"Building upon language incorporated before the first reading, I am proud to make racial equity a key policy throughout the Comprehensive Plan Framework text. The plan currently before us represents a critical step in the right direction. Not only does the document before us define racial equity, but it also provides a roadmap for how to achieve it. It clarifies that equity is not the same as equality, emphasizes the importance of choice and access, ensures there is not an oversaturation of industrial sites in communities of color, champions a participatory approach to equitable development, and creates a framework that will work to ultimately eliminate disparities.
Over the past few months, my staff and I worked closely with community stakeholders and advocates to ensure we are ready to meet the myriad of housing challenges faced by the city and the region. We saw that what is needed is a PUD process that works as it was intended, does not stifle development but brings the community, government, and the private sector together. Although PUDs are not a panacea that will solve all our problems, we must get the most out of new housing projects as they are coming down the pipeline and ensure a process is in place that incentivizes equitable development, community amenities, and affordability.
I look forward to the next steps in the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan as we continue to shape the District’s future to advance equity in development, housing, transit, and future land uses."
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