Quartz Hill subdivision project moves forward despite community pushback

The Redding City Council voted unanimously last night to advance The Peaks Subdivision project, which will add more than 100 new lots in the Quartz Hill area, despite pushback from residents who experienced the chaotic evacuation from the area during the Carr Fire. 

The council’s vote simultaneously denied a set of appeals made by community members who opposed the project. Several of those residents made up the approximately 70 people who attended last night’s special meeting. Over a dozen members of the public spoke during the public comment period, with all of them advocating against the project. 

Many brought up personal experiences of fleeing their neighborhood during the 2018 Carr Fire, emphasizing how long it took for them to evacuate because of a lack of multiple escape routes. They said they were worried that adding another 120 homes — the proposed number in the site development plan — would increase the time it would take to evacuate.

One community member who spoke said since most council members and city staff likely didn’t personally experience the trauma of facing a traffic jam in the Quartz Hill neighborhood during the fire evacuation, it’s more difficult for them to understand how Quartz Hill residents feel about adding over 100 more homes. 

“I don’t know how many of you actually lived in that neighborhood, but running from that was really scary,” she said. “I know my neighbors are reliving that right now … A lot of you who are sitting here in these chairs weren’t the ones that were running away and weren’t the ones that were dying.” 

Council members were sympathetic to public commenters, with some also sharing their own personal stories about their experiences during the event. Council member Erin Resner explained that it was important to her to consider all of the information presented, from both community members and city staff, in making a decision about the subdivision. 

“I do understand the emotional trauma that our entire community lived during that time frame, and I want to make wise developmental decisions,” she said. 

Council member Dr. Paul Dhanuka advocated for city staff to more seriously consider a bridge linking the north and south sides of Buenaventura Boulevard over the Sacramento River, which would provide an alternative route into and out of the neighborhood, a point brought up by multiple community members. 

Prior to the public comment period, city staff presented a report outlining the subdivision plans and countering the issues brought forth by the appeals with detailed reasoning. Their recommendation to the council was to deny the appeals and advance the project. 

The council ultimately voted in line with the city staff’s recommendation. However, they did respond to public fears with an adjustment to the subdivision plans, which was to set back a few of the development’s lots by 30 feet to accommodate fire routes. 

The subdivision will be built on city-owned land, and once neighborhood infrastructure is completed by the city, lots will become available for sale for development. Infrastructure development is slated to begin in the new year but the first house isn’t expected to be constructed until at least three years from now.

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