Climate Crisis, Tree Ordinance, Environmental Justice, and more.
The top climate crisis risks experienced in Shasta County have been wildfire and smoke, heatwaves, and extreme precipitation, all projected to increase in frequency and severity under business-as-usual scenarios. In 2018, the Carr Fire burned 230,000 acres (mostly in Shasta County), destroying over 1,600 structures, and 1,000 homes, resulting in the evacuation of >36,000 people and killing 8 people. At the time, it was the sixth most destructive wildfire in California history.
The City of Redding (COR)’s draft General Plan 2023-2045 is open for public comments until August 28, 2023. This includes many areas–including the potential for a climate action plan, updated tree ordinances, and equity issues. See and comment on the Natural Resource (NR) and Community Health, Wellness & Environmental Justice (EJ) elements of the draft general plan, then comment on the bottom of the page at https://www.cityofredding.org/departments/development-services/planning/draft-2023-2045-general-plan. Goals and objectives are listed below and include language suggestions that strengthen the draft, e.g. “Develop and adopt” rather than “Consider developing” a climate action plan.
Goal NR6: Protect the aesthetic and biological value of Oak Woodlands and other natural vegetation and establish a healthy and robust urban forest.
- NR6A – Strive to preserve and protect existing native oaks, especially valley…in the design and review of development projects….
- NR6B – Consider identifying appropriate “areas” to be used for the planting of native trees when desirable to offset development impacts.…
- NR6C – Periodically review and consider amendments to the City’s Tree Management Ordinance to assess tree replacement requirements, tree planting requirements, potential fees, or other mechanisms to facilitate the planting of trees in the City and funding of an urban forestry program.
- NR6D – Strive to protect and manage the urban forest to reduce energy demand, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce urban heat gain.
Goal NR14: Improve the sustainability of the community through continued local efforts to reduce GHG emissions and meet the climate action goals of the State of California.
- NR14A – Consider developing and adopting a “Climate Action and Resiliency Plan” for Redding. Such a plan, if adopted, should establish GHG emissions reduction goals for 2035 and 2050, include an effective progress reporting timeline, and update the GHG inventory and forecasts at appropriate intervals.
- NR14B – Strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new development by encouraging development that lowers vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and discouraging auto-dependent sprawl …; promoting development that is compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly, and transit-oriented; promoting energy-efficient building design.
- EJ3E – Consider the development and adoption of a Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. Support plans, standards, regulations, incentives, and investments, and seek grants and other funding to reduce the impacts of climate change on vulnerable residents. Equity and Environmental Justice (EJ) language, goals, and objectives can be found on pp. 260-271 of the draft general plan at the same link above.
The draft COR General Plan Update through 2045 is accompanied by a draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) regarding the draft General Plan. See https://www.cityofredding.org/departments/development-services/planning/2023-2045-draft-environmental-impact-report and comment at the bottom of the page. Public comments are accepted through Aug 28, 2023. One area to comment on would be the last section of the DEIR, “Alternatives” which states on pg. 7-26 that the “The No Annexation Alternative has the least impact on the environment because it is an environmentally superior alternative (compared to the proposed DEIR) with regard to agriculture and forestry resources, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, and tribal cultural resources, energy, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, transportation, and wildfire.” Perhaps the No Annexation alternative should be considered as the main DEIR proposal for the reasons listed in that section.
The COR General Plan and DEIR is a big deal as they will guide City planning, implementation, and land use policy for more than the next two decades. Please take the time to comment by Aug 28 to strengthen these critical guidance documents.