Plans, Timeline and Terms
Last updated September 20, 2026.
This page explains how El Cerrito’s plans connect, lists the key events in order with full dates, and defines the terms used across these pages.
How the plans connect
| Plan or rule | Date | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| General Plan | Updated 1999; amendments 2014 and 2025 | The city’s long-range plan. The 2014 amendments supersede General Plan text in order to carry out the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan. |
| Economic Development Action Plan | First plan 2006; update March 15, 2016 | Says the loss of redevelopment funds (2012) is the most significant change to the city’s capacity for economic development. |
| Circulation Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians; Active Transportation Plan; Complete Streets Policy | 2007; 2016; 2016 | Name the streets and routes the city wants to improve, including Richmond Street. |
| San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan | Adopted September 2014; updated 2022 | Building rules and a Complete Streets plan for the avenue. See San Pablo Specific Plan. |
| Housing Element 2023–2031 | Adopted August 15, 2023; certified August 22, 2023 | Shows where the city’s assigned 1,391 homes can go; most sites are in the Specific Plan area. |
| Strategic Plan 2024–2029 | December 5, 2023 | The council’s goals. |
| State law AB 2923 | Signed September 30, 2018 | Lets BART’s land near stations be built under BART’s own zoning targets. |
| Berkeley-El Cerrito Corridor Access Plan (BECCAP) | 2023 | BART’s plan for how people reach three stations as parking lots become homes. |
| Transit-Oriented Communities policy (MTC) | 2022 | Ties future regional grants to allowing more homes near transit. |
| Climate Action Plan; Climate Action and Adaptation Plan | 2013; adoption year not confirmed | The city’s climate plans. The Richmond Street FAQ calls the later plan both “2024” and “2023.” |
Source: City General Plan page; SPASP Chapter 1; Agenda Bill 6.D, March 17, 2026; PL23-0024 Approval Letter, July 3, 2024; Richmond Street FAQ.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 1, 2012 | California’s redevelopment agencies end; El Cerrito becomes the Housing Successor |
| September 2014 | San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan adopted |
| March 15, 2016 | Economic Development Action Plan update |
| September 30, 2018 | State law AB 2923 signed |
| November 19, 2020 | BART Board selects the developer team for El Cerrito Plaza |
| December 6, 2022 | Environmental review for the Specific Plan update adopted |
| February 7, 2023 | Council authorizes a City loan for the first Plaza building |
| February 2023 | Federal SS4A grant awarded to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority |
| April 3, 2023 | First Plaza building approved without a council vote |
| August 15, 2023 | Housing Element adopted (state certification August 22, 2023) |
| September 19, 2023 | Council approves the Richmond Street cooperative agreement |
| March 6, 2024 | del Norte groundbreaking |
| July 3, 2024 | BART master plan approved (743 homes) |
| August 23, 2024 | State award letter for the first Plaza building’s AHSC grant |
| May 6, 2025 | Council authorizes the second Plaza building’s AHSC application and a $350,000 loan |
| July 15, 2025 | Council study session on the walking and biking plans (no vote) |
| October 31 and November 5, 2025 | First Plaza building’s AHSC agreement signed |
| November 2025 | First Plaza building construction begins |
| December 10, 2025 | State does not recommend the second Plaza building’s application |
| March 3, 2026 | Council adopts Resolution 2026-13 (Richmond Street amendment) |
| March 20, 2026 | State environmental notice for Richmond Street |
| May 18–20, 2026 | City asks the state to change the AHSC bikeway list; denied, then approved |
| June 2, 2026 | Measure C library parcel tax fails |
| June 24, 2026 | Richmond Street right of way certified |
| July 7, 2026 | Consultant reports on the San Pablo Avenue plan |
| July 13, 2026 | del Norte ribbon cutting |
| August 20–21, 2026 | Transportation commission staff recommend $800,000 for Richmond Street |
| Late fall 2026 | Richmond Street construction planned |
| December 2026 | State decisions expected on the next AHSC round |
Source: documents cited on the individual project pages.
Glossary
- AHSC: Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program. A state program that pays for affordable housing together with nearby transportation improvements. Applications are scored and funded in yearly rounds.
- AMI: area median income; affordable homes are set for households at a percentage of it.
- Class I, II, III, IV bikeways: Class I is a path away from streets. Class II is a painted lane (buffered lanes add extra painted space). Class III is a shared street with signs or markings. Class IV is a protected lane separated from traffic.
- Complete Streets: streets designed for walking, biking and transit as well as driving.
- Cooperative agreement: a contract between the City and another agency; for Richmond Street, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA).
- Housing Successor: the City’s role in holding housing money left from the former redevelopment agency.
- Measure A, J, X: A is El Cerrito’s street-repair tax; J is a county transportation sales tax; X is a county sales tax used here for housing.
- Ministerial approval: approval by staff, without a hearing or council vote, when a project meets set rules.
- Priority Development Area: an area near transit that regional agencies encourage for growth.
- SB 1: state law that funds road repair and improvements.
- SS4A: federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant.
- STI: Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure, the transportation part of an AHSC grant.
- TOD: transit-oriented development, housing and other buildings near transit stations.
© Ira Sharenow