosion control standards are set by the Regional Water Quality Control Board ( RWQCB) through administration of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process for storm drainage discharge. At the local level, the existing General Plan includes numerous measures to minimize soil erosion. Since the General Plan Updates would not lead to inconsistencies with General Plan geology, soils, or minerals policies and would further the objectives of State law related to hazard mitigation and emergency planning, no new or substantially more severe impacts would occur than was identified in the General Plan FEIR.
The Housing Eleme nt update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan. Potential impacts to geology, soils, and minerals cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site is known, including the specific location of residential development, the potential for paleontological resources on site, and the typ e of soil and natural hazards such as fault zones near the site. Future development would be required to comply with local and state codes and requirements related to geologic hazards, including the California Building Code and applicable General Plan poli cies. Compliance with these requirements would ensure impacts would remain less than significant. In addition, future development would connect to the existing sewer system and not include septic tanks or other alternative wastewater disposal systems. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to geology, soils, and minerals to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant geological, soil, or mineral impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
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40 3.7 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN THE
RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.8-1 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would involve the routine use, storage,
transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials
in existing and proposed land uses. However, it
would not create a significant hazard to the public
or the environment. As a result, the proposed
General Plan would have a less-than-significant
impact with respect to use, storage, handling and
disposal of hazardous materials.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.8-2 Development under the proposed General Plan would include demolition or renovation of existing
structures that could contain asbestos-containing
materials, lead-based paint, PCBs, or other building
materials containing hazardous substances that
could expose people or the environment to risks
associated with those materials. However, project-
specific review and implementation of best
management practices and project-specific
mitigation measures would ensure that these
activities would not result in a significant hazard to
the public or the environment through reasonably
foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving
the release of hazardous materials into the
environment. As a result, this is considered a less-
than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.8-3 There are locations within the City that are included on the list of hazardous materials sites (Cortese
List) compiled pursuant to Government Code
section 65962.5, as well as other locations where
hazardous materials related environmental
contamination may be present, but the site is not
yet listed. However, the existing regulatory
framework and City requirements to address
contaminated sites would reduce exposure hazards
to the public or the environment to less than
significant.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.8-14 through -24.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
The General Plan Update s augment the General Plan policies and action items related to hazards and human health and includes mapping of hazards; they do not alter the physical setting related to hazardous materials from that analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building
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Addendum to the Final EIR
41 scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan.
Additionally, there is no rezoning or changes in land use associated with the housing element update. Therefore, the housing element update would not result in in greater impacts to hazards and hazardou s materials than what was analyzed in the 2030 General Plan EIR.
Potential impacts to hazards and hazardous materials cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site is known, including the specific location of residential development, and the potential for the presence of hazardous materials on site. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to hazards and h azardous materials to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
Additionally, all future development projects would be subject to all applicable local, State, and federal regulations regarding the transportation, use, and disposal of hazardous materials as well as regulations regarding sites with contaminated soil or groundwater. Compliance with these existing regulations would reduce impacts related to hazardous materials. Because the proposed amendment would not affect existing review procedures and performance standards for the use, handling, storage and transportation of hazardous wastes, no new or increased severity of significant hazard impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan FEIR.
The Environmental Justice Element continues and builds on the General Plan to reinforce this finding. For example, Action EJ5.A would support implementation of the Contra Costa County LHMP, including updating hazard risk maps to assess and address natural hazards in Richmond, and Action EJ6.D would facilitate abatement of lead and asbestos hazards from lead-based paints and asbestos -containing materials. Both of these would help to reduce exposure to hazards and hazardous materials.
In addition, the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element add mapped information on geologic and seismic hazards, flooding and tsunami hazards, and fire threats and incorporate a LMHP into the General Plan by reference to the Contra Costa Hazard Mitigation Plan, Volume 2 – Planning Partner Annexes . Policies added to the General Plan through the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element will increase evacuation capabilities during emergencies and provide for evacuation alter natives in access -constrained neighborhoods. They also will provide for improved communications systems during emergencies and bi-lingual information materials for emergency preparedness. An emergency access mitigation fee also is proposed to help fund imp rovements that would alleviate evacuation constraints.
Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant hazard and hazardous materials impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
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42 3.8 Hydrology and Water Quality
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON HYDROGOLOGY AND WATER
QUALITY IN THE RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.9-1 Development under the proposed General Plan would not result in violation of waste discharge
requirements (WDRs), because of existing
measures to ensure compliance with the WDRs and
the proposed policies and implementing actions
included as part of the General Plan. This is a less-
than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-2 New development under the proposed General Plan would not be expected to substantially reduce
groundwater recharge or increase groundwater use
within the City. This is a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-3 Construction and operation of development under the proposed General Plan could substantially alter
drainage patterns that could result in substantial
erosion or siltation. Implementation of General Plan
Policies and Implementing Actions would render this
impact less than significant.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-4 Implementation of the proposed General Plan could alter drainage patterns and cause or contribute to
increased runoff and flooding. This impact is less
than significant.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-5 Buildout of the proposed General Plan could increase the amount of runoff and pollution in runoff.
This impact is less than significant.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-6 Construction and operation of development under the proposed General Plan could contribute to
groundwater quality degradation. This impact is less
than significant.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-7 Construction and operation of development under the proposed General Plan could expose people and
structures to 100-year flood hazards. However,
existing and proposed flood hazard regulations,
policies, and implementing actions of the proposed
General Plan would reduce risks to acceptable
levels. The impact would be less than significant.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-8 Development within the City could be subject to dam failure inundation and sea level rise flood hazards.
Implementation of General Plan Policies and
Implementing Actions would render this a less than
significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.9-9 The proposed General Plan would require
infrastructure improvements to accommodate
increased stormwater runoff and drainage needs,
the construction of which could result in physical
impacts. However, standard construction measures
and Best Management Practices would reduce
impacts to less than significant. This is a less-than-
significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
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43 These impacts were addressed in d etail in DEIR pages 3. 9-17 through -38 with minor refinements made in the FEIR.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
As noted above, citywide buildout and development under t he General Plan Update s are anticipated to be the same as that identified in the General Plan EIR , as modified by the Change Area 12 Addendum . Th erefore, there would be no new causes for substantial depletion or interference with groundwater recharge , water quality degradation, increased runoff or flooding, increased sources of polluta nt discharge, seiche, tsunami, or mudflow, or exacerbation of sea level rise effects that have not been previously examined or adequately addressed in the General Plan EIR. Additionally, with the Environmental Justice Element the General Plan Update s support more open space and recreational uses, semi -permanent buildings (e.g. greenhouses and similar temporary structures ), improved access to parks and recreational facilities, urban agriculture, and urban forestry and in the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element better hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness. These policies and implementing actions would lead to greater protection from future hazards particularly in areas that are vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise, tsunamis, seismic hazards, and wildfires.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing E lement update would be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General Pl an EIR for buildout under the General Plan.
Additionally, there is no proposed rezoning or changes in land use proposed as part of the housing element update. Therefore , the housing element would not impact hydrology and water quality to a greater extent t han what was analyzed in the 2030 General Plan EIR.
Potential impacts to hydrology and water quality cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site is known, including the specific location of residential development , water sources near the site, groundwater location below the site, and construction activities .
As with buildout under the General Plan, all future development would be subject to State and local regulations regarding stormwater discharge, sedimentation, drainage alteration, construction practices, and water quality. Therefore, future development wou ld not violate water quality standards or NPDES requirements and would not substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout a ssumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to hydrology and water quality to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
Future development would be subject to Sta te and local regulations regarding stormwater discharge, sedimentation, drainage alteration, construction practices, and water quality.
Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of
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Addendum to the Final EIR
44 previously identified significant hydrology or water quality impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
3.9 Noise
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED NOISE IMPACTS IN THE RICHMOND GENERAL
PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.10-1 Construction activities associated with the future land use changes under the proposed General
Plan could generate noise levels that temporarily
exceed acceptable noise levels. Implementation
of noise limits in the City of Richmond Municipal
Code would limit the exposure of sensitive
receptors to temporary or periodic increases in
noise levels. However, because noise from
construction activities could exceed allowable
noise levels, this is considered a significant and
unavoidable impact.
Mitigation Measure 3.10-1: Future
projects shall incorporate project-
specific mitigation measures to
reduce the impact of construction
noise.
Impact 3.10-2 Construction of future new land uses under the proposed General Plan could generate or expose
persons or structures to temporary groundborne
vibration. Though it is unlikely that vibration
would exceed levels of mere annoyance for short
periods, the potential for impacts on sensitive
uses renders this impact significant and
unavoidable.
Mitigation Measure 3.10-2: Future
projects shall incorporate project-
specific mitigation measures to
reduce the impact of construction-
related groundborne vibration.
Impact 3.10-3 Implementation of the proposed General Plan could expose sensitive receptors to noise levels
in excess of the existing noise standards
established by the City. There are no known
feasible measures to reduce train noise below a
level of significance; this impact would be
significant and unavoidable.
Mitigation Measure 3.10-3: Future
projects shall incorporate project-
specific mitigation measures and
maintain Quiet Zones to reduce the
impact of train noise.
Impact 3.10-4 Operation of new land uses under the proposed General Plan would not generate and expose
sensitive receptors on- or off-site to excessive
groundborne vibration or groundborne noise
levels. This is considered a less-than-significant
impact.
No mitigation measures required.
Impact 3.10-5 Operation of new land uses under the proposed General Plan would generate increased local
traffic volumes that would cause a substantial
permanent increase in ambient noise levels in
the project vicinity. While implementation of
General Plan policies would reduce impacts on
sensitive receptors, the impact would remain
significant and unavoidable.
Mitigation Measure 3.10-5: Future
projects shall incorporate project-
specific mitigation measures to
promote nonmotorized transportation
to reduce the impact of traffic noise.
These impacts were addressed in detail in Draft EIR pages 3. 10-19 through -35 with minor refinements made in the FEIR.
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45 PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
The General Plan Updates would not change any of the General Plan policies related to noise or noise exposure . In addition, because the Environmental Justice Element promotes walkability and greater use of alternative modes and calls for preparation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan , there would be less automobile traffic, which would reduce the potential noise related to automobiles from the level analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Also, the Environmental Justice Element calls for the correction of existing deficiencies in the transportation system which reduce congestion and vehicle backups and more street tree planting, which may have an impact on the exposure of residents to noise associated with cars, motorcycles, and trucks. The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be wit hin those studied in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan. Potential impacts to noise cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site is known, including the specific location of residential development, potential sensitive receptors near the project site, construction hours, and construction activities.
Impacts identified for an individual project would be addressed through the project approval process specific to that project. Future development in Richmond would b e subject to mitigation measures 3.10-1 through 3.10-5 from the General Plan EIR, which would reduce noise impacts to the extent feasible. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, th e proposed project would not result in adverse impacts related to noise to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant noise impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
3.10 Parks and Recreation
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON PARKS AND RECREATION IN THE
RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.11-1 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would increase the use of existing
neighborhood and regional parks or other
recreational facilities but would not
substantially accelerate or result in substantial
physical deterioration of the facilities. This is
considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.11-2 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would not create a demand for the construction
or expansion of park facilities beyond that
anticipated in the General Plan. This is
considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.11-7 through -13.
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46 PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
Buildout under the General Plan Updates is anticipated to include the same amount of housing identified in the General Plan DEIR and, therefore, overall use of existing parks and the demand for new parks would be the same as the estimated effects in the Ge neral Plan FEIR.
The parkland dedication standard applied through the Subdivision Regulations to new residential development within the City ensure s that parkland is created in conjunction with population growth and that existing park resources are not ove rused. The City also would continue to impose development impact fees to fund parks and recreation. Existing General Plan policies would further reduce the potential for impacts on parks and recreation facilities.
Additionally, the General Plan Updates propose new policies that improving access to parks and recreational facilities, particularly for those in Environmental Justice neighborhoods.
Policy EJ7.1 seeks to provide citywide opportunities for recreation and physical activity for all residents, and Policy EJ7.2 would approve transportation connectivity to improve park access.
Further, Action EJ7.F would leverage existing facilities to help meet park and recreation demand, thereby reducing the need for construction of new facilities.
The Housing Elemen t update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development, potential development on these sites was evaluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall assessment of the General Plan buildout. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would not exceed the buildout capacity estimated under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, the proposed project would not generate population growth beyond what could occur under the General Plan. As a result, the proposed project would not increase the use of parks and recreational facilities beyond the increase analyzed in the General Pl an EIR and would therefore not result in substantial physical deterioration of facilities. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to parks and recreation to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant parks and recreation impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
3.11 Public Services
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE RICHMOND
GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.12-1 Implementation of the General Plan Update would increase the demand for fire protection and
emergency services and/or create a demand for
additional fire stations, department personnel, and/or
equipment, but would not reduce the level of
protection. This is considered a less-than-significant
impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
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47 Impact 3.12-2 Implementation of the General Plan Update would increase the demand for police protection services
and create a demand for additional police stations,
department personnel, and/or equipment, but would
not reduce the level of protection. This is considered
a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
Impact 3.12-3 Implementation of the proposed General Plan could generate additional students, but the demand for
new school facilities would be fully mitigated with
required payment of school fees. As a result, this is
considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
Impact 3.12-4 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would create an additional demand for library services but
would not result in a substantial adverse
environmental impact associated with the provision
of new or physically altered libraries or the need for
new or physically altered libraries. This is considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.12-9 through -20.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
The General Plan Updates would not create more residential land uses than established in the General Plan, nor would buildout estimates under the General Plan Update s change from those established for the current General Plan . The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development, potential development on these sites was evaluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall assessment of the General Plan buildout. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would not exceed the buildout capacity estimated under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR . Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to public services to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, the proposed project would not create additional demand for public services beyond the demand evaluated in the General Plan DEIR. As a consequence, no new significant environmental effect is expected, nor would a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant public service impacts occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
Recent changes to the CEQA Guidelines have added additional checklist questions related to wildfire hazards to Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines. Since Wildfire was added to the CEQA Guidelines as a separate environmental issue area after certification of the General plan EIR, it does not inc lude a chapter or section dedicated to analysis of impacts to wildfire.
