HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04242012 - SD.4RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. AUTHORIZE the Department of Conservation & Development to initiate a review of
General Plan policies for North Richmond and prepare necessary revisions to the North
Richmond P-1 (Planned Unit) Zoning District to permit urban agriculture uses and activities
within North Richmond.
2. REQUEST that the Department of Conservation & Development to collaborate with
Supervisorial District I to pursue potential grant funding opportunities from public agencies
or private foundations to support this new planning initiative for North Richmond.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If authorized, the cost in staff time and materials to undertake this new planning initiative
for North Richmond, which is estimated in the range of $40,000 to $50,000, would be
absorbed under the Department of Conservation & Development’s existing budget.
However,
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 04/24/2012 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
ABSENT:Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Contact: Luz Gomez,
510-374-3231
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 24, 2012
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
SD. 4
To:Board of Supervisors
From:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Date:April 24, 2012
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Permitting Urban Agriculture Land Uses and Activities within North Richmond
FISCAL IMPACT: (CONT'D)
should potential grant funding be secured it would be used to backfill the Department’s
costs for this new planning initiative.
BACKGROUND:
Urban agriculture is the practice of growing, processing, and distributing fresh food
products by people living in an urban area. Urban agriculture includes a wide range of
activities related to food production, including home gardens, community gardens,
institutional gardens, urban farms that raise animals, and farmers’ markets. Many cities and
counties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and across the nation have recognized the
importance of urban agriculture as part of a local food system, and are now permitting
various agriculture uses and activities in urbanized areas to foster both sustainability and
access to healthy food.
The concept of urban agriculture was included in a Specific Plan being prepared to
transform a 200 acre industrial area of North Richmond into a new residential
neighborhood. The Specific Plan was in preparation by the Department of Conservation &
Development and the County Redevelopment Agency when the State Supreme Court in late
December 2011 upheld state legislation to dissolve redevelopment agencies. As a result of
the Redevelopment Agency dissolution process, all work on the Specific Plan was
suspended and it is unknown at this time whether the plan can proceed without
redevelopment. It would be unfortunate to discard the Specific Plan’s work on urban
agriculture. Much of this work could be incorporated into the County General Plan’s
existing policies for North Richmond and transferred into the existing North Richmond P-1
(Planned Unit) Zoning District.
It is recommended that the Board authorize the Department of Conservation &
Development to initiate a review of General Plan policies for North Richmond and prepare
necessary revisions to the North Richmond P-1 (Planned Unit) Zoning District to permit
urban agriculture uses and activities in North Richmond based upon abovementioned draft
Specific Plan. Additionally, while the costs for staff time and materials could be assumed
under the Department’s existing budget, it is further recommended that staff from District I
and the Department work together to secure potential grant funding for this project from
other public agencies or private foundations to demonstrate how urban agriculture could be
incorporated into local land use policies and regulations.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Department of Conservation & Development would not initiate new planning initiative
for North Richmond to review General Plan policies and prepare necessary revisions to the
North Richmond P-1 (Planned Unit) Zoning District to permit urban agricultural uses and
activities within North Richmond.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.