Oakland General Plan phase 1 going to city council this month

California Construction News staff writer

Phase 1 of the Oakland General Plan update is wrapping up and the full package, covering safety, environmental justice, housing, and more, is headed to city council for adoption this fall.

First drafts of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Element, Safety Element, the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR), and Draft Planning Code Amendments were released in March.

The update package includes planning code and zoning map amendments to encourage different housing types, incentivize affordable housing, reduce constraints on housing development, and protect areas and populations affected by pollution.

It also includes Oakland’s first EJ Element serves as the foundation for achieving equity and environmental justice when planning for future growth and development in the City and builds upon Oakland’s current regulatory setting for equity and environmental justice.

City Council will discuss the plan on Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. at city hall.

The Safety Element aims to protect residents, workers, and visitors from seismic and geologic hazards, fire hazards, hazardous materials, flooding, and other potential hazards that risk life and property. The Element uses an equity lens through its hazards analysis and prioritizes vulnerable communities in the development of its goals, policies, and actions.