However, impacts associated with wildland fire were discussed in Section 3.12, Public Services, of the General Plan EIR. As discussed in that section, implementation of the General Pla n would involve construction and operation of land uses in areas that are surrounded by urban land uses that are not mixed with or adjacent to wildlands and would not be exposed to an increased risk of wildfires. The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential
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48 environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan. Wildfires are of particular concern in areas designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The areas identified for housing development under the Housing Element are not located within or adjacent to land classified as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection 2009 and 2020). Therefore, with compliance with applicable State requirements, the project would not exacerbate wildfire risk and impacts would be less than significant.
3.12 Public Utilities
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON PUBLIC UTILITIES IN THE RICHMOND
GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.13-1 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would not require or result in the construction and/or
expansion of water supply facilities, the construction
of which could cause significant environmental
impacts, or require water supplies in excess of
existing entitlements. This is considered a less-than-
significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
Impact 3.13-2 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would not exceed wastewater treatment requirements of
the Regional Water Quality Control Board. This is
considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
Impact 3.13-3 Implementation of the General Plan Update could require the construction or expansion of wastewater
treatment facilities or collection systems that could
cause significant environmental impacts, absent
project-specific mitigation measures. Because it is
not certain that project-specific mitigation would
reduce all impacts to a less-than- significant level,
this is considered a significant impact.
Mitigation Measure 3.13-3:
Future projects shall incorporate
project-specific mitigation
measures to reduce impacts
from the construction of new
wastewater collection and
treatment facilities.
Impact 3.13-4 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would not result in a determination by the wastewater
treatment provider that it does not have adequate
capacity to serve the project’s demand in addition to
the provider’s existing commitments. This is
considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
Impact 3.13-5 Implementation of the proposed General Plan could result in the generation of additional solid waste, but there is sufficient landfill capacity to accommodate
the increased demand for solid waste service. This
is considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
Impact 3.13-6 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would comply with all applicable federal, state, and local
statutes and regulations related to solid waste. This
is considered a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
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49 Impact 3.13-7 Implementation of the General Plan would increase the demand for electricity and natural gas but would
not require or result in the construction of new
energy production or transmission facilities, the
construction of which could cause a significant
environmental impact. This is considered a less-
than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
Impact 3.13-8 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would not result in the wasteful or inefficient use of energy.
This is considered a less-than- significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures
Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.13-8 through -28.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
The proposed General Plan Updates would not cre ate more residential land uses or commercial and industrial development opportunities than established in the current General Plan. Therefore, these General Plan Updates would not create additional demand for public utilities beyond the demand evaluated in the General Plan DEIR.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development, potential development on these sites was evaluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall assessment of the General Plan buildout. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would not exceed the buildout capacity estimated under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing Eleme nt update would also be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General P lan EIR for buildout under the General Plan. Potential impacts to public utilities cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site and development design is known, including the number of units, current utilities provided on site, the number of residents, and construction activities. Impacts identified for an individual project would be addressed through the project approval process specific to concerns for that project.
Consistent with buildout under the General Plan, development assoc iated with the Housing Element would not increase water demand more than what was previously analyzed. Under EMBUD’s Water Supply Management Program 2040, consumer consumption is projected to be reduced by 35 percent through conservation measures to ensure adequate water supply for EBMUD’s service area (EBMUD 2012). Like development under the General Plan, development under the Housing Element would also result in less than significant impacts to wastewater treatment requirements as wastewater districts ser ving the City of Richmond would be required to comply with NPDES permit requirements to ensure discharges would not exceed the Regional Water Quality Control Board wastewater treatment requirements.
Although development under the General Plan and proposed project could require the construction or expansion of wastewater treatment facilities or collection systems that could cause significant and unavoidable environmental impacts, Mitigation Measure 3.14 -3 would reduce impacts to the extent feasible. Future development in Richmond would be subject to mitigation measure 3.13-1 from the General Plan EIR, which would reduce impacts to public utilities to the extent feasible. Because future development under the proposed project would
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50 be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to public utilities to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
It may affect the geographic distribution of service avail ability to meet the goals and policies of the Environmental Justice Element related to equity and services provided to Environmental Justice Element neighborhoods and the priorities for capital investments may be influenced by additional outreach and community input. For example, Policy EJ8.3 would focus planning and intervention in and with communities with the highest needs by ensuring that policies, services, and programs are prioritized to benefit Environmental Justice Communities. This would also apply to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and use of the General Fund (Actions EJ7.E and EJ8.D). Further, Policy EJ4.4 would promote green design, as provided for in the California Green Building Code, to help reduce energy use and demand in Environmental Jus tice Communities, as would other co -benefits of heat mitigation strategies achieved by Policy EJ4.2. However, because citywide land use is not changed , no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant public utility impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
Since Energy was added to the 2019 CEQA guidelines as a separate environmental issue area, the General Plan EIR does not include a chapter or section dedicated to analysis of energy impacts. However, it does analyze such impacts in Chapter 3, Section 3.13, Public Utilities, of the 2012 EIR. The General Plan EIR concludes that no mitigation measures are required as energy impacts would be less than significant. The proposed General Plan Updates would not allow increased building area or height than is currently allowed under the General Plan.
Consistent with buildout under the General Plan, future development would increase demand for electricity but wou ld not require the construction of new energy production or transmission facilities. Future development would be subject to Chapter 9.64 of the RMC, which prohibits the use of natural gas in most new buildings, which would reduce natural gas use. The proposed General Plan Updates would also not result in the wasteful or inefficient use of e nergy. Finally, consistent with the analysis in the General Plan EIR, future development would be required to comply with General Plan policies and Implementing Actions that serve to reduce impacts on energy and electricity supply to a less than significant level.
3.13 Transportation and Circulation
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON TRANSPORTATION AND
CIRCULATION IN THE RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.14-1 The proposed General Plan may result in traffic congestion that exceeds the previous City of
Richmond traffic LOS standard of LOS D, as well
as CCTA and WCCTAC LOS and MTOS
standards. Because it is not certain that project-
specific mitigation measures would reduce
Mitigation Measure 3.14-1: Future
projects shall incorporate project-
specific mitigation measures to
reduce traffic impacts.
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51 impacts to a less-than-significant level, this is a
significant and unavoidable impact.
Impact 3.14-2 The proposed General Plan’s Planned Roadway Improvements would improve mobility and safety
for all modes, fulfilling the proposed General
Plan’s goals and policies regarding safety and
provision of a multi-modal circulation system.
This is a less-than-significant impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.14-3 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would produce higher demand for transit service,
potentially exceeding the capacity of transit
service providers. This is a significant and
unavoidable impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.14-4 Implementation of the proposed General Plan would provide enhanced facilities to serve
pedestrians and bicyclists, increasing
connectivity and safety for these modes.
Therefore, the project would result in no impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.14-5 The proposed General Plan would reduce the potential for conflicts at rail/roadway crossings,
improving safety for all modes. Therefore, the
result would be no impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impact 3.14-6 The proposed General Plan would increase
congestion and reduce travel speeds on various
roadways throughout the City, including some
that are on primary emergency response routes
(i.e. freeways and arterials). This is a significant
and unavoidable impact.
No Mitigation Measures Required.
These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.14-27 through -52 with minor refinements made in the FEIR.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 5064.3, subdivision(b), a project’s transportation impact is now based on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) instead of an LOS analysis as conducted under the General Plan EIR. Under the updated state requirements, VMT estimat es are derived based on location and the amount and distance of vehicle travel attributable to a project, including induced automobile travel. Significance criteria used to determine VMT impact include questions as to whether the project would cause substa ntial additional VMT, or substantially induce additional automobile travel by increasing physical roadway capacity in congested areas (e.g., by adding new mixed flow travel lanes) or by adding new roadways to the network.
Buildout under the General Plan Updates is not anticipated to be different from that identified in the General Plan DEIR as modified by the Change Area 12 Addendum, so the impacts on traffic and transit would be the same as those identified in the General Plan EIR as modified by the Change Area 12 Addendum. Emergency response capabilities would be improved as a result of the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element as they focused on emergency preparedness related to identified evacuation scenarios and add polices and implementation actions for emergency preparedness . For example, Policy SN3.4 would
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52 increase evacuation capacity, Policy SN3.7 w ould enhance emergency communications systems, and Action SN3.J would implement traffic operations strategies during emergencies, to be managed by the City’s Emergency Operations Center, and signal timing would be coordinated with Caltrans.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development, potential development on these sites was ev aluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall assessment of the General Plan buildout. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would not exceed the buildout capacity estimated under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Potential impacts to transportation cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site and development design is known, including the number of units , the number of residents, and the potential VMT associate with the project . Impacts identified for an individual project would be addressed through the project approval process specific to concerns for that project.
Future development in Richmond would be subject to mitigation measure 3.14 -1 from the General Plan EIR, which would reduce transportation impacts to the extent feasible. Further, the City has a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance (RMC Section
15.04.612) which requires multi -unit residential developments of ten or more units and nonresidential developments of 10,000 or more square feet to develop and implement a TDM plan to the extent feasible reduce the development’s vehicle trip generation to 15 percent below the standard rates as published in the latest edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ Trip Gen eration Manual and/or to ensure that the VMT per resident or worker for the development is below the citywide average. Most of the future residential development under the Housing Element Update would be subject to the requirements of the City’s TDM ordinance. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to transportation to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
Furthermore, the General Plan Update would serve to reduce future transportation impacts and support the Climate Action Plan ’s greenhouse gas reduction strategies , with greater emphasis on walkability and support for alternative modes, than in the adopted General Plan.
In fact, one of the implementation actions in the Environmental Justice Element is to prepare a Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan. As a result, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant transportation impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
3.14 Visual Resources
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS ON VISUAL RESOURCES IN THE
RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN FINAL EIR
Impact 3.15-1 Development activities associated with the proposed General Plan could have a
substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista
or substantially degrade the existing visual
No Mitigation Measures Required.
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53 These impacts were addressed in detail in DEIR pages 3.15-7 through -20.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
As noted above, buildout under the General Plan Updates is anticipated to be the same as that identified in the General Plan DEIR as modified by the Change Area 12 Addendum . The current General Plan decreased the maximum building heights for d evelopment in Change Area 12 to 20 - 25 feet under the Industrial Agriculture and Shoreline Conservation land use designations rather than the 55 feet allowed with a conditional use permit in the ILL (Limited Light Industrial ) Zoning District used to implement the Low Intensity Business/Light Industrial designation established in the original 2030 General Plan.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughout the city designated for residential development evaluated previously for potential environmental impacts in the General Plan EIR. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would be built in locations that were assumed for development under the General Plan, including building scale and extent of site disturbance, and therefore the physical effects of such projects would be within those studied in the General Plan EIR for buildout under the General Plan. Potential impacts to visual resources cannot be assessed in a meaningful way until a specific project site and development design is known, including the specific location of residential development, potential scenic resources near the project, and the design components of the project. Impacts identified for an individual project would be addressed through the project approval process specific to concerns for that project. F uture development in Richmond would be subject to mitigation measure 3.15-2 from the General Plan EIR, which would reduce impacts to visual resources to the extent feasible. Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would character or quality of the site and its
surroundings. Though project-specific
mitigation measures would be
implemented, this remains a significant and
unavoidable impact.
Impact 3.15-2 The development of the proposed General
Plan could create a new source of
substantial of light or glare that would
adversely affect day or nighttime views in
the area. Though all available mitigation
would be implemented, this remains a
significant and unavoidable impact.
Mitigation Measure 3.15-2:
a. All street lighting shall be directed
downward and shielded to prevent
light spill onto surrounding
properties, sky glow, and glare.
b. The City shall restrict the use of high
level outdoor lighting for new homes,
particularly along the hillside ridges.
c. Landscaping shall be incorporated
along internal roads and near off-site
homes to reduce spill light emanating
from vehicles and buildings.
d. The City shall require design review
of any project containing reflective
glass or metal building materials that
exceed 50 percent of any building
surface or the first three floors.
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54 not result in adverse impacts to visual resources to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR.
Future land uses and new development would be requi red to conform to all applicable regulations, property development and performance standards, including limitations on light trespass and glare, and design standards that address the preservation of public scenic vistas set forth in the adopted General Plan. The General Plan Updates would not result in new or more severe impacts related to light and glare. Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant visual resource impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
3.15 Population and Housing
PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IMPACTS IN THE RICHMOND GENERAL PLAN
FINAL EIR
(No Impact
Number)
Buildout under the General Plan would induce
population growth in an area, either directly (for
example, by proposing new homes and
businesses) or indirectly (for example, through
extension of roads or other infrastructure).
No Mitigation Measures Required.
Impacts on population and housing were addressed in DEIR pages 3. 2-1 through 3.2 -8; growth-inducing impacts were addressed on pages 4-6 through 4-9.
PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN UPDATES
As noted above, buildout under the General Plan Updates is anticipated to be the same as that identified in the General Plan DEIR as modified by the Change Area 12 Addendum .
Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Updates would not result in higher levels of growth or more concentrated growth than identified for the General Plan. Future development that occurs pursuant to the proposed General Plan Updates would be required to conform to all applicable regulations, performance standards , and design standards that would minimize or avoid the adverse physical impacts of growth. In fact, the General Plan includes a Growth Management Element th at specifically addresses the impacts of growth, and no changes to that element, to its policies, performance standards, and implementing actions, are proposed in these General Plan Updates.
