The Saltworks Plan
The Plan for the Saltworks Site
The Saltworks Plan is based upon the priorities that Redwood City residents expressed to the DMB Redwood City Saltworks team during nearly three years of community outreach and public meetings. More than 10,000 local residents helped shape the Saltworks Plan.
The Saltworks Plan covers more than 2.2 square miles of industrial salt harvesting property. Portions of the site have been in salt production for more than 100 years and the site is currently off limits to the public.
The Saltworks Plan would end industrial salt harvesting on the site and open it up for a variety of community uses.
What is the Saltworks Plan?
The plan calls for 50 percent of the Saltworks site to be preserved for permanent open space, public recreation, and tidal marsh restoration. The remaining 50 percent will be transformed into a transit-oriented community with a range of housing, schools, parks, neighborhood retail, transit facilities, unparalleled Bay access, interpretive exhibits and water recreation amenities.
Our goal is to make the Saltworks a showcase of environmental protection and Bayside recreation opportunities for Redwood City residents.
Currently, more than 40,000 out-of-town commuters drive into Redwood City to work every day. Many of these commuters drive from two or more counties away adding significantly to traffic congestion on freeways and Bay bridges. A major goal of the Saltworks Plan is to get many of these commuters off the roads and out of their cars by providing them with a local place to live. Planning experts say this will dramatically reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions from cars. We are working with major local employers on this issue.
The Saltworks Plan will fund the newly restored tidal marsh habitat, Bayside recreation, bike and hiking trails, interpretive exhibits, and sports parks at no cost to existing taxpayers. DMB Saltworks will pay for all City costs to study and process the plan. This new community will more than pay for itself, it will generate millions in surplus revenues and create thousands of local jobs for Redwood City.
Our announcement of the Saltworks Plan is just the start of a lengthy period of official study, evaluation, and public review. You and your elected officials will make final decisions on this community based upon the impacts and benefits to Redwood City.
The Saltworks Plan FAQs
How was the Saltworks Plan created?
The DMB Saltworks team spent nearly three years asking local residents for their community priorities and suggestions for the site. More than 10,000 people provided input through forums, workshops, small group meetings, emails, reply cards and phone calls.
About 20 percent of the community favored an "open space only" plan for the site. The remaining 80 percent favored a broad mix of uses, including: housing, schools, parks and recreation, Bayside access, transit and other uses. The Saltworks Plan balances open space and habitat priorities with these other community priorities.
Does the plan offer any benefits to current residents of Redwood City?
Yes. It includes numerous amenities and facilities that were suggested by the community, including a large 50+ acre sports park, community gardens, a 4-H farm, a kayak launch, Bayside Park which includes 10 new miles of Bayside access, schools, housing for seniors and working families, transit facilities, and flood control.
Is there a plan to build new schools to accommodate the children who will live in this new community?
Yes. The Saltworks Plan includes new schools and school sites to accommodate the children who will live in this new Redwood City community. More detailed planning for schools will be conducted with education leaders during the City review process.
Will the Saltworks Plan cost existing taxpayers any money?
No. The plan will not add any new burdens to current residents. In fact it will generate a surplus of millions of dollars each year for the City when it is completed.
Does the Saltworks Plan offer Redwood City residents any new access to the Bay?
Absolutely. The plan includes Bayside Park which will create more than 10-miles of new Bayside trails and parks, interpretive exhibits, water recreation facilities, observation decks, waterfront retail, and other Bayside amenities included in this plan.
Will you use existing City water supplies for this new community?
No. The plan will provide its own water supplies, and it won't impact current water users in the city. The plan also includes state-of-the-art water conservation programs that will reduce per household potable water use by 50 percent.
