What you need to know about how California's Surplus Land Act might impact a potential sale of city riverfront property, what options the city is exploring, and why a vote on riverfront land has been delayed.
A grave robbing attempt that occurred several weeks ago has angered the local Native community. RPD says an investigation is ongoing. Local non-profits and city representatives have agreed to meet to discuss the incident.
Kris Vallotton helps run Bethel Church, a Redding megachurch that has national and international influence. He also sits on the board of Advance Redding, the non-profit that runs Redding's Civic Auditorium.
A group of “interested downtown stakeholders” met twice with the city in February and March to help shape updates to Redding's Downtown Specific Plan. The changes could expand the area considered downtown and allow development to be approved by city staff without public hearing or comment. During a recent meeting in which the Planning Commission discussed whether to endorse the plan updates, so many commissioners had conflicts of interest that one commissioner with downtown real estate investments was asked to vote anyway.
The incident occurred a little over a week ago, just a few days before Wintu people and leaders expressed opposition to a riverfront development proposal, in part due to fears it would disturb the graves of their ancestors. Turtle Bay Exploration Park staff say they already have measures in place to protect Native burial sites but they’re discussing how to improve their processes.
A series of public workshops, surveys and social media posts by the city haven’t reassured many community members that they’re being included in the riverfront planning process. Shasta Scout looked at how the city’s process compares with best practices in community engagement.
As Redding considers selling riverfront land for redevelopment, news archives from the 60’s and 70’s provide insight into how the city became owners of the land. Another public workshop on the possible sale and redevelopment of the land will be held tonight.
Despite recent losses, Advance Redding hopes to manage events at the Civic even after the new Bethel Church campus opens. Some in the Redding community worry about their connections to Bethel Church. Their contract renewal for Civic management is being negotiated and is likely to come back before the Council in November.
Bethel Church, a Redding megachurch that claims to perform miraculous healings, has been the center of controversy over statements and actions related to COVID. Neither Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry nor Bethel Christian School require masks for students.
In the first of four public workshops on a proposed riverfront land development, the Council will hear a presentation on the process for declaring city land surplus in preparation for sale. A report from the City Attorney indicates that the City could declare the properties as “exempted surplus land” and sell to a developer ready to build at least three hundred housing units, with 25 percent of them meeting affordable housing requirements.
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