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Riverbank residents urge council to halt or rethink 'Riverwalk' development at public comment
Summary
Several residents used the public-comment period to oppose the Riverwalk project, citing prime farmland, floodplain concerns, habitat impacts, traffic and lack of affordable housing; some urged waiting for a voter initiative. A community meeting on Riverwalk was scheduled for July 9.
Multiple Riverbank residents used the council’s public-comment period on June 24 to urge the City Council to reconsider the Riverwalk development proposal and to delay formal approval until voters can weigh in on an urban-limit initiative.
Jamie Eggers, appearing online, thanked staff for an early review opportunity of a second draft of the city’s housing element (a separate but related planning matter). Several in-person speakers focused on the Riverwalk plan. Mitchel (first name in transcript) and residents Karen Conrado and Fred Walton — who all said they live on or near Hoag Road — told the council they oppose building housing on prime farmland and in the river bottom because of flood risk, habitat concerns and traffic impacts. Walton described the area as “soil 1” agricultural land with access to multiple water sources and said portions might be better preserved for farming, parks or open space.
Mitchell and others said the Riverwalk proposal does not adequately address affordable housing, and some speakers encouraged the council to delay action until the Urban Limit/Urban Limit Line ballot initiative gives voters an opportunity to decide. One commenter said door-to-door signature gathering on the initiative showed strong opposition in some neighborhoods.
A business speaker, Ashton Fortuna of Valley Tech Logic, used public comment to introduce his company’s recent local engagement and business recruitment activities and said the company appreciates Riverbank’s welcome for businesses.
City staff noted a community meeting on Riverwalk would be held July 9 at the community center; the council reminded the public that the July 9 meeting is a presentation and that no final council action would be taken that night.
Ending: Public opposition focused on farmland preservation, floodplain safety, traffic and affordable-housing questions; council members reassured speakers that the project will continue through public hearings and planning review and pointed to the July 9 community meeting as the next public presentation on the topic.
