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Residents press council to remove 'blue line' from riverfront plan; public comments also surface pro‑ and anti‑Amazon views
Summary
During public comment, Park Marina Village residents urged the city to remove a blue‑line trail/street shown on a riverfront concept map that runs through their gated community; councilors directed staff to clarify the map and follow up with residents.
During the public‑comment period, several residents raised access, safety and planning concerns related to mapping in the Redding Riverfront Specific Plan and to an Amazon distribution site discussed on the consent calendar.
Park Marina Village homeowners: Dan Waite, president of the Park Marina Village Homeowners Association, told the council the development map referenced in the Riverfront materials shows a blue line indicating a city street, pedestrian path and a proposed bridge that would cross a waterway and reach the Roundhouse Pond. Waite said the route runs through a private, gated community of 12 homeowners on land owned by the Cutris family and that the proposed alignment would interfere with driveways, parking and residents’ safety. He said the Cutris family had no intention of selling and asked the Development Services Department to “revise the map and remove the blue line that goes through our community.”
Staff response: during the Riverfront presentation staff later acknowledged they had revised an earlier draft to remove a trail that had previously been shown to pass through a private neighborhood after residents raised objections; staff told council they would follow up and provide a clearer response to the Park Marina residents about the map’s intent and status.
Amazon distribution land sale and public reaction: the consent calendar included a land sale item related to an Amazon distribution hub. Staff said the city and Amazon had executed an agreement and the sale would proceed into escrow while Amazon completed its due diligence and permitting; staff noted Amazon’s due diligence window can run up to a year but the city will keep council apprised of progress.
During public comment, at least two speakers addressed Amazon directly with opposing views. One speaker urged council to support Amazon because the facility would bring jobs and economic activity; another speaker urged council to halt the escrow and land sale, alleging Amazon’s corporate relationships and contracts support human rights violations abroad (comments referenced Project Nimbus and U.S. corporate ties). Councilmembers acknowledged the moral and political concerns raised by commenters and told speakers that, while they hear the concerns, many procurement and investment decisions are governed by state and federal processes and may be outside the city’s direct jurisdiction.
Other public comments and staff follow‑up: residents also raised unrelated concerns — for example, about the temporary closure of the New Palm Open Space (staff said flooding and a dislodged walking bridge were factors and promised social‑media updates), and an ADA accommodation request was made at the lectern: a parent asked park and recreation staff to permit a rescue nasal inhaler for an epileptic child in summer camp programs as a reasonable accommodation rather than requiring a parent or caregiver to attend daily. Staff in the room identified the ADA coordinator and Parks staff for follow‑up.
Council action: following public comment the consent calendar was approved with the Amazon land‑sale item moving into escrow per staff description; staff was asked to follow up directly with Park Marina residents and to offer targeted outreach on closures and ADA concerns.
Speakers at this portion of the meeting included Dan Waite (Park Marina Village HOA), several members of the public on the Amazon item, and parents and community members who raised ADA and park access issues.
