City of Redding Contemplating Riverfront Land Development Proposal
Redding will soon begin master planning the riverfront in response to an unsolicited proposal to purchase and develop city owned property. This “Master Planning” will gather public input regarding potential uses citizens envision for the Open Space, Turtle Bay, Civic Auditorium, & Rodeo Grounds parcels north of Highway 44.
Of deepest concern, are impacts to the "open space" included in the proposal. This open space is riparian forest where bald eagles successfully rear their young annually. These parcels also sequester carbon and provide cooling to offset the “heat island effect”’ of developed areas.
Although City Manager, Barry Tippin, assures us that current restrictions on these open space parcels will prevent further development, questions remain regarding how enduring they will be in the future.
We commend the City for clarifying that the “open space” at Turtle Bay isn’t subject to declaration as “surplus” parcels. However, only by placing deed restrictions or conservation easements on the titles of the open space parcels can we be assured that these lands will remain in a protected natural condition.
NSCA favors permanent legal protection for these open space parcels to protect them from uses incompatible with long term CO2 sequestration and habitat value that is being degraded by climate change.
If you share these concerns, we encourage you to write Mayor Kristin Schreder and urge the City Council to preserve this irreplaceable land for our climate, Redding citizens and future generations.
kschreder@cityofredding.org
cityclerk@cityofredding.org
Keep current on the status of this proposal by following this link: City of Redding Redding Civic Auditorium & Rodeo Grounds Community Engagement
