About the Project
In April 2023, the Redding City Council began a community-led process to update the Redding Riverfront Specific Plan. The purpose of this project is to reintroduce the city and community to the river by creating a long-term vision for 380 acres of public and private land and water along the Sacramento River. The Specific Plan document, which will be developed based on significant community engagement and discussion, will ultimately frame a community vision and establish goals, policies, and development standards to guide public and private development, land stewardship and conservation, roadway and infrastructure projects, and other activities within the study area. It will also include a series of implementation strategies necessary to transform the community vision for the Riverfront into a reality.
Proposed Project Goals
Initial project goals include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Engage the community in an open and transparent conversation regarding the future of the Riverfront area
- Identify opportunities for potential new uses, areas of preservation, and/or areas of natural resource enhancement
- Act as catalyst for new investment and high-quality development
- Establish clear direction for design and function
- Consider the area’s history and character
- Integrate civic art and landscape design
- Ensure adaptability over time
August 2023 Community Open House
Sacramento River waterfront
Project Overview
In August 2023, the City held a Community Open House that included an overview presentation about the Redding Riverfront Project. Click the video below to view the presentation, which includes background on the area, project purpose and proposed goals, existing features and conditions, and information about the community engagement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are questions raised by the community about both the Riverfront area and the Specific Plan project. The Project Team has added responses and will update this page with additional questions/responses as necessary during the project. Please check this page regularly for updates.
A Specific Plan is a tool used to implement the broader direction of the General Plan. It provides specific policies and requirements for development corresponding to a unique geographic area. It must include a land use plan for location and intensity of uses; have an implementation strategy; address public infrastructure required to serve the area; and propose capital project and infrastructure funding options necessary to implement the plan. In certain cases, A Specific Plan goes beyond policy guidance and may include detailed development standards tailored to the plan’s specific geographic area and needs.
The Redding Riverfront Specific Plan is being led by the City of Redding at the direction of the City Council. The Project Team is made up of City of Redding staff and consultants. In April 2023, the City hired MIG to lead the specific plan project. MIG is a planning, environmental, design, and engagement firm from Sacramento. MIG is supported by additional engagement, design, and technical experts from Tawaw Architecture Collaborative (indigenous community engagement and design), GHD (mobility and infrastructure), Populous (architectural design), Nichols, Melburg & Rossetto Architects (architectural design/local Redding conditions), and Basin Research (cultural resources).
The Redding Riverfront Specific Plan project is anticipated to take two years to complete. See the Schedule page for detailed information on each of the four project phases.
Yes. Adoption and amendment of a Specific Plan is subject to environmental review and documentation under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Project Team anticipates that the Redding Riverfront Specific Plan will require the creation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The EIR will evaluate potential environmental impacts of plan implementation. It will also include mitigation measures to reduce these impacts.
The City of Redding formed a Community Coalition to advise the project team during the development of the Riverfront Specific Plan. Coalition members include representatives from a variety of groups, organizations, and represent a range of community interests and perspectives (see below for a list of members and their affiliations). The Community Coalition page includes more information, including meeting times and materials.
Robust and transparent community involvement is vital to this project. There will be multiple opportunities for community members to participate both in-person and on-line. The Project Team has prepared a detailed Community Involvement Strategy (CIS) that includes engagement goals and metrics to ensure broad participation. Over the course of the two-year process, the Project Team will ensure that there is wide community agreement on the vision, goals, projects, and components included in the updated plan.