RICHMOND — A controversial plan to build a mixed-used project with thousands of homes atop a contaminated waterfront site can move forward after the City Council approved the necessary permits, development agreement and environmental mitigation measures for the development Tuesday.
Mayor Tom Butt, Vice Mayor Nat Bates, and councilmembers Demnlus Johnson and Ben Choi voted in favor of moving the project plans forward, while councilmembers Melvin Willis and Eduardo Martinez opposed it, and councilmember Jael Myrick abstained.
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t do anything with the site — we can’t leave it like that. Something needs to be done to address the toxicity of the site,” he said, noting after, however, that “I can’t say I’m supporting housing here because I can’t guarantee future residents’ safety. The (community) benefits sound great. I just can’t support it on the site. … Especially when I’m not convinced this is going to be affordable enough.”
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