Inner Harbor Specific Plan

Project Update 

No further work on the IHSP is scheduled at this time, and the land-based proposals will be considered independently. The Inner Harbor Task Force completed a significant amount of work on a set of Guiding Principles developed as part of the planning process, but did not make a final recommendation on a draft IHSP and no final Plan was adopted by the City. However, data developed in the creation of a draft non-final IHSP may be used by the City with respect to future planning efforts to analyze land-based projects, including citizen input at task force meetings and workshops.

To read the Inner Harbor Task Force Guiding Principles, go here IHSP Guiding Principles. 

Public Involvement

We would encourage all those involved in the creation of the 2010 General Plan and the draft Inner Harbor Specific Plan to continue to stay involved. More information about Strada proposal is available here.

Project Overview

Redwood City’s Inner Harbor area is a place of great potential and boundless possibilities for the future. Located northeast of US 101 along Redwood Creek, this diverse 100-acre area presently encompasses varying levels of recreational and watercraft uses, marinas and businesses, industrial uses, and waterways. It’s a crossroads, of sorts, between Redwood City’s Downtown and its Port, with access via Maple Street and Blomquist Street.

For specific information on Docktown Marina, see here. 

2020 Update

Over the past three years, Redwood City and the County of San Mateo have discussed a potential property exchange of two properties in the Inner Harbor area of the City — the City’s 3.29-acre parcel at 1402 Maple Street and the County’s 2.00-acre parcel at 1580 Maple Street.

Following City Council action on July 13, 2020, the City Owned Property Ad Hoc Committee has been meeting with County representatives regarding potential property exchange options that would enable the Blomquist Extension, creation of a new homeless navigation center, and preserving a large area for open space in the Inner Harbor area.

 Staff developed three potential property exchange options for consideration during the Study Session. The City Council will discuss and provide City staff guidance for potential next steps based on the following questions:

 ·     Does the City Council support the concept of a land swap that would support public waterfront access, new open space and initiatives to address the challenges related to homelessness?

·     Does the City Council support developing plans for future community engagement on park and open space area on public property in the Inner Harbor Area?

·     If the Council supports both of these, which of the exchange options does the City Council prefer?

 Check out our latest Blog here for more information. 

November 2016 Update 

The former Malibu Grand Prix site property owner, Jay Paul Company, requested a General Plan Amendment to allow for a 1.2 million square foot office development, Harbor View Place, on the site. More information about the proposal is available here. The Planning Commission declined to initiate a General Plan Amendment request for the Harbor View Place proposal at the November 15, 2016 meeting.  

If the property owner of the water-based site opts to move forward, a General Plan Amendment would be required, which would trigger a public review process.

No further work on the IHSP is scheduled at this time, and the land-based proposals will be considered independently. 

May 2016 Update

The Draft IHSP was reviewed by the City Council in May 2016, and the Council recommended that the Planning Commission hold additional public meetings to refine the Draft Plan. Much of the feedback provided on the Draft Plan related to potential changes in land uses within the Plan area.

Typically, there are dozens of development sites within a planning area, however the IHSP area is unique in that there are only two privately-owned land-based development sites in the Inner Harbor Specific Plan area: the land area adjacent to the Docktown Marina area and the former Malibu Grand Prix site and surrounding properties.  The area also includes a water-based site commonly referred to as the “Ferrari Pond.”

Recently, both land-based property owners decided to move forward with the review of development proposals for their properties under the current 2010 General Plan, rather than wait for the adoption of the IHSP. The property owners are allowed to do this by law, and the City is obligated by law to review the proposed developments in a timely manner. Since no land use changes in the Plan area have been approved since the adoption of the 2010 General Plan, which establishes allowed land uses for the area, these proposals are reviewed in accordance with the 2010 General Plan.

The property owner of the site adjacent to Docktown Marina, Strada Investment Group, has submitted a proposal to develop 131 three-story townhome-style for-sale condominium units at the site; this development is consistent with the 2010 General Plan and requires a rezoning application. More information about the proposal and the status of review is available here. Consideration of this development proposal is subject to a thorough public review process, land-use analysis and environmental review. The Planning Commission and City Council will consider the development in a series of public meetings.

Draft Inner Harbor Specific Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report

The Draft Inner Harbor Specific Plan (Specific Plan) and Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) were released for public review on October 26, 2015. The Specific Plan includes standards and guidelines for the development of the Inner Harbor area, implementing Redwood City's 2010 General Plan. The DEIR examines the potential environmental effects of the overall Specific Plan and the project-level impacts of the proposed Harbor View Place development within the Inner Harbor area. The public comment period closed on Friday, March 4, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. 

Read a memo about the plan and report drafts at Redwood City VOICE, the City's official blog on Medium.com. Read about the updated review process on Redwood City VOICE here. 

Draft Environmental Impact Report, by sections

• 1.0 Introduction, Table of Contents and Cover
• 2.0 Summary
• 3.0 Project Description and 4.0 Overview of Analysis
• 4.1 Aesthetics, Shadow, Wind
• 4.2 Air Quality
• 4.3 Biological Resources
• 4.4 Cultural Resources
• 4.5 Geology, Soils and Geohazards
• 4.6 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change
• 4.7 Hazards and Hazardous Materials
• 4.8 Hydrology and Water Quality
• 4.9 Land Use, Plans and Policies
• 4.10 Noise
• 4.11 Population, Housing and Employment
• 4.12 Public Services, Parks and Recreation Facilities
• 4.13 Transportation and Circulation
• 4.14 Utilities and Service Systems
• 5.0 Alternatives, 6.0 Other Statutory Sections and 7.0 Report Preparers
• Notice of Completion - October 20, 2015

To view the City of Redwood City letters sent to the California Regional Water Board and the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors about the Inner Harbor Specific Plan and attached documents and reports, see the links below: 

• Letter to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

• Letter to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board

Attachments to the letters, include the following: 

1. Notification Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 25180.7 Sediment Contamination in Redwood Creek, Redwood City, California
2. Data Report- Sediment Characterization Sampling and Analysis Results for Redwood Creek Sediments

Community Engagement

The year-long community engagement and visioning process provided both high tech (website, email lists, and other social media) and high touch (one-on-one engagement, small group meetings, large group workshops, and public hearings) opportunities for all interested parties to be informed and involved in the development of an Inner Harbor Specific Plan.

List of Inner Harbor Task Force Members

To send us an email, please click the link below and we will respond as soon as possible:

innerharbor@redwoodcity.org

Technical Documents