The General Plan Updates do not include any changes to future residential land uses, so the General Plan Update would not remove or replace housing. Similarly, the Updates would not cause people to be displaced by future development.
The Housing Element update identifies sites located throughou t the city designated for residential development, potential development on these sites was evaluated in the General Plan EIR as part of the overall assessment of the General Plan buildout. The units accommodated by the Housing Element update would not exc eed the buildout capacity estimated under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, the
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55 proposed project would not induce development that would be denser or otherwise generate more population growth than development under the Gener al Plan. Impacts related to population growth would therefore be consistent with impacts anticipated under the General Plan. Moreover, consistent with development under the General Plan, buildout under the Housing Element would largely be in relatively hig h-density mixed -use and in -fill developments and would not result in substantial unplanned population growth in Richmond or surrounding communities. While some housing could be removed with individual future projects, it is not anticipated that there would be substantial removal of housing, and replacement housing would be constructed, similar to the General Plan analysis.
Because future development under the proposed project would be within the buildout assumed under the General Plan, the proposed project would not result in adverse impacts to population and housing to a greater extent than buildout under the General Plan and analyzed in the General Plan EIR. Therefore, no new significant environmental effect or a substantial increase in the severity of pr eviously identified significant population and housing impacts would occur beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
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56 4 Conclusion
The City of Richmond, acting as the lead agency, determined that an addendum is the appropriate environmental doc ument under CEQA, because the proposed General Plan Updates would not require revisions to the adopted General Plan’s Final EIR, as modified by the Change Area 12 Addendum, due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or substantial increases in the severity of significant effects previously identified in the General Plan Update Final EIR.
There are no changed circumstances or new information that meets the standards for requiring further environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162. Thus, these circumstances and information would not result in new or more severe impacts beyond what were addressed in the General Plan Final EIR and would not meet any other standards under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162(a)(3). No additional analysis i s required based on the following findings.
First, as addressed in the analysis, the proposed project —the General Plan Update s— implements and is consistent with the land uses in the General Plan that were analyzed in the General Plan Final EIR and with subsequent amendments to the General Plan Land Use Element for Change Area 12. In Change Area 12, the approved amendments to the Land Use Element of the General Plan meant less development than examined in the General Plan EIR and policies incorporated into the General Plan as a result of the Change Area 12 amendment that provided environmental benefits by supporting renewable energy production, protecting wetlands and aquatic habitats, establishing local hiring targets, and maintaining t he San Francisco Bay Trail. The General Plan Update would not result in new or more severe impacts beyond what was addressed in the General Plan Final EIR.
Second, the City is not aware of any substantial changes in the circumstances that would cause a new significant impact or substantially increase the severity of a previously identified significant impact requiring major revisions to the General Plan Final EIR (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a][2]). There have been no changes in the environmental conditions in the City of Richmond not contemplated and analyzed in the General Plan Final EIR that would result in new or substantially more severe environmental impacts.
Third, as documented in Section 3, there is no new information of substantial importan ce (which was not known or could not have been known at the time of the General Plan adoption in October 2003) that identifies: a new significant impact (condition “A” under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a][3]); a substantial increase in the severity of a previously identified significant impact (condition “B” State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a][3]); mitigation measures or alternatives previously found infeasible that would now be feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the General Plan; or mitigation measures or alternatives that are considerably different from those analyzed in the General Plan Final EIR which would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment (conditions “C” and “D” St ate CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a][3]). In sum, n one of the
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57 “new information” conditions listed in the State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162[a][3] are present here to trigger the need for a subsequent or supplemental EIR.
State CEQA Guidelines Section 151 64 states that “The lead agency or a responsible agency shall prepare an addendum to a previously certifie d EIR if some changes or additions are necessary but none of the conditions described in Section 15162 calling for preparation of a subsequent EIR have occurred.” An addendum is therefore appropriate because, as explained above, none of the conditions calling for preparation of a subsequent EIR have occurred.
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58 References
California Department of Finance. 2022. E-5 Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2020-2022.
https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/estimates/e-5-population-and-housing- estimates-for-cities-counties-and-the-state-2020-2022/
California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection. 2009. Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRA As Recommended by CAL FIRE.
https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/media/5784/richmond.pdf (accessed July 2021). ______. 2020. California Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer. https://gis.data.ca.gov/datasets/789d5286736248f69c4515c04f58f414 (accessed July 2021).
City of Richmond. 2016. City of Richmond Climate Action Plan.
City of Richmond. 2012. City of Richmond General Plan.
City of Richmond. 2011. City of Richmond General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report.
City of Richmond. 2011. City of Richmond General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report.
City of Richmond. 2018. City of Richmond Addendum to General Plan Final Environmental Impact Report for Change Area 12
Contra Costa County. 2016. Hazard Mitigation Plan (two volumes) East Bay Municipal Utility District. 2012. Water Supply Management Program 2040. Available:
https://www.ebmud.com/water/about-your-water/water-supply/water-supply- management-program-2040/
Mapped Information
Sources for mapped information included in the Environmental Justice Element and the amendments to the Public Safety and Noise Element are shown on each map. These include the U.S. Geologic Survey, City of Richmond Geologic Information System (GIS) data, MTC/ABAG GIS Data, FEMA, and Contra Costa County GIS data.
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2023-2031 Housing Element City of Richmond | 2
Contents
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 4 Section I Introduction ............................................................................................................ 5 I.A Community Context ............................................................................................... 5 I.B Housing Element Purpose ..................................................................................... 5 I.C Organization of the Housing Element .................................................................... 6 I.D Data Sources and Methods ................................................................................... 8 I.E Summary of Public Participation............................................................................ 8 I.F Consistency with Other General Plan Elements .................................................. 16 I.G Other Statutory Requirements ............................................................................. 16 Section II Projected Housing Need ..................................................................................... 17 II.A Introduction/Overview of ABAG Methodology ..................................................... 17 II.B Contra Costa County Income Limits .................................................................... 17 II.C Regional Housing Needs Allocation .................................................................... 18 Section III Housing Resources ............................................................................................. 19 III.A Introduction .......................................................................................................... 19 III.B Land Resources .................................................................................................. 19 III.C Analyzing Sites Through a Fair Housing Lens .................................................... 20 III.D Financial and Administrative Resources ............................................................. 21 III.E Opportunities for Energy Conservation ............................................................... 21 Section IV Housing Plan ....................................................................................................... 21 IV.A Goals, Policies, and Programs ............................................................................ 21 Goal 1: Promote new housing construction to create more equitable and affordable options that meet Richmond’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). .................. 22 Goal 2: Facilitate different housing types to accommodate housing needs of moderate- and lower-income households and create inclusive neighborhoods for all income levels. .................................................................................................................. 26 Goal 3: Remove constraints to the development of housing. ................................................ 29 Goal 4: Create housing opportunities for people with special needs, including seniors, persons with disabilities, single-parent households, first-time homebuyers, large families, unhoused individuals and families. ........................................................ 30 Goal 5: Conserve and improve the existing housing stock to enhance quality of life and provide greater housing stability and community resiliency. ............................... 34 Goal 6: Promote fair housing access and opportunities for all persons. ............................... 40
3 | City of Richmond 2023-2031 Housing Element
Goal 7: Encourage energy and resource conservation and sustainability measures. .......... 50 IV.B Quantified Objectives .......................................................................................... 51
Appendix A: Housing Needs Assessment
Appendix B: Sites Inventory and Methodology
Appendix C: Housing Constraints
Appendix D: Existing Programs Review
Appendix E: Public Participation Summaries
Appendix F: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Appendix G: Housing Resources
2023-2031 Housing Element City of Richmond | 4
Executive Summary
California State law generally requires that the Housing Element be updated in eight-year cycles (i.e., every eight year s). This City of Richmond 6 th cycle Housing Element Update covers the period 2023 to 2031. A significant new requirement for Housing Elements beginning in the 6th cycle is affirmatively furthering fair housing pursuant to AB 686 (2018). AB 686 requires the Housing Element to include an assessment of fair housing practices, involving robust outreach to all segments of the community; an analysis of housing sites from a fair housing lens; and concrete actions in the form of programs to affirmatively further fair housing. To this end, the City has conducted six pop-up events, 27 stakeholder interviews, three community listening sessions, an online survey, six Resident Advisory Council meetings, and a Planning Commission study session.
Additional outreach will continue to be conducted throughout the Housing Element Update process. See Section I.E and Appendix E for more information regarding community engagement.
This Housing Element contains several technical analyses, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of programs in the 5 th cycle Housing Element (2015-2023); an assessment of existing and projected housing needs ; an identification of available housing resources; an assessment of constraints to the development of housing; and meaningful actions to address contributing factors to fair housing issues as stipulated by AB 686’s requirement to “affirmatively further fair housing.” The Housing Element also includes an inventory of adequate sites to meet the City’s regional housing needs allocation (RHNA); this analysis demonstrates that the City has sufficient capacity, primarily through vacant sites, to accommodate its housing obligations without the need for rezoning.
The seven goals of this Housing Element are to:
1. Promote new housing construction to create more equitable and affordable options that meet Richmond’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
2. Facilitate different housing types to accommodate housing needs of moderate- and lower- income households and create inclusive neighborhoods for all income levels.
3. Remove constraints to the development of housing.
4. Create housing opportunities for people with special needs, including seniors, persons with disabilities, single -parent households, first-time homebuyers, large families, unhoused individuals and families.
5. Conserve and improve the existing housing stock to enhance quality of life and provide greater housing stability and community resiliency.
6. Promote fair housing access and opportunities for all persons.
7. Encourage energy and resource conservation and sustainability measures.
The goals of the Housing Element are implemented by various programs in Section IV. T hese programs include specific timeframes and quantified objectives where appropriate to result in meaningful change and progress toward fair housing outcomes in Richmond.
5 | City of Richmond 2023-2031 Housing Element
Section I Introduction
I.A Community Context
The City of Richmond was incorporated in 19 05 after the Santa Fe Railroad established its western terminus at Point Richmond in 1899, with ferry service to San Francisco. The City grew significantly at the onset of World War II with the opening of the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards at Richmond’s South Shoreline in 1941 (its population quadrupled from 23,600 in 1940 to over 93,700 in 1943), as tens of thousands of new residents i mmigrated to the City to work in the shipyards, many of whom were Black . During the decades that followed, major developments such as Marina Bay, the Hilltop Shopping Center, the Knox Freeway, and the Richmond Parkway shaped the economy and geography of Richmond. Residential development continued, and thousands of Asian and Pacific Islander and Latino persons immigrated to the community.
Today, Richmond is a diverse and growing maritime, industrial, and residential community , with a population of over 110,000. The C ity is located on a peninsula 16 miles northeast of San Francisco, directly across the San Francisco Bay , and has a total area of 56 square miles, of which 33.7 are land area and 22.3 are water area.
I.B Housing Element Purpose
The State of California has stat ed that the availability of decent and suitable housing for every California family is “a priority of the highest order” (California Government Code §54220). This objective has become increasingly urgent in recent years as communities across the State, including Richmond, struggle to meet the housing needs of all their residents. State Housing Element Law, established in 1969, recognizes the vital role local governments play in the supply and affordability of housing and requires all cities and counties in California to establish a long- range plan to meet their fair share of regional housing needs. Cities are charged with planning for the welfare of their citi zens, including ensuring that the existing and projected demands for housing are adequately met.
High housing costs — and related housing instability issues — increase health care costs (for individuals and the State), decrease educational outcomes (affecting individuals, as well as the State’s productivity), and make it difficult for California businesses to attract and retain employees.
– State of California 2025 Statewide Housing Assessment The Housing Element is the primary tool used by the State to ensure local governments are appropriately planning for and accommodating enough housing across all income levels. This
2023-2031 Housing Element City of Richmond | 6
Housing Element covers the planning period 2023-2031. The H ousing Element is a mandatory part of a jurisdiction’s General Plan, but differs from other General Plan elements in two key aspects. The Housing Element must be updated every eight years for jurisdictions within a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) that is on a four-year regional transportation plan (RTP) cycle, such as the Association of Bay Area Governments ( ABAG). The H ousing Element must also be reviewed and approved (i.e., certified) by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Certification also ensures that the City remains eligible for various State and federal funding sources.
In practical terms, the Housing Element provides the City with an opportunity to assess its housing needs and to develop policies and actions that effectively respond to those needs. Amongst other groups, the Housing Element affects teachers in our schools, employees in our local businesses, older residents on fixed incomes, parents and their adult children who want to remain in or return to Richmond, and young persons wishing to live in the community. Ultimately, the supply and cost of housing affect the entire Bay Area economy and people’s quality of life in the region.
At the time of publication, the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the Bay A rea in significant ways.
The pandemic has made the issue of housing security even more acute as residents face job loss, housing cost pressures, and disparate health impacts from the pandemic. This Housing Element has had to respond to these conditions by transitioning the public outreach process to reflect the limitations brought on by COVID-19. These actions are detailed in this report.
I.C Organization of the Housing Element
Per California Government Code §65580-65589, a Housing Element must consist of the following components:
• Existing Programs Review : An evaluation of the results of the goals, policies, and programs adopted in the previous Housing Element that compares projected outcomes with actual achieved results.
• Housing Needs Assessment: An analysis of the existing and projected housing needs of the community. It provides a profile of socio-demographic information, such as population characteristics, household information, housing stock, tenure, and housing affordability. The assessment also considers local special housing needs, such as seniors, farmworkers, homeless, large households, and female-headed households.
• Sites inventory and Methodology: An inventory listing adequate sites that are suitably zoned and available within the planning period to meet the City’s fair share of regional housing needs across all income levels.
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• Housing Resources: An identification of resources to support the development, preservation, and rehabilitation of housing.
