Features

While Berkeley struggles with drafting a legally mandated new plan for the city’s downtown, a committee of Richmond residents has been working toward a new plan for their city. 

Members of the Richmond City Council will meet with the Planning Commission tonight (Tuesday) to hash over the new plan’s handling of land use issues. 

As with the new Downtown Area Plan being drafted in Berkeley, the document prepared by the Richmond citizens is a draft, with the shape of the final document up to the appointed commission and ultimately to the elected council. 

More than 400 Richmond residents took part in a series of workshops held in March and April to develop ideas and policies for the document, which will replace the current plan, last revised 13 years ago. 

In an email to constituents Sunday morning, Councilmember Tom Butt urged the public to attend, noting that the session would reveal for the first time the positions of the two deciding bodies—and in a forum where the public can comment. 

The session is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1401 Marina Way South. 

For more information of the plan and its preparation, the city website at www.cityofrichmondgeneralplan.org.