Category
Number Concise Written Description of Proposed Policy
1A Richmond's 6th Cycle HEU Sites Inventory proposed 6,225 units, which is 2,611 units above required RHNA of 3,614, thereby accomdating up to 170% of current RHNA by total.
2F As part of the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update, 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. This program will reduce average processing time (from deemed complete) for both design review and use permit applications by fourth quarter 2025. 3B The City of Richmond seeks to reduce barriers to property owners to create ADUs/JADUs, particularly for lower-income/cost burdened property owners through proposed program 2.E of 6th Cylce HEU. Through this program, the city will facilitate the production of ADUs/JADUs by developing a set(s) of preapproved architectural and building plans for ADUs and by providing informational handout materials.
Additionally, the city will modify the Zoning Code to allow ADUs/JADUs in the CR Zone consistent with how multi-family residential is allowed in the CR Zone.
Another way in wich the city seeks to faciliate ADU/JADU production is through its Transformative Climate Communties implementation grant. The city will provide free or discounted pre-approved floor plans and guides for low-income residents living in the Project Area to help create additional affordable housing units and allow for residents to age in place.
Key Milestones and Milestone
Dates
Anticipated Completion
Date
By 2031
Complete Municipal Code
amendments and hold first training
session by December 2023. Hold
subsequent biannual legal training
sessions in December 2025, 2027,
2029, and 2031.
December 2023
Amend Zoning Code and complete
preapproved plans December 2023.
Monitor ADU production and
affordability every two years in April
(April 2025, April 2027, and April
2029). If ADU targets are not being
met by April, the City will review and
revise efforts to increase ADU
construction (e.g., fee waivers, local
financing program for ADUs, etc.) no
later than October (i.e., within six
months).
December 2031
Notes
Category
Number
Concise Written
Description of
Prohousing Policy
Enacted or
Proposed
Documentat
ion Type
(e.g.,
resolution,
zoning
code)
Insert Web Links to
Documents or Indicate
that Electronic Copies
are Attached as Appendix
5 Points
Enhanceme
nt Category
Number
Enhanceme
nt Points Total Points
1A Richmond's 6th Cycle HEU Sites Inventory proposed
6,225 units, which is 2,611 units above required RHNA
of 3,614, thereby accomdating up to 170% of current
RHNA by total.
P 6th Cycle
Housing
Element
Update of
General Plan,
Sites
Inventory,
Appendix B.
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/64850
3 1 2 5
1B As part of the Richmond Livable Corridors Form-Based Code (FBC) for Macdonald Avenue, 23rd Street, and
portions of San Pablo Avenue and the surrounding
areas, the City of Richmond facilitates and provides
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.
E General Plan
and Zoning
Code
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
2965/Form-Based-Code
2 1 2 4
1E The City of Richmond increases allowable density in
low-density, single-family residential areas beyond the state ADU law requirements, by allowing up to
duplexes if sufficient lot size, as well as multi-family housing types such as bungalow courtyards and
townhouse development types.
E Zoning Code https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_200BAZODIRE_ART15.04.2
01REDI_15.04.201.020LAUS
RE
2 2 1 3
1F As part of the Richmond Livable Corridors Form-Based Code (FBC) for Macdonald Avenue, 23rd Street, and
portions of San Pablo Avenue and the surrounding
areas, the City of Richmond, eliminates parking space
requirements for affordable housing developments for
the first 2,000 sf of residential use.
The City's ADU and JADU program eliminates parking
requirements for accessory units located: (1) within one- half mile walking distance of public transit; (2) in an architecturally and historically significant historic
district; (3) in part of a proposed or existing primary residence or an accessory structure; (4) in an area
requiring on-street parking permits but they are not
offered to the occupant of the second unit; or (5) within one block of a car-share pick up/drop-off location.
When a garage, carport, or covered parking structure
is demolished or converted in conjunction with the
construction of an accessory dwelling unit, the parking spaces need not be replaced.
