REDI Policy Recommendations

The following policies and implementation plans are designed to give life to the Richmond Equitable Development Initiative's (REDI) core principles and goals and to provide needed clarity and specificity to our shared goal of a stronger, healthier and more equitable Richmond. For additional information, please review REDI's Policy Brief document.

REDI approached the Health Element by looking at how land use, transportation, economic development and transportation are all connected to health. By incorporating, into the General Plan the policy recommendations outlined below, REDI believes there will be significant and positive impact on the health of all Richmond residents.

Download a pdf of the full recommendations (350k).

REDI's Primary Interest Areas for Richmond's General Plan:

Land Use

A. Establish a community land trust to ensure long-term affordability of Richmond’s housing, commercial, and industrial stock and to maximize benefits (i.e. control and ownership) accrued to local residents through Richmond’s revitalization.

B. Prioritize industrial development and retention equally with other forms of development, such as housing, retail, and commercial office development.

C. Assure neighborhood-based planning that engages local residents in comprehensive planning that integrates land use, school planning, housing and other neighborhood services and improves health.

D. Increase density in transit corridors such as San Pablo Ave., Macdonald Ave., Ohio Ave., Cutting Blvd., Carlson Ave. and Harbour Way, provided that this plan also adopts the recommendations in REDI’s housing, transportation, and economic development elements.

E. Develop and implement land use criteria, especially in industrial areas, that minimize the health and nuisance impacts on residential neighborhoods, schools, recreation and open space, job centers and other adjacent uses.

F. Improve access to basic needs and services, such as transportation, food, and open space for all neighborhoods.

Housing

A. Amend the city’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance to ensure the production of affordable housing for low- and very-low income households in mixed-income projects and/or neighborhoods.

B. Establish a community land trust to ensure long-term affordability of Richmond’s housing, commercial, and industrial land stock, and to maximize the benefits provided to local residents through Richmond’s revitalization.

C. Ensure that Redevelopment Agency activities are transparent, in compliance with state law, and benefit low-income communities.

D. Ensure that infrastructure improvements benefit low-income communities.

E. Develop a model for rehabilitation of substandard rental housing without displacing existing residents or raising their rent.

F. Ensure that environmental cleanup assistance will be effective and safe and will benefit low-income communities.

G. Assess the impact of housing development on health.

Economic Development

A. Establish regular impact assessment, reporting, and evaluation of quality job outcomes for all development projects. Leverage penalties for non-reporting and non-compliance.

B. Expand local first-hire requirements and job training opportunities for low income residents.

C. Require discretionary conditional use permitting for new large-scale developments (either 25 or more living units or 25 or more employees) or development projects that require changes in zoning or land-use.

D. Prioritize, retain, and create jobs with living, prevailing, or sustainable wages, and good benefits and healthy working conditions for unskilled and semi-skilled workers and low-income residents.

E. Prioritize industrial development and retention equally with other forms of development, such as housing, retail, and commercial office development. Create a long-term strategic plan for Richmond’s industrial land, and create clear criteria for the conversion of industrial land to other uses.

F. Enact impact fees to raise standards and expectations for community benefit and ensure that private developments pay their own way. Establish city and public service employment levels that keep pace with new development.

G. Promote small and locally owned and/or disadvantaged businesses in neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Transportation

A. Assess and mitigate the transportation impacts of new construction by establishing a Transportation Services Fee

B. Invest in transportation amenities, infrastructure, and networks that benefits low-income communities.

C. Provide equitable, safe and affordable transit access and services for low-income communities in the urban core.

D. Improve coordination between regional transportation and planning agencies.

E. Promote alternative modes of transportation in new housing development and employment areas.

F. Increase density and new development within one half mile of transit stations or one quarter mile of major bus routes.

G. Limit low-density development (e.g. one or two story office buildings). Low density residential and auto related uses (e.g. surface parking lots, automobile sales lots, stand alone big box retail etc) should also be avoided, particularly within 2000 ft. of an existing or planned rapid transit or light rail station.

H. Provide a municipal point of contact for citizens and businesses to receive, provide and promote information on transportation services and policy.

I. Establish goods movement (truck, rail, and ship) routes and schedules that will minimize health, safety, and noise impacts on the community, and promote adoption of cleaner technology and fuels.

Download a pdf of the full recommendations