• Housing Constraints: An assessment of impediments to housing production across all income levels covering both governmental (e.g., zoning, fees, etc.) and nongovernmental (e.g., market, environmental, etc.) constraints.
• Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment: AB 686 requires cities and counties to take deliberate actions to foster inclusive communities, advance fair and equal housing choice, and address racial and economic disparities through local policies and programs. The goal of AB 686 is to achieve better economic and health outcomes for all Californians through equitable housing pol icies. The assessment of affirmatively furthering fair housing documents compliance with AB 686.
• Goals, Policies, and Programs: This Section provides a statement of the community’s goals, quantified objectives, and policies to maintain, preserve, improve, and develop housing, as well as a schedule of implementable actions to be taken during the planning period to achieve the goals, objectives, and policies. Quantified objectives for new construction, rehabilitation, and conserved units by income category (i.e., very low, low, moderate, and above moderate) are included to make sure that both the existing and the projected housing needs are met, consistent with the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
This Section I provides an overview to the Housing Element and relevant regulation. Section II provides a summary of the projected housing need. Section III summarizes the adequacy of housing sites and housing resources with reference to relevant appendices. Section IV contains goals, policies, and actions related to housing in Richmond . The comprehensive research and analysis supporting the development of Section IV, are compiled in appendices to this Housing Element. These appendices contain the full set of information used to inform the City’s goals, policies, and programs:
• Appendix A: Housing Needs Assessment
• Appendix B: Sites Inventory and Methodology
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• Appendix C: Housing Constraints
• Appendix D: Existing Programs Review
• Appendix E: Public Participation Summaries
• Appendix F: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment • Appendix G: Housing Resources
I.D Data Sources and Methods
This Housing Element was updated in accordance with California Department of Housing and Community Development ( HCD) guidelines for the 6th Housing Element Cycle, incorporating additional considerations required under new State housing-related legislati on. Specific documents are referenced throughout the Housing Element, including but not limited to the Richmond General Plan 2030 and Richmond Municipal Code. The analyses and findings in this document relied on data compiled from various sources, including:
• US Census Bureau (American Community Survey , Longitudinal Employer -Household Dynamics)
• California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) • California Department of Finance (DOF)
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) pre-certified data This document was also informed by information provided by residents, business groups, housing developers and service providers, local institutions, City staff, and elected officials.
I.E Summary of Public Participation
Public participation is crucial in shaping Richmond’ housing strategy. Understanding the needs of the community enables the development of housing strategies that are most appropriate and effective. Public outreach also allows the City to identify concerns unique to certain interest groups and service providers that may not have been initially apparent. As part of the development of this Housing Element, the City’s public participation program included a wide range of stakeholder interviews, community pop-ups and listening sessions, a meeting with the Planning Commission, and online interview surveys. For detailed public outreach summaries, please see Appendix E.
9 | City of Richmond 2023-2031 Housing Element
Website
The City’s website hosted a dedicated Housing Element Update webpage (https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4231/Housing-Element-Update) to provide information on the Housing Element update proces s and timeline, resources (e.g., reference material, draft documents, etc.), meeting notices and materials, and City contact information. Any person could sign up to receive email notifications about upcoming meetings and availability of information.
Public Outreach and Events, including A ffirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)-Targeted Outreach
Pop-Up Events and Online Survey
The pop-up events sought to engage hard-to-reach populations who have not traditionally been part of the planning processes by holding community pop-ups and meeting people at local events.
Community pop-ups of the month were advertised on the City website and City Manager’s Weekly Report at the beginning of each month. The City’s Housing Element team held conversations with Richmond residents and community members to learn about their perspectives on or lived experiences related to housing issues in Richmond and ideas for solutions. An online survey was also available in English and Spanish. The online survey was advertised via the City website and on postcards/fliers passed out at the pop-ups. As of December 5, 2022, eight community pop-ups in Richmond have been held and 144 Richmond residents or constituents surveyed (including 19 persons who completed an online survey). The pop-ups were held at various events and locations:
• Earth Day at Contra Costa College: April 22, 2022
• Earth Day with Urban Tilth at Unity Park: April 23, 2022 • Park Rx Day at Nicholl Park: April 30, 2022
• Spring Family Day at Richmond Art Center: May 14, 2022 • Willie Mays Day at Nicholl Park: May 21, 2022
• Juneteenth Family Day Parade and Festival at Nicholl Park: June 18, 2022 • Farmers’ Market at 24 Barrett Avenue and 25
th Street: November 18, 2022
• Holiday Arts Festival at Richmond Art Center: December 4, 2022 Stakeholder Interviews
Between February and June 2022, the City’s Housing Element team conducted 27 stakeholder interviews consulting the diversity of the community including representatives from City and County departments, housing justice organizations, affordable housing developers, and businesses. Stakeholders included:
• Alliance of Californians for Community Environment (ACCE)
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• Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
• Bay Area Legal Aid
• City of Richmond (Bill Lindsay, former City Manager; LaShonda White, Interim Library and Community Services Director)
• Contra Costa County Senior Legal Services
• Communities for a Better Environment (CBE)
• Housing Authority of County of Contra Costa
• Council of Businesses and Industry WCCC
• Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP)
• Hello Fresh
• Kaiser
• Othering & Belonging Institute
• RYSE Center
• Regional Center of the East Bay
• Richmond Community Development Department
• Richmond Community Foundation (RCF)
• Richmond LAND
• Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services
• Richmond Progressive Alliance
• Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F)
• Richmond Rent Program
• SOS (Safe, Organized Spaces) Richmond
• Safe Return Project
• Sims Metal
• Richmond Promise
• West Contra Costa Public Education Fund
• West County Regional Group
In addition, on April 27, 2022, a virtual group interview of both for -profit and non-profit housing developers that work in Richmond was held to discuss housing opportunities and constraints, gain a deeper understanding of available resources, and gather policy and program recommendations.
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Community Listening Sessions
The City’s Housing Element team conducted three listening sessions with the membership of the following community organizations to hear their members’ lived experiences related to housing issues in Richmond and ideas for solutions:
• Richmond Promise: Six low-income, first-generation students of color in Richmond • SOS Richmond: 15-20 unhoused residents in Richmond
• West County Regional Group: 20 -25 multi -cultural group of volunteers, parents and resident leaders in Richmond and San Pablo
Resident Advisory Council Meetings
A Resident Advisory Council (RAC) was formed to engage a diversity of perspectives, deep listening, and a partnership for input and feedback on housing needs, constraints, and ideas for improving housing conditions and affordability in the Housing Element Update.
As of September 2022, the RAC has convened six times to get to know each other, better understand the Housing Element process and their role, and provide constructive feedback on information for the Housing Element. As of September 2022, the RAC has met to hear about and provide feedback on the following topics:
• Introduction to the Housing Element, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), and the Housing Equity Roadmap
• Community Engagement, including findings from pop-ups and listening sessions • AFFH Analysis, including RAC members lived experiences • AFFH Identified Issues, including meaningful actions taken to address these issues • Housing Element programs and actions
Applications for the RAC were open for over two months. Promotional materials for the RAC were made available in English and Spanish and were posted on the City website and City Manager’s Weekly Report. Promotional materials were shared with the C ity’s Planning Department, City Council members, and community organizations to help circulate the opportunity and encourage Richmond residents to apply. Out of the 20 applications received, 10 members were chosen to participate.
RAC members were selected by an interview committee from Just Cities Institute, the City, and Richmond LAND that balanced important diversity considerations. They come from diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods across Richmond including the following:
• Hard to reach communities: People from communities that planning processes traditionally have excluded including Asian American, Black or African American, Latinx or Latino, multiracial, people with disabilities, undocumented, and people who speak little to no English.
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• Neighborhood diversity: Belding Woods, Richmore Village/Metro Square, Hilltop, North and East, and Coronado.
• Age diversity: People at different stages of their lives to ensure varied knowledge and experiences.
• Diversity of gender and sexual orientation: To ensure women’s, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ perspectives are included in this process.
• People who work and live in Richmond. Seven members of the RAC are Richmond residents, two members work in Richmond and are heavily involved in the Richmond community, and one member is a former resident that currently works in Richmond.
Community Workshop
On October 29, 2022, the City held a community workshop at the Richmond Recreation Center to provide information and invite public comment on the Public Review Draft Housing Element.
The 30-day public review period extended from October 21, 2022 to November 21, 2022. At the workshop, the City presented five informational boards on what a Housing Element is, its goals, key programs, special need populations, and homelessness. Participants were invited to ask questions and provide comments in a conversational setting with City staff and consultants. The City promoted the workshop with both English and Spanish outreach materials.
Planning Commission Study Session
A virtual study session was conducted with the Planning Commission on May 19, 2022 to provide opportunities for Planning Commission and public input and discussion prior to preparation of the draft Housing Element. The planned Housing Equity Roadmap and related General Plan amendments (i.e., Safety and Environmental Justice Elements) were also discussed.
Summary of Public Comments
A summary of key themes from public comments is presented below. Please see Appendix E for comprehensive summaries from the Planning Commission study session, housing developer interviews, and other community engagement events.
• While the City has achieved targets for lower income units, it has not achieved targets for moderate and above moderate-income units.
• Concern was expressed with developments being modified or proposed at lower densities than originally approved. Interest was voiced about requiring a density floor for parcels that are in the Housing Element sites inventory.
• The Design Review requirements are unclear and seem to change during the entitlement process.
• The Design Review Board may hold several meetings to review a project and often requires significant changes. The Design Review process in Richmond is more cumbersome than in other jurisdictions, adding time and expense.
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• Staff should explain the streamlining limits on the allowed number of meetings per SB 330 to reviewing commissions/committees.
• Richmond residents reported experiencing housing affordability, homeownership, housing habitability, homelessness, and racial and income discrimination issues. • Residents reported experiences with mold, heating issues, flooding, pests, among other unsafe qualities of their homes.
• Direct aid and legal service organizations are under-resourced and over capacity. • Affordable housing and voucher utilization is concentrated in lower income areas, affecting low-income residents’ ability to move to high-opportunity areas. • Immigrants, people of color, undocumented people, formerly incarcerated, seniors, and people with disabilities face discrimination and barriers to accessing housing. • Some tenants report instances of harassment and illegal actions by their landlord, as well as feeling taken advantage of for not being fully aware of their rights. • The lack of City capacity and funding are a major barrier to implementation and enforcement of housing ordinances or programs.
• Housing solutions proposed included i ncreasing services and housing access for the unhoused, transitional aged youth, undocumented people, and people with disabilities. • Residents stated that the City should increase outreach and education on fair housing, fair chance housing, and residents’ legal rights.
• Residents stated that housing should be built on available vacant land. • Residents stated that stronger tenant protections and rent assistance programs are needed in the City.
• Residents wanted “fair chance housing” to be strengthened. • Residents expressed support for rental inspection and code enforcement programs. • Residents supported homeownership buyer programs and counseling , housing repair programs, and programs to prevent real estate speculation. • Some residents were concerned with the lack of City Housing Division staffing. • Various comments noted that certain quantified objectives should be increased, including objectives for addressing needs of the unhoused.
• Comments requested clarifications about the Rydin encampment efforts and status and desire for increased City resources dedicated to solving homelessness in Richmond. • Questions about the Hilltop Specific Plan program (Program 1.A) and future development were raised, including those related to allowed uses and existing resident’s views.
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• A comment identified the importance of the need to preserve and restore the Black community in Richmond.
• Support was voiced for many of the proposed programs, including those that accelerate the development of affordable homes (e.g., Programs 2.C and 4.K). • A resident requested that the City promote green energy, such as solar, for housing affordable to lower-income households.
• A comment requested that the City continue to promote location-efficient development in high-quality transit areas and follow the standards of eliminat ing parking minimums near transit consistent with AB 2097.
Integration of Comments into the Housing Element
The comments provided have been incorporated and addressed in the updated Housing Element, specifically through the Housing Needs Assessment (Appendix A), the Sites Inventory and Methodology (Appendix B), Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (Appendix F), and through programs. Additionally, the City expanded outreach efforts to directly target underrepresented populations and populations disproportionately impacted by fair housing issues based on comments received early in the process . Various programs that address comments include the following:
• Conduct planning efforts to promote residential development and a mix of housing types (Programs 1.A: Hilltop Specific Plan Priority Development Area Grant, 1.B: V ariety of Housing Types, and 2.E Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs)).
• The housing sites inventory analysis (Appendix B) describes how all zones allowing residential include minimum density standards except for single-family zones; this ensures a minimum level of density is provided. Furthermore, Program 1.I would result in increased minimum density standards in various zones.
• Conduct legal training sessions with the Design Review Board, Planning Commission, and City staff regarding State law provisions (e.g., Housing Accountability Act, SB 330, etc.) including limited purview, number of public meetings, and timeframes for project reviews (Program 3.A: Design Review and Use Permit Process Improvements). • Continue to address substandard housing through proactive code enforcement (Program
5.F: Code Enforcement for Residential Neighborhoods) and rehabilitation programs such as the County Home Rehabilitation Program (Program 5.I) and Richmond Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program (Program 5.M).
• Continue to operate the City’s Residential Rental Inspection Program (RRIP), which requires regular inspections for property owners of three or more residential rental units (Program 5.G: Residential Rental Inspection Program).
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• Continue to refer homeowners, tenants, and landlords to third-party organizations for assistance with issues such as foreclosures, landlord-tenant disputes, unlawful evictions, and housing discrimination (Program 6.C: Counseling Service Referrals or Foreclosures, Landlord-Tenant Disputes, Unlawful Evictions, and Housing Discrimination). • Develop a protocol to eliminate instances of housing discrimination and develop ongoing monitoring practices to prevent future instances of housing discrimination (Program 6.E:
Housing Access and Discrimination Protocols and Monitoring). • Support and promote Contra Costa County’s Housing Choice Voucher Program on the City’s Online Housing Resource Center (Program 2.D: Contra Costa County Housing Choice Voucher Program).
