Agenda

Return

C.75

To:
From:	Jim Kennedy, County Redevelopment Director
Date:	March 31, 2009

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Grove Point Unified Development Area

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/31/2009

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

D. Wells, 5-7236

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: March 31, 2009
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution 2009/115 to Proceed with a Program of Unified Development for six parcels on the east side of 3rd Street between Chesley Ave. and Grove St., North Richmond, including property acquisition, developer recruitment and preliminary planning for a residential mixed-use project referred to as Grove Point; and DETERMINE that the formation of a unified development area is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No impact on the General Fund. All funds for this initiative are budgeted and from the North Richmond Redevelopment Project Area

BACKGROUND:

In 1987 the County of Contra Costa adopted a Redevelopment Plan to assist revitalizing the North Richmond community. An early implementation measure of the County was to engage the community in the creation of design and development standards, and a land use plan that reflected the community’s vision. This vision is contained within the North Richmond Planned Unit District (P-1 Rezoning) adopted in 1994. One of the main initiatives requested by the residents of North Richmond during the P-1 Rezoning Process was to create a commercial district or “Town Center” in the existing community. Since that time, the Redevelopment Agency (Agency) has embarked upon ambitious plans to fulfill this void and provide needed public amenities. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the award winning Senior Heritage Apartments, North Richmond Health Center, Service Integration Team and recently installed Streetscape Improvements along Third Street between Chesley Avenue and Grove Street. This phase one of the North Richmond Town Center has made a substantial impact on the community and created a sense of place which was previously nonexistent.

Although phase one of the Town Center has invigorated the North Richmond community, it remains incomplete. Phase two, which is the eastern side of Third Street between Grove Street and Chesley Avenue, which is referred to as Grove Point, will complete the North Richmond Town Center and provide additional commercial and residential amenities. Grove Point is a proposed mixed use development encompassing six contiguous parcels fronting on Third Street (Exhibit A). The site is relatively flat and occupied by a mix of housing, underperforming commercial outlets, a vacant office/community building, and vacant property. The designation of the area for unified development will permit the Redevelopment Agency to proceed with appraisals, developer recruitment, and property acquisition negotiations.

Pursuant to the Agency's Rules for Business Tenant Preference and Owner Participation each of the current owners of record will be provided notice of this recommended action regarding unified development, and will be afforded the opportunity to present development proposals to the Agency for the desired unified development.

The action of designating the area for unified development has been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.

The North Richmond Municipal Advisory Council has reviewed this proposal and recommends its adoption.