By Annie Sciacca, Bay Area News Group, December 3, 2020
“A controversial plan to build a mixed-use project with thousands of homes atop a contaminated waterfront site can move forward after the City Council approved the necessary permits, development agreement, and environmental mitigation measures for the development.
“As part of the deal, the developer agreed to commit millions of dollars in community benefits that include money for Richmond schools and community programs, improvements to a city fire station and community center, the use of union labor, and to build a grocery store in the first phase of the development.
“While the site remediation plan was approved by the state Department of Toxic Substances Control, activists and some residents have argued that method doesn’t go far enough. They want a more thorough removal of the soil, which the council had recommended before endorsing the capping method.
“Councilmember Ben Choi, who voted in favor of the project, pointed out that the state Department of Toxic Substances Control is the agency overseeing the cleanup and has already issued its decision. ‘I don’t think we actually have the choices that people think we have,’ Choi said.”
Read the full article here. (~3 min.)