• Hold an annual bilingual workshop to educate residents, landlords, and property owners and managers about various local housing issues and available resources (Program 5.D:
Housing Education Workshops and Outreach).
• Conduct outreach to property owners who own property identified in the sites inventory to encourage housing development (Program 1.D: Outreach to Property Owners to Encourage Housing Development).
• Assess and increase City Housing Division staffing needs to successfully implement the Housing Element programs, Homelessness Strategic Plan, and Housing Equity Roadmap (Program 6.H: Increased Housing Staffing).
• Prioritize the housing needs of formerly incarcerated residents through implementation of current Fair Chance housing and considering expansion of the Fair Chance Housing law to apply to all forms of housing and eliminate the entire use of criminal records (similar to the cities of Berkeley and Oakland) (Program 6.W: Formerly Incarcerated Resident Housing Needs).
• Prioritize the housing needs of undocumented residents by e stablishing a referral list of non-Legal Service Corporation (LSC) funded organizations for undocumented tenants and by enacting a City policy that removes discriminatory barriers against undocumented residents in access to City funded housing units, services, and fina ncial assistance (Program 6.Y: Undocumented Resident Housing Needs).
• Various programs to support tenants and prevent displacement are included, such as Program 6.K (Neighborhood Land Stabilization Program), 6.M (Anti-Displacement Zones),
6.S (Anti-Displacement Services), and 6.T (Renter Policies), among others. • Quantified objectives for emergency shelter, transitional, and supportive housing (Program 4.J) and unhoused residents (Program 4.F) were increased.
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• The Housing Equity Roadmap ( HER) effort (Program 6.G) will include and reflect the housing needs of persons of color who have historically been discriminated against in housing practices.
• The encampments program (Program 6.Z) was clarified and updated, particularly to reflect the status of Rydin encampment closure.
• A program was added to eliminate minimum parking requirements for housing development projects within one-half mile of public transit consistent with Assembly Bill (AB) 2097 (Program 1.L: Eliminate Parking Minimums near Transit consistent with AB 2097).
I.F Consistency with Other General Plan Elements
The Housing Element is one of the elements of the City’s General Plan 2030, a long-range vision document that provides guidance for future development in Richmond. City Council adopted its General Plan 2030 in 2012. For the General Plan to provide effective guidance on land use issues, the goals, policies, and programs of each element must be internally consistent with other elements. This Housing Element builds upon the existing General Plan and is consistent with its goals and policies. Various Housing Element programs require Zoning Code amendments, and some will require amendments to the General Plan for consistency. As those Housing Element programs are implemented, the General Plan will be amended concurrently to ensure consistency across planning documents. In the event an element of the General Plan is amended, the City will consider the impacts of the amendment on the other elements to maintain consistency across all documents.
I.G Other Statutory Requirements
Water and Sewer Priority
Government Code § 65589.7 requires each public agency or private entity providing water or sewer services to grant a priority for the provision of these services to proposed developments that include lower income housing units. In Richmond, water service is provided by East Bay Municipal Utilities District, while sewer services are provided by City of Richmond, West County Wastewater District, and Stege Sanitation District. A discussion of water and sewer infrastructure and availability is included in Appendix C (Housing Constraints), Section C.2.4. The City has not denied, applied conditions, or reduced the amount of sewer service for a development that includes housing affordable to lower-income households consistent with State law. As part of this Housing Element, the City will adopt written policies and procedures that grant a priority for sewer hook-ups and service to developments that help meet Richmond’s share of the regional need for lower-income housing (see Program 2.H).
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Government Code § 65589.7 also requires adopted Housing Elements to be immediately delivered to all public agencies or private entities that provide water or sewer services for municipal and industrial uses, including residential. The City will provide the adopted Housing Element to the East Bay Munic ipal Utilities District (EBMUD), West County Wastewater District, and Stege Sanitation District.
Section II Projected Housing Need
II.A Introduction/Overview of ABAG Methodology
State Housing Element law (Government Code §65580 et. seq.) requires regional councils of governments to identify for each member jurisdiction its "fair share allocation" of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In turn, each C ity and county must demonstrate the capacity to accommodate their local share of regional housing needs in the community’s H ousing Element.
Each jurisdiction’s responsibility for meeting the overall regional housing need is established as a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the council of governments for the Richmond area, adopted its final 6th Cycle RHNA allocation methodology in December 2021. ABAG considered several factors in preparing the methodology, which weighed both projected and existing need. Projected need was informed by the target vacancy rate, the rate of overcrowding, and the share of cost-burdened households , future vacancy need, and replacement need, while existing need considered transit accessibility and job accessibility. The distribution of the RHNA across the four income categories factored in a social equity adjustment, which allocated a lower proportion of lower-income RHNA to jurisdictions that already had a high concentration of such households in comparison to the County, as well as the goal to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH), which adjusted the distribution of RHNA in jurisdictions considered either very low or very high resource areas. Since Richmond has a relatively more racially diverse population and lower relative household incomes, the equity adjustment reduced Richmond’s draft RHNA by 31 units (20 very low-income units and 11 low-income units). Please see Table II-2: 6 th Cycle RHNA for
Richmond’s final RHNA numbers by income category.
II.B Contra Costa County Income Limits
The projected housing needs are broken down by income category based on definitions in the California Health and Safety Code ( §50079.5). HCD calculates “acutely low”, “extremely low”, “very low”, “low”, “median”, “moderate”, and “above moderate” income limits, and publishes these limits at the county level. Contra Costa County’s 2021 income limits for households of one to four persons are shown in Table II-1. See Appendix A, Table A -6, for a table listing income limits for households of up to eight persons.
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Table II-1: Contra Costa County 2021 Income Limits
Number of Persons in Household 1 2 3 4
Acutely Low (0-15% of AMI)1 $13,200 $15,100 $16,950 $18,850 Extremely Low (15-30% of AMI) $28,800 $32,900 $37,000 $41,100 Very Low (30-50% of AMI) $47,950 $54,800 $61,650 $68,500 Low (50-80% of AMI) $76,750 $87,700 $98,650 $109,600
Median (80-120% of AMI) $87,900 $100,500 $113,050 $125,600 Moderate (120% of AMI) $105,500 120,550 135,650 150,700 1“Acutely Low” income category effective January 1, 2022.
Source: Department of Housing and Community Development, 2021 II.C Regional Housing Needs Allocation
The RHNA for Richmond is shown in Table II-2. The City has a total allocation of 3,614 units for the 2023 to 2031 planning period.
Table II-2: 6th Cycle RHNA
Richmond Contra Costa County ABAG
Income Number of
Units
Percent Number of
Units
Percent Number of
Units
Percent
Total 3,614 100% 49,043 100% 441,176 100%
Extremely Low and Very
Low1 840 23% 13,346 27% 114,442 26%
Low 485 13% 7,685 16% 65,892 15%
Moderate 638 18% 7,807 16% 72,712 17%
Above Moderate 1,651 46% 20,205 41% 188,130 42%
1 “Extremely Low” included in “Very Low” Category, assumed to be 50% of the Very Low allocation.
Source: ABAG, LWC
The City is not responsible for the actual construction of these units (i.e., the City is not a housing developer). The City is, however, responsible for creating a regulatory environment in which developers are allowed and encouraged to build housing, including both market rate units and below market rate units. The City cr eates this regulatory environment through General Plan policies, zoning standards, City programs, and/or economic incentives to encourage the construction of various types of units. In addition, the City can partner and collaborate with other agencies, organizations, and entities to advance City housing priorities. The programs in Section IV (Housing Plan) are intended to encourage the production of housing in the City.
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Section III Housing Resources
III.A Introduction
There are a variety of resources available to support the City in the implementation of its housing strategy, landowners and developers seeking to provide affordable housing, and residents in need of housing assistance in Richmond. This Section provides a summary of land resources available to accommodate future housing in the City. The detailed housing capacity analysis and methodology is contained in Appendix B. This Section also includes a list of local, regional, State, and federal programs that provide financial and related assistance to support the City in meeting its housing goals.
III.B Land Resources
A critical part of the Housing Element is the sites inventory, which identifies a list of sites that are suitable for future residential development. State l aw mandates that each jurisdiction ensure availability of an adequate number of sites that have appropriate zoning, development standards, and infrastructure capacity to meet its fair share of regional housing need (i.e., RHNA) at all income levels. The inventory is a tool that assists in determining if the jurisdiction has enough land to meet its RHNA given its current regulatory framework.
Identification of Sites Suitable for Housing
The sites identified in the site inventory (Appendix B) are comprised of parcels located in various areas and zones within Richmond.
Each site has undergone an assessment to determine development potential and residential unit capacity given existing zoning standards, potential capacity under new zoning regulations, and development trends. For detailed information, please see Appendix B.
Summary of Adequate Sites
Table III-1 summarizes the City’s methods for satisfying its RHNA. Based on accessory dwelling unit (ADU) projections, approved/entitled projects, preliminary pipeline projects, and available land (i.e., 6th Cycle sites), the City has enough capacity in all income categories.
Assumptions and methodology for this determination and a detailed list of sites are included in Appendix B.
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Table III-1: Residential Development Potential and RHNA
Extremely
Low
Very
Low Low Moderate Above
Moderate Total
RHNA
See Very
Low 840 485 638 1,651 3,614
ADUs See Very
Low 155 155 155 52 517
Approved/Entitled
Projects1
See Very
Low 172 371 257 2,569 3,369
Preliminary
Pipeline
1,2
See Very
Low 280 132 78 1,019 1,509
Site Inventory See Very
Low/Low 416 216 198 830
Total Capacity See Very
Low/Low 1,681 706 3,838 6,225
Surplus/(Shortfall) 356 68 2,187 2,611
1. Considers net new units only. No sites contain existing residential uses.
2. The Preliminary Pipeline describes projects that are currently preliminary applications or under review, while the Entitled/Approved Projects describes projects that have been approved or are under construction.
Source: City of Richmond, LWC
III.C Analyzing Sites Through a Fair Housing Lens
Throughout California, amenities and access to opportunities are not always readily accessible or attainable due to different social, economic, or cultural barriers in society and a legacy of racial and other forms of discrimination. While most of Richmond’s neighborhoods are considered “low resource” applying State standards 1, the City is working to improve the quality of life of its residents through initiatives, programs, and capital investments such as access to affordable housing, anti-displacement, and housing quality improvement resources. Moreover, Richmond has available vacant and highly underutilized land in its housing sites inventory to accommodate housing at all income levels. Appendix F provides a detailed fair housing assessment to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH), and Section IV includes programs the City will undertake to address critical fair housing concerns in the community.
1 California Tax Credit Allocation Committee ( TCAC) resource level classifications reflect educational, economic, and environmental factors and are used in the evaluation of low-income housing tax credit applications to further fair housing goals (i.e., locate low-income housing developments in high quality and high opportunity areas).
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III.D Financial and Administrative Resources
Appendix G provides a list of financial, administrative, and other resources at the local, regional, s tate, and federal levels to help the City address its housing needs. Availability of these resources is dependent on governmental priorities, legislation, and continued funding, which may be subject to change at any time.
III.E Opportunities for Energy Conservation
The cost of energy can greatly impact housing affordability, as energy costs can constitute a significant portion of total housing costs. High energy costs also particularly impact low -income households that are less likely to have the ability to cover increased expenses. Please refer to Appendix G to see a list energy conservation programs available at the local, regional, State, and federal levels.
Section IV Housing Plan
IV.A Goals, Policies, and Programs
The Housing Plan of the Housing Element serves as the City’s strategy for addressing its housing needs. This Section describes the housing goals, policies, and programs of the Housing Element for the City of Richmond.
Goals are aspirational purpose statem ents that indicate the City’s direction and intent on housing-related needs. Each goal encompasses several policies, which are statements that describe the City’s preferred course of action among a range of other options.
Each goal also includes programs, which provide actionable steps to implement the City’s goals and to further the City’s progress towards meeting its housing allocation. Some programs contain quantified objectives, which represent measurable outcomes that can be used to benchmark the success of each program.
This Housing Element contains actions intended to significantly increase the amount and types of housing for all income levels in Richmond. These efforts are expected to be initiated throughout the planning period, which is from January 31, 2023, to January 31, 2031. In accordance with State law, the City will also evaluate the progress and effectiveness of Housing Element programs on an annual basis. Together, these actions reflect the City’s commitment to increasing affordable housing and improving existing housing conditions.
The following list of goals, policies, and programs includes a combination of strategies, including a continuation of existing successful policies and programs as well as new policies and programs to tackle emerging opportunities and constraints, address changes in State law, and provide innovative approaches to accommodate the larger RHNA.
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Goal 1: Promote new housing construction to create more equitable and affordable options that meet Richmond’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
Policies
Policy 1.1: Housing Element Implementation
Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the City’s Housing Element.
Policy 1.2: Adequate Supply of Housing Sites
Ensure an adequate supply of housing sites to achieve the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers for the 2023-2031 planning period.
Programs
Program 1.A: Hilltop Specific Plan Priority Development Area Grant Implement the Hilltop Specific Plan Priority Development Area Grant received from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to accelerate and streamline housing production and job creation near public transit. The grant is funding th e preparation of the Hilltop Horizon Specific Plan.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funds, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Complete and adopt the Hilltop Horizon Specific Plan (March 2024).
Quantified Objective: Approve 50 new housing units in the Hilltop Specific Plan area by 2031.
Program 1.B: Variety of Housing Types
As part of the Richmond Livable Corridors Form-Based Code (FBC) for Macdonald Avenue, 23rd Street, and portions of San Pabl o Avenue and the surrounding areas, facilitate and provide incentives for mixed-use housing over retail development and a variety of other housing types and products such as duplexes, triplexes, large apartment buildings, second dwelling units, courtyard housing, live/work units, condominiums, cooperative housing, single-room occupancy units (SROs), retirement/assisted living communities, and manufactured or modular housing.
