Housing
A 76-unit residential development planned for a former quarry site in Point Richmond will be discussed at a special Design Review Board meeting on Wednesday, December 17.
The Quarry Residential Project is proposed for 1135 Canal Boulevard, an 18.4-acre site sits south of the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Seacliff Drive, overlooking the Phillips 66 Richmond Marine Terminal. The property is bounded by Seacliff Drive and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline Park.
Developer Richmond Cove 1 LLC, through New West Company, is proposing to build on 6.3 acres of the property, with the remaining 12.1 acres to remain as open space. The plans call for 76 single-family detached homes ranging from 1,645 to 1,840 square feet, all two stories with a maximum height of 30 feet.
Ten percent of the units, or eight homes, would be deed-restricted as affordable to moderate-income households. The project includes requests for five waivers under the state Density Bonus Law, including modifications to minimum lot size, lot width, and setback requirements.
The project would require importing approximately 68,000 cubic yards of soil to grade the site, which was previously used as a rock quarry.
The Point Richmond Neighborhood Council submitted letters raising concerns about the project. In a December 2 letter signed by President Philip Rosenthal, the council said it "enthusiastically awaits a presentation and an opportunity to continue the previous review of this project."
The council attached a detailed analysis by resident Norma Wallace that questioned traffic studies for Seacliff Drive.
"The issue that the community has is that this study assumed that this was an isolated evacuation route with a 25 mph speed limit, not the actual use," Wallace said. "The community fears that the City knowingly misled the DRB and the public when its traffic study stated the road was safe at 25 mph, when legitimate studies would show that the speeds are significantly higher (averaging 35 mph)."
Wallace's analysis raised questions about building on the hillside, stating the development "ignores existing, easily located standards and guidance from the American Society of Planning Officials regarding building on hillsides."
The analysis criticized tree removal plans, stating "the existing trees are fine, stable and healthy" and that 14 trees on the site meet the city's definition of significant trees requiring an arborist report.
City planning staff is recommending conditional approval of the project to the Planning Commission, based on six Planned Area findings and four Design Review findings, with 56 conditions of approval.
The project includes improvements to the Bay Trail along Seacliff Drive, converting it to a 12-foot-wide paved trail. Plans also call for improvements to the Miller/Knox Park trailhead, including parallel parking stalls.
An Environmental Impact Report was certified by the city in 2018 for an earlier version of the project. The city approved an addendum to that report in 2022. Planning staff has determined that the current revised project does not require additional environmental review.
The project provides 186 parking spaces, including 152 private two-car garages, 30 guest spaces, two accessible spaces, and two electric vehicle charging stations.
The Design Review Board's decision will be a recommendation to the Planning Commission. The board meeting is scheduled for December 17, 2025.
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