E Zoning Code https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/64850/
Element-5---Housing-
Element_6th-Cycle?bidId=
https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_600GEST_ART15.04.607PA
LOST_15.04.607.040CAPARE
2 2
1G The City of Richmond's Regional Commercial, General
Commercial, Light Industrial, and Commericial Mixed
allow for residential, Live-Work and mixed uses.
Additionally, The Livable Corridors Form Based Code
Transect Zones allow for residential and mixed uses in
commercial and light industrial zones (15.04.401.070
Transect Overview) and the Richmond Bay Specific
Plan allows residential in mixed use districts (Chaper 4 Development Standards, page 1-19)
E Zoning code MUNICODE SECTION
15.04.203.020 - LAND USE
REGULATION -
COMMERICAL DISTRICTS
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
2965/Form-Based-Code; ;
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/61570/
RLC_1504400_Form-
BasedCodeZoningDistrics_He
aringDraft_Update081222?bidI
d=
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
2647/Richmond-Bay-Specific-
Plan;
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/39880/
Richmond-Bay-Specific-Plan---
December-20-2016
1 2 1 2
1H The City of Richmond allows for modifcation of
development standards and other applicable zoning
provisions to promote greater development intensity. It does so through the Planned Area Districts, which
allow for tailored zoning and developers can request
increased density beyond the base. Additionally, the
Community Benefits Agreements Ordinance,
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Richmond Hills
Initiative allow for modified zoning standards to
promote greater development intensity by allowing
increased density and transferred development rights.
The Richmond Hills Initiative, established a
transferable development credit program intended to
provide parcel owners the right to develop residences
in designated areas within the City, subject to specified limitations and privileges, that promote greater
development intensity.
E Municipal
Code; Zoning
Code
https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_800ADPE_ART15.04.810PL
ARDI
https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_800ADPE_ART15.04.816CO
BEPO
https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_600GEST_ART15.04.603INH
OAFHOLIFE
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
4074/Richmond-Hills-Initiative-
Implementation
1 1 2 3
1J The City of Richmond supports the acceleration of
housing production through the Housing Element
Update Program 3.A, through which 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.
Also, the Hilltop Specific Plan Priority Development
Area Grant received from the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC) will accelerate and
streamline housing production and job creation near
public transit. The Hilltop Specific Plan will approve 50 new housing units by 2031.
Proposed in
6th Cycle
Sites
Inventory of
HEU & Hilltop
Specific Plan
6th Cycle
Housing
Element
Update &
Hilltop Specific
Plan
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/64850/
Element-5---Housing-
Element_6th-Cycle?bidId=
https://hilltophorizon.com/
1 1
2A The City of Richmond ministerially approves Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units. No
discretionary review may be permitted unless the
application includes other work unrelated to the
accessory dwelling unit, in which case discretionary
review shall be limited to the work unrelated to the
application for the accessory dwelling unit.
E Zoning Code https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_600GEST_ART15.04.610ST
SPUSAC_15.04.610.020ACD
WUNJUACDWUN
3 1 2 5
2B The City provides streamlined, program level CEQA
analysis when the project EIR is consistent with the
General Plan; these projects do not require additional
environmental review.
Examples: In The Livable Cooridors Form Based Code
any project that is consistent will tier off the standard EIR; Brickyard Cove Project is consistent with the
General Plan so no futher EIR required.
E Resolution
See Project
Examples
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/307/CE
QA-Guidelines-and-
Procedures?bidId=
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/62504/
Livable-Corridors-FBC-EIR-
Addendum
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
4349/Brickyard-Cove-
Residential-Project
2 2
2C The City has documented the practice of streamlining housing development approvals that are categorically
exempt whenever there is a project that meets infill
requirements. See Villas at Renaissance Apartments.
E Project
Examples
2 2
2D The City of Richmond has an established permitting
process that takes less than four months. For example,
permitting processes for ADUs and JADUs must be
approved or disapproved within 60 days of receivng a
completed application if there is an existing dwelling
unit on the lot. The City shall grant a delay in
processing if requested by the applicant.
E Zoning Code https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_600GEST_ART15.04.610ST
SPUSAC_15.04.610.020ACD
WUNJUACDWUN
2 2
2F As part of the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update,
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. This
program will reduce average processing time (from
deemed complete) for both design review and use
permit applications by fourth quarter 2025.