Potential incentives include density bonuses, reduced parking requirements (including the removal of minimum parking requirements for qualifying development projects within a one-half mile of public transit as defined under AB 2097), and expedited review. The City will ensure that the FBC that is adopted will not result in the loss of capacity of sites identified to meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the current planning period. When considering parking reductions, the City will develop parking demand models and review successful demand management programs in other jurisdictions to ensure supply efficiently meets demand.
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Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funds, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Fourth quarter of 2022.
Program 1.C: One-Stop Permit Center
Continue operation of the One-Stop Permit Center , including electronic project and permit submittals and soliciting feedback through its comment box at the one-stop Permit Center.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, Fire. Engineering, Business License
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Program 1.D: Outreach to Property Owners to Encourage Housing Development Conduct outreach to property owners who own property identified in the sites inventory to encourage housing development by providing information on allowed residential uses, development standards, and/or incentives , using various forms of communication (e.g., informational/educational fliers, letters, and email).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Biannually (every two years) starting in 2024.
Program 1.E: Expedited Review
Continue to offer on-call planning and building permit plan check services to provide expedited review for residential land use entitlements, especially those that provide housing for target needs.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Applicant Fees
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Program 1.F: No Net Loss
Consistent with SB 166 (No Net Loss) (Government Code § 65863), monitor housing sites to ensure adequate sites to accommodate the remaining unmet RHNA by each income category are maintained at all times.
Update the City’s Residential Sites Inventory as existing vacant and underutilized sites are developed over time and if new sites are necessary to be identified to maintain sufficient RHNA capacity.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Ongoing, at minimum by April 1 of each year.
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Program 1.G: Compliance with Changes in State Housing Law Continually monitor changes in State housing law by subscribing to the State HCD publications.
Promptly amend the City’s plans and regulations to ensure ongoing compliance with State housing law, but apply current State law even before local amendments are adopted.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Program 1.H: Annual Progress Reports
Utilize the forms and definitions adopted by the State HCD to prepare Annual Progress Reports (APR) on the ongoing implementation of the City’s Housing Element Programs.
Responsible Party: Community Development
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: By April 1 of each year.
Program 1.I: Minimum Densities
Evaluate increasing the minimum density standard in the RM -1, RM-2, CM-1, CM-2, and CM-3 zoning districts to 20 dwelling units per acre by assessing other development standards to ensure minimum density can be achieved. Based on the analysis, increase the minimum densities for the RM-1, RM-2, CM-1, CM-2, and CM-3 zoning districts to a minimum of 20 dwelling units per acre and adjust other development standards as needed to ensure housing sites are developed at densities to meet realistic unit estimates.
Responsible Party: Community Development
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: First quarter of 2024December 2023.
Program 1.J: Surplus Land Act Sites
Various identified housing sites have been designated as surplus land consistent with the Surplus Land Act. The City will continue efforts to facilitate the development of housing on these sites, with particular focus on the site designated for lower -income capacity (APN 514140032, 1800 Barrett Avenue). Also see Program 6.R (Equitable Public Land Policy).
Responsible Party: Community Development
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Issue notice of availability to required parties per Surplus Land Act (July 2024); complete entitlements (July 2028).
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Program 1.K: Housing Sites from Previous Housing Elements Under AB 1397, certain rezoning requirements apply if a lower income housing site identified in the sites inventory (Appendix B) was identified as a housing site (for any income level) in a previous housing element’s site inventory. The following vacant and nonvacant lower income sites are subject to the rezoning requirements:
• Vacant lower income sites that have been included in at least two consecutive housing element sites inventories.
• Nonvacant lower income sites that have been included in a prior housing element sites inventory.
The City will make necessar y zoning amendments to allow development by right pursuant to Government Code §65583.2(i) when 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to lower income households on sites identified in Table IV-1.
Table IV-1: Previous Housing Element Cycle Sites to be Rezoned Address APN Parcel Size (ac)* Zone Lower Income
Units Capacity
524 MacDonald Ave 538220004 0.16 CM-5 11
6th Street 538220008 0.32 CM-5 23
* Parcels are part of a consolidated site (Site A) comprising 0.55 total acres.
Source: City of Richmond
Responsible Party: Community Development
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: December 2025
Program 1.L: Eliminate Parking Minimums near Transit Consistent with AB 2097 Consistent with AB 2097, the City will update its parking regulations to remove minimum parking requirements on any residential, commercial, or other development projects within one half-mile of public transit (as defined in AB 2097) unless required findings are made as specified in State law. The City will apply current State law even before local amendments are adopted (AB 2097 is effective January 1, 2023).
Responsible Party: Community Development
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: December 2025
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Goal 2: Facilitate different housing types to accommodate housing needs of moderate- and lower-income households and create inclusive neighborhoods for all income levels.
Policies
Policy 2.1: Supply of Affordable Housing
Promote the development of homes that are affordable to extremely low, very low, low, and moderate-income households in all new residential developments as well as in existing single- family neighborhoods.
Policy 2.2: Variety of Housing Choices and Access
Promote a variety of housing types that meet the different lifestyle and life cycle needs of residents including young adults, young couples and single professionals, small and large families, empty- nesters, and older couples.
Policy 2.3: Funding for Affordable Housing Development
Identify and secure funding sources to assist with affordable housing development.
Policy 2.4: Balanced Neighborhoods
Encourage a mix of affordable and market rate housing within neighborhoods.
Policy 2.5: Rent Subsidies for Affordable Housing
Identify and secure funding to provide rent subsidies that assist extremely low and very low - income families, seniors, and persons.
Programs
Program 2.A: Inclusionary Housing and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee Continue to implement the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee for non-residential developments (updated in 2020) and regularly assess their effectiveness in meeting the City’s Housing Element goals and objectives. Further assessment of the inclusionary housing requirements will be included in the Housing Equity Roadmap.
Produce annual reports on the performance of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Affordable Housing Linkage Fee and community benefits policy ordinance. This report will identify the rate of on-site affordable unit development versus payment of the in-lieu fee and location of on-site affordable units to evaluate progress of affordable unit production in above moderate-income neighborhoods.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
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Funding Source: In-lieu fee or non-residential nexus fee Time Frame: Assess inclusionary housing ordinance and affordable housing linkage fee by first quarter 2024. If changes are determined to be appropriate, adopt updates by third quarter of 2025.
Quantified Objective: At least 25 affordable housing units developed in higher income neighborhoods. At least 25 affordable units constructed on-site as part of market rate housing projects.
Program 2.B: Development Impact Fees
Continue to require residential developers to pay all applicable development impact fees to ensure that existing public infrastructure, services, and amenities are maintained and upgraded to adequately meet the needs of the City. Development impact fees will be updated in fiscal year 2022-2023; however, the City will continue to e valuate development fees regularly, including application on a per square-foot basis rather than per unit to encourage the development of higher densities and smaller, more affordable housing units. Based on this evaluation, the City will adjust these fees.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Reassess development impact fees and make any adjustments by third quarter of 20276.
Program 2.C: Affordable Housing Assets Fund
Utilize resources in the City’s Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Assets Fund (Low-Mod Fund) to continue providing affordable housing in Richmond. Assets in the Low -Mod Fund include real and personal property, bond proceeds, and rent payments. The City will identify and proactively seek new funding for low- and moderate-income housing assets, including social impact bond financing.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Redevelopment assets
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Program 2.D: Contra Costa County Housing Choice Voucher Program Promote Contra Costa County’s Housing Choice Voucher Program on the City’s Online Housing Resource Center.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, IT Department, Richmond Housing Authority
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee.
Time Frame: Ongoing.
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Quantified Objective: Support the County in maintaini ng at least 1,700 Housing Choice Vouchers, including project-based vouchers.
Program 2. E: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs).
Continue to facilitate the production of ADUs/JADUs by developing a set(s) of preapprove d architectural and building plans for ADUs and by providing informational handout materials.
Modify the Zoning Code to allow ADUs/JADUs in the CR Z one consistent with how multi -family residential is allowed in the CR Zone. The City will also monitor ADU production and affordability throughout the planning period and implement additional action if target ADU numbers are not being met.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Amend Zoning Code and complete preapproved plans December 2023. If ADU targets are not being met by January 2027, the City will review and revise efforts to increase ADU construction (e.g., fee waivers, local financing program for ADUs, etc.) no later than Jul y 2027. The City’s action shall be commensurate with the level of shortfall from construction targets (i.e., if shortfall is significant (i.e., less than 80 percent of goal) , a rezoning action may be required, if shortfall is slight (i.e., 80 percent of goal or greater), additional incentives may be appropriate).
Quantified Objective: Permit 517 ADUs throughout the planning period (approximately 65 per year on average).
Program 2.F: Provide Sewer Priority for Lower-Income Housing.
The City will adopt written policies and procedures that give a priority for sewer hook -ups and service to lower-income housing developments.
Responsible Party: Public Works Department
Funding Source: Sewer Fees
Time Frame: Fourth quarter 2024.
Program 2.G: Pre-Approved Small Lot Home Plans.
Prepare a set(s) of preapproved floor plans and guides for the development of single-family homes on small lots. Provide floor plans to the public for free or at a discounted price.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: July 2026
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Goal 3: Remove constraints to the development of housing.
Policies
Policy 3.1: Reduction of Housing Production Constraints Implement measures to remove or reduce constraints to housing production in Richmond.
Policy 3.2: Collaboratively Address Constraints
Consult with stakeholders (e.g., housing organizations, for- and non-profit developers) to identify and seek solutions to address constraints to housing production.
Programs
Program 3.A: Design Review and Use Permit Process Improvements The City will update required design review findings for housing developments, including community/residential care facilities, to ensure findings are objective. Additionally, the City will hold legal training sessions with the Design Review Board, Planning Commission, and City staff regarding State law provisions (e.g., Housing Accountability Act, SB 330 , etc.) including limited purview, number of public meetings, and timeframes for project reviews.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Attorney’s Office Funding Source: General Fund, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Fourth quarter of 2023 with subsequent biannual legal training sessions (2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031).
Quantified Objective: Reduce average processing time (from deemed complete) for both design review and use permit applications by fourth quarter 2025.
Program 3.B: Housing Developers Interviews
Conduct interviews with representatives from the residential development community to discuss the City’s development review and permitting process and ensure it is streamlined.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Meet with developers biannually (every two years) starting in 2025 (2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031).
Program 3.C: Objective Design Standards for Housing in the Form-Based Code As part of the Richmond Livable Corridors Form-Based Code (FBC) for Macdonald Avenue, 23 rd
Street, and portions of San Pablo Avenue and the surrounding areas, establish objective design
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standards to ensure that near and long-term development and capital improvement projects substantially improve the quality of life for Richmond residents.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funds, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Fourth quarter 2022.
Program 3.D: Density Bonus
The City will ensure that its local density bonus ordinance remains consistent with State law, but will apply current State law even before local amendments are adopted. Should any amendments be required to existing policies pursuant to State law or case l aw, the City will modify its existing policies, as appropriate. The City commits to continue to review and approve eligible requests under State Density Bonus Law (including requests for incentives, concessions, waivers, and parking reductions) so that projects that qualify are not prevented from developing at the densities to which they are entitled.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Fourth quarter 2025.
Program 3.E: Allow residential care facilities consistent with State law.
Amend the Zoning Code to: 1) require only the same development standards for residential care facilities as those required for single-family dwellings; 2) permit senior residential care facilities serving six or fewer persons by-right; and 3) permit limited hospice facilities by-right in the CM-3, CM-4, or CM-5 zones.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Fourth quarter 2025.
Quantified Objective: Approve one residential care facility during the planning period.
Goal 4: Create housing opportunities for people with special needs, including seniors, persons with disabilities, single- parent households, first -time homebuyers, large families, unhoused individuals and families.
Policies
Policy 4.1: Senior Housing Development
Actively seek to expand the development of affordable housi ng for extremely low, very low, low and moderate-income seniors.
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Policy 4.2: Accessible Housing Opportunities
Actively seek to expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities in new and existing single-family and multifamily developments.
Policy 4.3: Child Daycare
Actively seek to expand child daycare opportunities to assist single-parent and dual -income households, especially those who are extremely low, very low, low, and moderate income.
Policy 4.4: First-Time Homebuyer Opportunities
Actively seek to expand housing opportunities for extremely low, very low, low , and moderate- income first-time homebuyers.
Policy 4.5: Large-Family Housing
Actively seek to expand housing opportunities for large families that are extremely low, very low, low, and moderate income.
Policy 4.6: Emergency, Transitional, and Supportive Housing Actively seek to expand emergency, transitional, and supportive housing to address homelessness in Richmond.
Programs
Program 4.A: Senior Housing Resources
Maintain a comprehensive list of senior housing resources to refer tenants to through the City’s Online Housing Resource Center.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, IT Department Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Update senior housing resources list on the Online Housing Resource Center annually in the second quarter.
Program 4.B: Child Daycare Resources
Continue to work closely with the Contra Costa Child Care Council, which provides childcare subsidies and referral services. Provide and maintain Contra Costa Child Care Council contact and Richmond-specific daycare information through the City’s Online Housing Resource Center.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, IT Department Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Post Contra Costa Child Care Council contact and Richmond-specific daycare information on the City’s Online Housing Resource Center by second quarter 2026. Update annually in the second quarter.
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Program 4.C: Raise Awareness of Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance Raise awareness of reasonable accommodation ordinance through fliers, email blasts, and other marketing materials.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, IT Department Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Prepare and distribute marketing materials by second quarter 2026. Provide annual outreach thereafter.
Quantified Objective: Approve three reasonable accommodation requests during the planning period.
