PETITION TO THE CITY OF REDDING, THE CITY OF REDDING PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF REDDING PLANNING COMMISSION, THE COUNTY OF SHASTA, THE REDDING CITY COUNCIL, AND THE SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS  We, the River Ranch Neighborhood, directly adjacent to the proposed correctional facilities and residents within Shasta County, demand that the City of Redding and County of Shasta halt all rezoning, development, and construction efforts at 7251 Eastside Road (approximately 90 acres; APNs 050-050-010 and 050-070-008) for any correctional campus, day-reporting center, alternative custody program, re-entry facility, or jail until full and transparent public review is completed and the following concerns addressed: COMMUNITY CONCERNS  1. SAFETY & NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS The proposed correctional campus would sit directly next to a long-standing, family-oriented neighborhood. The multi-phase development — including day-reporting, re-entry, and potential jail expansion for 1200 or more inmates— raises significant safety concerns for nearby residents. These concerns are heightened by the ongoing staffing shortages and operational challenges at the existing Shasta County Jail.  2. STRAIN ON LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE Eastside Road and Highway 273 were not designed for institutional-level activity. A large campus of this kind would generate substantial traffic from staff, transport vehicles, vendors, and visitors, putting pressure on local roads and affecting daily travel, emergency services and school transportation. Another key concern is that there are only two exits out of this area and both are over busy railroad tracks. If there were a fire we do not feel we could all adequately evacuate and feel this is a serious concern with our area of the county already strained for adequate fire protection and sheriffs deputies in our unincorporated area. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL & HEALTH IMPACTS The 7251 Eastside Road site includes natural riparian riverbank habitat, marshes, wetlands, and wildlife areas along the Sacramento River corridor. All nearby homes and businesses depend on private wells for their water supply. And private septic for wastewater. Construction, increased hardscape, and future on-site operations could threaten groundwater quality and availability, as well as degrade the natural river environment that is central to our community identity. The project would introduce significant light pollution, noise, and operational emissions into a quiet riverfront environment; disrupting wildlife and degrading natural views. The visual intrusion of a large correctional facility along the Sacramento River is incompatible with the area’s natural beauty and would permanently diminish the environmental quality of the area. Known threatened species such as the elderberry beetle, bald eagles and winter run Chinook salmon use this area   4. PROPERTY VALUE DECLINE Locating a large correctional or institutional facility directly beside a quiet residential neighborhood is likely to reduce nearby home values and make resale more difficult. Increased noise, lighting, traffic, and perceived safety concerns will permanently change the character and desirability of the area. 5. LONG-TERM COST & FEASIBILITY The existing Shasta County Jail already experiences staffing shortages, partial floor closures, and high per-inmate costs. Expanding correctional operations without first resolving these issues risks creating an even greater burden on local taxpayers and public safety systems.  6. LACK OF TRANSPARENCY & CONCERNS ABOUT OUTSIDE OPERATORS Residents are especially concerned with the lack of transparency surrounding this project: On September 2, 2025, the City Council unanimously approved a 30-year lease for the property for $0 and an option for the County to purchase the land later for $1-decisions made before the surrounding neighborhood was meaningfully informed. The City declared the land “surplus,” limiting future public options for the site and accelerating the deal. The County has discussed partnering with outside companies to operate portions of the campus, including Amity Foundation and GEO Reentry Services, without clearly disclosing to the public what authority these companies would have, what programs they would run, or what security and accountability measures would be in place. A city special election was reportedly delayed as part of negotiations tied to this land deal, raising further concerns about process integrity. Neighbors were notified only after key agreements had already been made, and were not provided building plans, traffic analyses, groundwater or well-impact studies, or long-term expansion details. These actions have significantly damaged public trust and demonstrate the need for a fully open, accountable process before any further steps are taken.  PETITION REQUEST  We petition the City of Redding and Shasta County to: • Suspend all rezoning and development approvals for 7251 Eastside Road.
• Complete a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR), including traffic studies, groundwater and well-impact analysis, wildlife and habitat review, noise, lighting, and property-value impacts.
• Release a complete project description, including the roles of any outside operators, all planned phases, projected bed counts, staffing requirements, and traffic projections.
• Hold public neighborhood meetings in the River Ranch Road and Eastside Road area with proper advance notice to affected residents.
• Evaluate alternative locations that do not border established residential neighborhoods or sensitive natural areas.
• Establish groundwater and well-protection plans, including baseline testing and ongoing monitoring.