Proposed as
part of 6th
Cycle HEU
Zoning Code https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/64850/
Element-5---Housing-
Element_6th-Cycle?bidId=
1 1 2 3
2G As part of the Richmond Livable Corridors Form-Based Code (FBC) for Macdonald Avenue, 23rd Street, and
portions of San Pablo Avenue and the surrounding
areas, objective design standards are established to
ensure that near and long-term development and
capital improvement projects substantially improve the
quality of life for Richmond residents.
E Zoning Code https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/61570/
RLC_1504400_Form-
BasedCodeZoningDistrics_He
aringDraft_Update081222?bidI
d=
1 1 2 3
2H The City of Richmond has a one-stop-shop permitting
process at the Planning and Building counter located at City Hall.
E The
Community
Development
and Building
Website
includes
instructions on
permitting
processes
https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
2099/Building-Division
1 1
2I The City of Richmond prioritizes the permitting process and plan check times for ADUs and JADUs. All
ADUS/JADUS shall be approved or disapproved within
60 days of receiving a completed application if there is an existing dwelling on the lot.
E Zoning Code https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_600GEST_ART15.04.610ST
SPUSAC_15.04.610.020ACD
WUNJUACDWUN
1 1
2J The City uses a standardized planning form for all
entitlement applications
E Planning Form https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/6421/Pl
anning-Application-Form---
Fillable?bidId=
1 1
2K The City of Richmond posts all project permit approvals and development status on major projects site of main
city webpage and on Transparent Richmond website.
E Website https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
1404/Major-Projects
https://www.transparentrichmo
nd.org/stories/s/Planning-and-
Development/anc4-ir6w
1 1
3B The City of Richmond seeks to reduce barriers to
property owners to create ADUs/JADUs, particularly for
lower-income/cost burdened property owners through
proposed program 2.E of 6th Cylce HEU. Through this
program, the city will facilitate the production of
ADUs/JADUs by developing a set(s) of preapproved
architectural and building plans for ADUs and by
providing informational handout materials. Additionally, the city will modify the Zoning Code to allow
ADUs/JADUs in the CR Zone consistent with how multi-
family residential is allowed in the CR Zone.
Another way in wich the city seeks to faciliate
ADU/JADU production is through its Transformative
Climate Communties implementation grant. The city
will provide free or discounted pre-approved floor plans and guides for low-income residents living in the
Project Area to help create additional affordable
housing units and allow for residents to age in place.
Proposed 6th
Cycle HEU &
Transformativ
e Climate
Communities
Displacement
Avoidance
Plan
Zoning Code https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/
DocumentCenter/View/64850
2 1 2 4
4A The City has a local housing trust fund to support affordable housing financing.
The moneys in the Affordable Housing Fund and all
earnings from investment of the moneys in the Fund
shall be expended on activities that provide housing
affordable to extremely low-income, very low-income,
lower-income, moderate-income households and any
special needs populations in the City consistent with
the goals and policies contained in the City's Housing
Element, which may include without limitation land
acquisition, predevelopment costs, rehabilitation of
existing units to extend their useful life and add
affordability restrictions, and construction of new
residential units, and for administration and compliance monitoring of the affordable housing program, as
approved by the City Council.
E Ordinance https://library.municode.com/c
a/richmond/codes/code_of_or
dinances?nodeId=ARTXVZOS
U_CH15.04ZOSURE_SERIES
_600GEST_ART15.04.603INH
OAFHOLIFE_15.04.603.110IN
HOAG
2 3 1 3
4E Directed residual redevelopment funds to affordable
housing.
Metrowalk
redeve funds
4F The City has a documented practice of using housing
in-lieu fees and other City funds to support affordable housing development. See examples: Nevin Plaza
project, in which the City provided $1.75M from the
affordable housing in-lieu fees fund and $1.75M from
the City's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund.
E Regulatory
Agreement
and Adopted
Joint
Resolution
Attached as Appendix 5 1 1
TOTAL 32 17 49