Program 4.D: State and Federal Housing Funds
Continue to aggressively compete for affordable housing funds provided by state and federal agencies such as HUD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State HCD.
Specifically target funding available for persons with special needs and disabilities.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Annually evaluate notices of funding availability; submit at least one grant application every two years until an award is received.
Quantified Objective: Be awarded one grant for funding that facilitates the production of at least 30 below market rate housing units for persons with special needs and disabilities during the 2023-2031 planning period.
Program 4.E: Homelessness Coordination Efforts
Participate in efforts to actively seek regional solutions to homelessness, including the Contra Costa HOME Consortium and the Contra Costa Interagency Council on Homelessness (CCICH) to i dentify and respond to the needs of homeless individuals and families in Richmond and surrounding communities. Prioritize implementation of the strategies and actions identified in the Consortium’s Consolidated Plan and the CCICH 10-Year Homeless Plan. Actively support education and outreach services for homeless persons.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Quantified Objective: See Program 4.F (Homelessness Strategic Plan)
Program 4.F: Homelessness Strategic Plan
Complete a Homelessness Strategic Plan that identifies strategies and partnerships to effectively meet the needs of the unhoused population in Richmond, including physical health, mental health and social service supports. The plan will also include a discussion of the City’s potential housing plans such as a safe parking pilot program, scattered sites housing, interim housing, and other
33 | City of Richmond 2023-2031 Housing Element
housing choices, as well as workforce development opportunities. Apply for forthcoming California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) NOFA to implement future programs.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant Funds, ARPA funds
Time Frame: Apply for Cal ICH NOFA by June 2023. Complete Homelessness Strategic plan by third quarter of 2023.
Quantified Objective: Secure housing for 60 unhoused individuals by 2025.
Program 4.G: Low Barrier Navigation Centers and Emergency Shelters The Zoning Code does not address low barrier navigation centers (LBNCs), defined as Housing First, low-barrier, service enriched shelters focused on moving people into permanent housing that provide temporary living facilities while case managers connect i ndividuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter, and housing (Government Code Section 65660). State law requires LBNCs to be permitted by-right in areas zoned for mixed- use and nonresidential zones permitting multi -family uses provided they satisfy the provisions established by AB 101 (see Government Code Section 65662). Therefore, the City will amend its Zoning Code to allow Low Barrier Navigation Centers in the RM1, RM2, CM-1, CM-2, CM-3, CM- 4, CM-5, and CR zones by-right. Additionally, the City will amend emergency shelter parking standards to only require parking necessary for emergency shelter staff.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Second quarter of 2024.
Quantified Objective: See Program 4.J (Funding for Emergency, Transitional, and Supportive Housing).
Program 4.H: Transitional and Supportive Housing
In Richmond, transitional and supportive housing are allowed in all zones that allow residential uses and are subject to the same development standards that apply to other residential uses of a similar type within these zones. They are also allowed by -right in all zones where multi -family and mixed-use developments are permitted, with the exception of the CR Zone. Because the CR Zone permits “multi-unit dwellings” above the ground floor or behind an allowed ground floor use, transitional and supportive housing should be permitted in the same fashion. Therefore, the City will amend its Zoning Code to allow transitional and supportive housing by-right in the CR Zone.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Fourth quarter of 2025.
Quantified Objective: See Program 4.J (Funding for Emergency, Transitional, and Supportive Housing).
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Program 4.I: Employee/Farmworker Housing
The City will amend the Zoning Code to allow employee housing consistent with Health and Safety Code §17021.5 and 17021.6.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Fourth quarter of 2025.
Program 4.J: Funding for Emergency, Transitional, and Supportive Housing Support non-profit organizations seeking funding sources for the establishment and operation of emergency, transitional, and supportive housing. Continue working with GRIP and the Bay Area Rescue Mission to provide shelter and services for the homeless. Proactively seek and help secure financing through programs such as the Emergency Housing and Assistance Program (EHAP) and the Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Quantified Objective: Construction of 58 emergency, transitional, and/or supportive housing units by 2031.
Program 4.K: Incentivize Affordable Units for Large Families Explore potential policies to ensure production of larger units (3-bedroom and larger) to meet community needs. Policies will be included in the Housing Equity Roadmap.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: See Program 6.G (Housing Equity Roadmap).
Goal 5: Conserve and improve the existing housing stock to enhance quality of life and provide greater housing stability and community resiliency.
Policies
Policy 5.1: Preservation and Modernization of Public Housing Preserve and systematically modernize Richmond’s public housing developments.
Policy 5.2: Conservation of At-Risk Affordable Housing Units Facilitate the conservation of subsidized housing developments that are at risk of converting to market rate housing.
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Policy 5.3: Abatement of Foreclosures, Substandard Housing, and Blight Improve the physical, social, and economic health of neighborhoods by addressing foreclosures, substandard housing conditions, and neighborhood blight through a balanced program of education, code enforcement, inspections, acquisition, and financial assistance.
Programs
Program 5.A: Monitor At-Risk Affordable Housing Units
Continue monitoring program for at-risk housing units in Richmond. As part of the monitoring program, check the conversion risk status on an annual basis and include the information as part of the Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Ongoing; the City will monitor the City’s records and the California Housing Partnership’s database annually, and contact owners or representatives of any project that will become at risk in the next five years.
Quantified Objective: See Program 5.B (Assistance for At-Risk Affordable Housing Units).
Program 5.B: Assistance for At-Risk Affordable Housing Units Provide technical assistance to organizations interested in purchasing and maintaining subsidized affordable housing units should property owners express interest in converti ng them to market rate. Provide education and technical assistance to tenants of units being converted to market rate uses.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Tax Credit State Federal Program
Time Frame: Ongoing; also see Program 5.A (Monitor At-Risk Affordable Housing Units) Quantified Objective: Zero affordable housing units converted to market rate during the planning period.
Program 5.C: Online Housing Resource Center
Continue providing comprehensive information and guidance on the City’s website for residents facing foreclosure and those seeking assistance in areas such as home purchases, housing improvement, rehabilitation and seismic retrofits, energy conservation improvements, and locating special needs housing. Continue to expand and update the Online Housing Resource Center relative to information on tenant rights, as well as relevant state law and C ity ordinance and policies for property owners, landl ords, and property managers. Prepare information regarding potential life safety maintenance items for multi-family common interest developments,
2023-2031 Housing Element City of Richmond | 36
which may include reference to possible liability issues and City Code Enforcement contact information. Post this information to the Online Housing Resource Center and mailed to multi - family common interest developments in Richmond.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, Code Enforcement Division, City Manager’s Office, IT Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Program 5.D: Housing Education Workshops and Outreach
In partnership with community -based organizations and the Rent Program, hold an annual bilingual workshop to educate residents, landlords, and property owners and managers about various local housing issues and available resources. Record the workshop and post it to the City’s website to allow on demand viewing throughout the year.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, Code Enforcement Division, City Manager’s Office, Rent Program, IT Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Annually
Quantified Objective: Hold one workshop every year with the goal of 40 people cumulatively attend education workshops throughout the planning period.
Program 5.E: Vacant Residential Property Ordinance
Continue to provide public information about and enforce the vacant residential property ordinance.
Responsible Party: Code Enforcement Division, IT Department Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Program 5.F: Code Enforcement for Residential Neighborhoods Continue to address foreclosures, substandard housing conditions, and neighborhood blight through code enforcement to ensure quality, safe, and healthy housing conditions. U se code enforcement efforts to promote available rehabilitation or other programs to assist property owner with maintaining habitable conditions for residents and improving properties. Maintain a database of health and safety code enforcement complaints. As part of the Housing Element’s Annual Progress Report (A PR), include the total number of code enforcement cases opened for foreclosures, substandard housing conditions, and neighborhood blight. Also include the total amount of fines collected for these types of cases in the APR. Also see Program 5.G (Residential Rental Inspection Program).
Responsible Party: Code Enforcement Division
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
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Time Frame: Ongoing
Quantified Objective: Annually aim to close 90 percent of open housing habitability enforcement cases as of January 1.
Program 5.G: Residential Rental Inspection Program
Continue to operate the City’s Residential Rental Inspection Program (RRIP), which requires regular, periodic inspections for property owners of three or more residential rental units and continue to implement an inspections process for property owners of one or two rental units.
Evaluate effectiveness of the current RRIP including compliance rates. Develop program enhancements to address non-compliance, such as a Rent Escrow Account Program . Also see Program 5.F (Code Enforcement for Residential Neighborhoods).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Program fees
Time Frame: Ongoing inspections. Evaluate this program every five years beginning fourth quarter of 2024 and make changes as necessary to enhance the program and address non-compliance.
Quantified Objective: Inspect at least 1,500 units annually.
Program 5.H: Seismic Resiliency
Improve overall community resiliency to seismic hazards through implementing actions in the Public Safety and Noise Element. The City will also seek funding for improvements that enhance building resiliency to seismic hazards (e.g., foundation bolting, retrofitting techniques, etc.).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding
Time Frame: Annually evaluate notices of funding availability; subm it at least one grant application during the planning period.
Program 5.I: County Home Rehabilitation Program
Promote the County’s Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) that provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners for home rehabilitation projects. Loans of up to $70,000 are available, and grants of up to $15,000 are available to mobile homeowners and single-family homeowners that do not have sufficient equity in their home. Information on the program is available in English and Spanish.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, IT Department Funding Source: , General Funds
Time Frame: Annually provide bilingual NPP fliers at housing-related outreach events and on the City’s website
Quantified Objective: Five home rehabilitation loans (NPP loans) issued during the planning period.
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Program 5.J: Mills Act Historical Property Contracts
Continue to utilize Mills Act contract agreements to allow qualifying property owners to receive a potential property tax reduction and use the savings to assist with the rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance of residential buildings designated as historic resources. Modify the City’s Mills Act Ordinance and/or provide public information and resources to promote use of the program (e.g., handouts, calculator, etc.). Include annual Mills Act contract activity as part of the Housing Element’s Annual Progress Report (APR).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funds, Applicant fees
Time Frame: Modify Mills Act Ordinance (2022-2023); provide additional public information and resources regarding Mills Act contracts (2023-2024); annual reporting Quantified Objective: Execute at least one Mills Act contract agreement during the planning period.
Program 5.K: Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program
Seek funding to allow the City’s Rental Rehabilitation Loan Program (RRLP), or a similar program, to be offered based on funding availability. The RRLP provided landlords with no-interest loans to upgrade substandard rental housing units for low -income tenants. The program required landlords to provide a 50 percent match in funds. No minimum monthly payment wa s required, but program loans must be paid in full within 10 years.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding (CDBG and CalHOME)
Time Frame: Annually evaluate notices of funding availability; submit at least one grant application every two years until an award is received
Quantified Objective: Award of one grant for rehabilitation program funding; if funding is awarded, serve three units though the program during the planning period.
Program 5.L: Sanitary Sewer Lateral Grant Program
Continue providing the City’s Sewer Lateral Grant Program to help residents repair or replace private sewer mains and laterals. Under the Program, the City reimburses residents with up to 50 percent of the project costs, or $3,000, whichever is less.
Responsible Party: Public Works Department
Funding Source: Sewer fees
Time Frame: Ongoing
Quantified Objective: Repair or replace an average of 100 sewer laterals annually during the planning period.
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Program 5.M: Richmond Housing Rehabilitation Program
Continue to support the Richmond Housing Rehabilitation Program, funding through a Social Impact Bond, for rehabilitating and repairing abandoned residential properties.
Responsible Party: Code Enforcement
Funding Source: Social Impact Bond
Time Frame: Ongoing
Quantified Objective: 15 properties rehabilitated and sold to first-time homebuyers during the planning period.
Program 5.N: Emergency Loan Program
Seek funding for the City’s Emergency Loan Program. The Emergency Loan Program offered low interest loans to homeowners with poor credit and in need of emergency home repairs. The maximum loan amount wa s $15,000 and interest rates range from zero to three percent. As part of the program, borrowers were required to obtain credit counseling services.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant Funding
Time Frame: Submit at least one grant application during the planning period.
Quantified Objective: If funding is obtained, issue at least one emergency loan for one home during the planning period.
Program 5.O: Richmond Effort to Abate Lead
In coordination with actions anticipated in the forthcoming Environmental Justice Element, develop a program to abate lead-based paint and asbestos containing materials in older housing.
Seek funding for the program.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant Funding
Time Frame: Adopt Environmental Justic e Element (2023); s ubmit at least one grant application during the planning period.
Quantified Objective: If funding is obtained, issue grants or loans to fund lead abatement activities in three homes during the planning period.
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Goal 6: Promote fair housing access and opportunities for all persons.
Policies
Policy 6.1: Tenant Protections
Explore reasonable and enforceable regulations that protect tenants from evictions and exorbitant rent increases and refer residents with issues such as foreclosures, landlord-tenant disputes, and unlawful evictions, and housing discrimination to counseling services.
Policy 6.2: Discrimination Prevention
Identify, monitor, and prevent discriminatory housing practices.
Policy 6.3: Displacement Avoidance
Create housing stability for current residents by supporting limited equity and community ownership models and facilitating the preservation and production of affordable housing units.
Policy 6.4: Resources Alignment
Prioritize programming and align funding and resources, including City staff, with highest needs.
Policy 6.5: Lower Income Family Needs
Assess unit size production of publicly subsidized units and align target units sizes of publicly funded and private development projects with the needs of lower income families with children as feasible.
Programs
Program 6.A: Community Land Trust
Design and implement strategies to enable community land trusts that will preserve or create affordable housing opportunities to acquire public land, create an inventory of vacant and blighted properties, and create a Community Land Policy package to encourage and enable production and preservation of permanently affordable housing. See also 6.R (Equitable Public Land Policy) and 6. K (Neighborhood and Land Stabilization Program)
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Breakthrough Grant
Time Frame: Second quarter of 2024
Program 6.B: Shared Equity Program Study
Study existing shared equity programs in California and determine whether it is feasible to establish a shared-equity program in Richmond as a way of providing more affordable housing.
Under a shared-equity program, the City c ould provide funding to assist families with home
41 | City of Richmond 2023-2031 Housing Element
purchases. In return for its investment, the City could share the benefits of any appreciation in home price. The City’s share of the home’s appreciation could be returned to the City in the form of a cash payment that could be used to help another family with a home purchase. The City’s share could also stay with the home, reducing the cost of that home for the next family. Explore strategies for effective implementation of and funding opportunities for this program in conjunction with the Housing Equity Roadmap (HER).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Breakthrough Grant, other sources as available Time Frame: 2022-2024.
Program 6.C: Counseling Service Referrals for Foreclosures, Landlord-Tenant Disputes, Unlawful Evictions, and Housing Discrimination
Continue to refer homeowners, tenants, and landlords to third-party organizations such as Bay Area Legal Aid, Community Housing and Development Corporation of North Richmond, and 211 Bay Area for assistance with issues such as foreclosures, landlord-tenant disputes, unlawful evictions, and housing discrimination. Provide r eferral information as part of the Online Housing Resource Center. In addition, continue to administer the Richmond Rent Program to offer daily counseling sessions for landlords and tenants about the Rent Ordinance, Relocation Ordinance, and related State and local laws, and to fund community legal services agencies.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Rent Program, IT Department
Funding Source: Rent Program Fees
Time Frame: Ongoing.
Quantified Objective: Refer three persons to third-party organizations described in this program throughout the planning period.
Program 6.D: Enforcement of Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance Continue to enforce Richmond’s Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance that was expanded by Ballot Measure L in 2016. The City will continue to provide information to residents and property owners and managers on the Ordinance requirements through the City’s website.
Responsible Party: Rent Program, IT Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee, Rent Program fees Time Frame: Ongoing.
Program 6.E: Housing Access and Discrimination Protocols and Monitoring Develop a protocol to eliminate instances of housing discrimination where discovered, and coordinate with local organizations and representatives providing support to groups receiving unfair treatment in the pursuit of suitable housing. D evelop ongoing monitoring practices to prevent future instances of housing discrimination.
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Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Rent Program
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Develop protocols and monitoring practices by fourth quarter 2026.
Program 6.F: Mortgage Credit Certificate Tax Credit Program Support and promote the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Tax Credit Program administered by the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development and make program information readily available through the Online Housing Resource Center as funding becomes available. Also provide information about first-time homebuyer programs administered by local non-profits such as Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, IT Department Funding Source: Contra Costa County, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Annually review and update program information on the City’s Online Housing Resource Center.
Quantified Objective: If the MCC Program is funded, 10 Richmond homeowners assisted by 2031.
Program 6.G: Housing Equity Roadmap (HER)
The City, with support by Just Cities Institute, is developing a Housing Equity Roadmap (HER) to provide a concrete set of policy and program recommendations for City implementation in the next 5 to 10 years. The Housing Equity Roadmap will include information about demographic changes, including at neighborhood level that are critical to policy development, as well as best practice research of effective efforts from other jurisdictions. The HER effort will include research on the legal and public policy framework for conducting a fair housing impact assessment and local preference and right to return policies, taking into account the housing needs of persons of color who have historically been discriminated against in housing practices.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funds
Time Frame: Develop draft HER by second quarter 2023; final HER by fourth quarter 2023; implementation of the HER based on HER action plan.
Program 6.H: Increased Housing Staffing
Assess and increase City Housing Division staffing needs to successfully implement the Housing Element programs, Homelessness Strategic Plan, and Housing Equity Roadmap.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funds, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Complete assessment of Housing Division staffing needs by December 2023.
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Quantified Objective: Hire one new staff member and augment staffing with contract services (three contractors minimum) by June 2024. Identify long-term funding for staff and programming by December 2026.
Program 6.I: AFFH Housing Funding
Identify potential regional, State, federal, and private funding resources for the implementation of identified AFFH meaningful actions.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Identify potential funding sources and include in the Housing Equity Roadmap by December 2023.
Quantified Objective: Secure a minimum of $300,000 of new funding by September 2024.
Program 6.J: Public Financing Options
Evaluate new public financing options for voter consideration that w ould minimize negative impacts, such as displacement, faced by lower income residents and can be dedicated towards increasing City Housing Division staffing and implementing identified meaningful actions .
Potential public financing mechanisms may include amending the real estate transfer tax or vacant properties parcel tax. Create a process for including the most viable public financing option in the 2026 election.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Attorney, City Council Funding Source: Comprehensive planning fee
Time Frame: Evaluate public financing options by December 2023. Include most viable public financing option on ballot for 2026 election by September 2026.
Quantified Objective: Evaluate a minimum of two public financing options.
Program 6.K: Neighborhood Land Stabilization Program
Develop a Neighborhood and Land Stabilization Program (NLSP) that supports community land trust acquisition and rehabilitation of residential properties in order to stabilize neighborhoods by avoiding displacement of existing tenants in substandard rentals and owners in properties that have fallen under deferred maintenance and retaining tax default. As part of this program, the City will:
• Create a database of abandoned, deteriorated, vacant, and tax delinquent properties, as well as habitability violations by June 2023.
• Investigate Revenue and Taxation Code Chapter 8 tax defaulted program design by September 2023.
• Evaluate current Housing Receivership Program impacts by September 2023. • Initiate community engagement by September 2023.
• Enact the NLSP. Begin adoption phase by September 2023.
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• Pilot at least one acquisition for community land trust (either vacant or developed property) to benefit a minimum of two low-income family households by December 2026.
Also see Program 6.A. (Community Land Trusts).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Attorney Funding Source: Breakthrough grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: See above.
Quantified Objective: Pilot at least one acquisition for community land trust (either vacant or developed property) to benefit a minimum of two low-income family households.
Program 6.L: SB 1079
Investigate SB 1079 (2020), which created a new foreclosure sale process for two -to-four-unit buildings that allows qualified parties a means to purchase property in foreclosure, subject to certain requirements. If feasible, assist the transfer of property under SB 1079.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Attorney Funding Source: General Fund
Time Frame: Complete feasibility analysis by December 2023. Assist in the transfer of units under SB 1079 beginning March 2026, then assist annually Quantified Objective: Assist two units annually if determined to be feasible.
Program 6.M: Anti-Displacement Zones
Study legal and programmatic feasibility of creating anti-displacement zones (ADZ) that implement anti-displacement strategies, including: researching best practices for incorporating neighborhood level median income for defining “AMI” levels for affordable housing being built in ADZs while still complying with TCAC and HCD definitions for subsidized projects; evaluating existing local laws regarding demolition of rent stabilized buildings and potential ability to requir e one for one replacement in the new units in compliance with State legislation.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Attorney Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: December 2023
Program 6.N: Local Preference and Right to Return Policies Develop local preference and right to return policies for new affordable housing units, services, and financial assistance in compliance with State legislation and funding source requirements.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Attorney Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: See below.
Quantified Objective: Develop outreach materials about existing anti -displacement resources and conduct annual outreach to 300 residents in displacement vulnerable areas
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by December 2024. Once new expanded anti -displacement resources are available, conduct annual outreach to 1,000 residents in displacement vulnerable areas beginning March 2026.
Program 6.O: Fair Housing Impact Assessment Policy
Pilot the use of a Fair Housing Impact Assessment policy and evaluate its utility in guiding City informed decision-making and public knowledge of the impacts of new development projects. This will be included in the Housing Equity Roadmap.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: See Program 6.G (Housing Equity Roadmap).
Quantified Objective: Pilot the use of a Fair Housing Impact Assessment Policy (beginning with public property) to benefit a minimum of 100 households , beginning December 2024.
Program 6.P: Housing Reparations Fund
Establish a Housing Reparations Fund for both homeowners and tenants, with robust community engagement to aid Richmond’s long-time Black/African American residents impacted by displacement and/or structural racism in compliance with Proposition 209. The program may include a right of return, affordable housing preference policy, and/or other forms of economic assistance.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Design Housing Reparations Fund by June 2024. Identify monies to fund the program by March 2025. Implement the program by December 2025.
Quantified Objective: Identify and obtain at least $250,000 to fund the program with the aim to increase the program funding over time.
Program 6.Q: Basic Income Program
Evaluate creation of a basic income program (e.g., through Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F)); the target population for the program should be identified with input from the community.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Adopt policies as part of the R3F strategic plan and governance structure development by June 2023.
Quantified Objective: Serve a minimum of four households per year beginning March 2024 (i.e., 28 households through January 2031).
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Program 6.R: Equitable Public Land Policy
Develop an Equitable Public Land policy, in compliance with the Surplus Land Act, with guidelines and preferential criteria for the disposition or use of publicly owned land. Also see Program 1 .J (Surplus Land Act Sites) and Program 6.A. (Community Land Trusts).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Breakthrough Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Conduct spatial inventory of publicly owned land by December 2022.
Conduct robust community engagement, including engaging a minimum of 300 residents from Richmond’s lower income neighborhoods by December 2023. Adopt new Equitable Public Land policy in consultation with Community Land Trusts, Limited Equity Cooperatives, and other non-profit entities that prioritize permanently affordable housing while supporting homeowner equity attainment and renter stabilization; or immediate and long-term housing solutions for unhoused residents. Issue annual Notice of Availability, for one to two parcels to provide a minimum of six units beginning September 2024.
Quantified Objective: Conduct robust community engagement, including engaging a minimum of 300 residents from Richmond’s lower income neighborhoods . Issue annual Notice of Availability, for one to two parcels to provide a minimum of six units.
Program 6.S: Anti-Displacement Services
Provide new anti -displacement services, including proactive and affirmative enforcement to prevent discrimination against single female headed households with children who are at high risk of eviction.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Begin annual outreach March 2024.
Quantified Objective: Connect with a minimum of 20 female headed households with children for educational workshops and access to services annually.
Program 6.T: Renter Policies
Evaluate new renter policies to protect renters from the long-term collateral consequences of the COVID19 pandemic. Assess and design potential new renter access policies that address discrimination based on credit scores, eviction history, source of income, and income level requirements (i.e., requiring income three times or more of the rent costs), as part of the Housing Equity Roadmap.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: See Program 6.G (Housing Equity Roadmap).
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Program 6.U: Senior Resident Housing Needs
Assess housing needs of senior residents, particularly lower income senior renters and homeowner and provide new housing services for low -income senior residents. Design new programming and/or policies through community surveys, analysis of mortgage and rent burden, and tailored community forums to inform housing assistance services and additional policies.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Conduct assessment and design new programs for seniors and policies by March 2024.
Quantified Objective: Implement at least one new program to serve needs of seniors starting in July 2025. Serve 50 low-income seniors by December 2030.
Program 6.V: LGBTQ+ Housing Issues
Partner with local organizations to hold forum on LGBTQ+ housing issues with community organizations. Coordinate with community -led efforts to better understand the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Produce publicly available report summarizing anonymized feedback on LGBTQ+ housing issues and proposed solutions with additional opportunity for community engagement and feedback by December 2025. Complete assessment of community needs by September 2027.
Quantified Objective: Hold two annual forums (2024 and 2025) with a minimum of 25 participants at each by September 2027.
Program 6.W: Formerly Incarcerated Resident Housing Needs Prioritize the housing needs of formerly incarcerated residents through: 1) Completed implementation of current Fair Chance housing and 2) Considered expansion of the Fair Chance Housing law to apply to all for ms of housing and eliminate the entire use of criminal records (similar to the cities of Berkeley and Oakland).
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Produce City staff report on the outcomes of the current Fair Chance Housing Ordinance; evaluate landlord compliance and tenant experience of the current law by December 2023. Review implementation of the cities of Berkeley and Oakland Fair Chance Housing Ordinances and work with the City Attorney and the community, including re-entry service organizations to draft an expanded ordinance for City Council review and adoption by March 2024.
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Program 6.X: Re-Entry Housing
Preserve at-risk re-entry housing units and integrate re-entry housing priorities into City housing plans, including Homelessness Strategic Plan and Housing Equity Roadmap. Advocate with the County for similar actions.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: Integrate re-entry housing priorities into City housing plans by March 2024.
Preserve re-entry housing units by December 2028.
Quantified Objective: Work with Rubicon Homes to preserve 10 assisted re-entry housing units at moderate risk of converting to market rate units during planning period.
Program 6.Y: Undocumented Resident Housing Needs
Prioritize the housing needs of undocumented residents by establishing a referral list of non-Legal Service Corporation (LSC) funded organizations for undocumented tenants and by enacting a City policy that removes discriminatory barriers against undocumented residents in access to City funded housing units, services, and financial assistance.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department, City Attorney Funding Source: Grant funding, comprehensive planning fee Time Frame: City Attorney’s office to collaborate with legal advocacy organizations to conduct legal research and review of the City’s legal authority to combat housing discrimination against undocumented residents by December 2024. Evaluate City powers to reduce barriers of entry for undocumented tenants without social security numbers (SSN) to apply for subsidized housing by December 2024.
Program 6.Z: Encampment Projects
Complete the sunsetting of the Castro encampment and continue to offer services and supporting development of a transition plan for previous residents of the Castro and Rydin encampments (the Rydin encampment was closed September 30, 2022) . Emergency housing support is being implemented that bridges urgent needs to get extremely vulnerable households indoors while seeking placement in County safety net resources.
Responsible Party: Community Development Department
Funding Source: Grant funding, General Fund
Time Frame: June 2024.
Quantified Objective: Provide alternative housing opportunities, including supportive services, for approximately 130 encampment residents based on individual need assessments and program funding by December 2023. Offer counseling, behavioral health, drug rehabilitation, job related training and support, health services, and housing