Planning & Dev. Review
A $5.8 million plan to move Richmond city and public school facilities off North Boulevard so the 60-acre site can be redeveloped hit a snag at Monday’s Planning Commission meeting, when a lawyer for a developer said his client has a contract on property the city wants to buy.
Lombardy Street Partners intended to seek a special-use permit to build the apartments and that planning officials were aware of the forthcoming application.
June 11, 2012
VIA EMAIL TO:
Ms. Lou Brown Ali, Chief of Staff, lou.ali@richmondgov.com
The Honorable City Council
City of Richmond
900 E. Broad St., Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23219 USA
Re: Ordinance 2012-74 – Special Exceptions
Dear Honorable Members of Council,
The Special Exception ordinance is on Council’s consent agenda for today. In my opinion the ordinance is unlawful, unnecessary and unwise. It should be rejected.
The ordinance is unlawful because it contains numerous provisions that Council is not authorized to adopt. The ordinance is unnecessary because it does nothing beneficial that cannot be accomplished with well-written zoning district regulations. The ordinance is unwise because it gives special treatment to some properties and harms surrounding properties.
Other cities in Virginia have legal and sensible land use regulations. The City of Hampton is a good example. It follows the requirements of the Code of Virginia and it is practical.
Hampton recognizes that the purpose of the special use process is to protect the people and property in the neighborhood and the use must conform to the zoning regulations. The Hampton ordinance requires that the use:
(1) will not adversely affect the health or safety of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of the proposed use;
(2) will not be detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to property or improvements in the neighborhood; and
(3) will be in accordance with all the current regulations of and the purpose of this ordinance, and the comprehensive plan of the City of Hampton, and all other applicable ordinances…. Sec. 20-4.
The Hampton ordinance recognizes that a “special use” is a “use” and that it means an activity occurring on the property. The Richmond ordinance contains numerous items that are not “uses.”
The Hampton ordinance recognizes that a special exception does not waive any rules. Most of the exceptions in the Richmond ordinance waive rules.
The Hampton zoning district regulations are well written. The districts include over 50 conditional uses to accommodate the potential interests of property owners and the needs of the neighborhoods. The Richmond regulations have only 16 conditional uses. Hampton has conditional uses available in every zoning district. Richmond has 30 zoning districts with no conditional uses available.
The Hampton ordinance is a good example to follow. Before the Richmond Council takes any action, the citizens deserve to know how the proposed ordinance compares to a good ordinance. The relevant portions of the Hampton ordinance are attached in outline form and in full text form.
You might also examine the wisdom of giving the Board of Zoning Appeals authority to set building heights in most zoning districts. Council would have no power to reverse the Board’s decision.
Sincerely yours,
C. Wayne Taylor
www.CityHallReview.com
Attachments: CITY OF HAMPTON CODE.pdf
Links: City Hall – Special Exceptions
Copy: Liaisons, Press, Candidates
….They said they’re sick and tired of seeing blighted houses in their neighborhood and that the abandoned properties are attracting rodents and crime….Neighbors said they’ve reached out to the city leaders and police but have gotten little help…. nbc12.com
Re: Food Truck Court
Dear Honorable Mayor,
About the same time as the Art 180 Project controversy, “food trucks” began the widely publicized activity of selling products in the Virginia Historical Society parking lot. The property is zoned R-6 – Residential (Single Family Attached), which does not list the activity as an allowed use.
Read the rest of this entry »
….The murals that would sit in a historic district required the approval of the Richmond Commission of Architectural Review, which granted permission for nine of them….The murals that would sit in a historic district required the approval of the Richmond Commission of Architectural Review, which granted permission for nine of them…. timesdispatch.com
Commission of Architectural Review denies application for rear porch roof. Paper Number: 2012-R18.
As of 21 March 2012, no minutes for the Commission of Architectural Review have been posted since October 2011.
March 15, 2012
VIA EMAIL TO: Bruce.Tyler@Richmondgov.com
The Honorable Bruce Tyler
City Council
City of Richmond
900 E. Broad St., Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23219 USARe: 2nd Street Connector Information
Dear Honorable Council Member,
The proposed 2nd Street connector would cause a major change in the character of the area. I think it is very important to fully understand the proposal and the various factors involved. Read the rest of this entry »
….While all these things are happening, at least on paper, “the city still needs visionary leadership,” Sarvay says. And if Olinger intends to remain in an advisory role, who’s going to step up? …. styleweekly.com
Phrases like “a concept of one river and one city in a single system” and “this is the Central Park of your city” were tossed around as architects from Hargreaves Associates presented an update on the Richmond Riverfront Plan to the City of Richmond Planning Commission Tuesday….The commission members all agreed that “what we need is leadership to carry this through” and that “governance means leadership.” richmond.com
How the region should grow and where it should grow was the gist of Friday’s meeting at the Williams Mullen law firm ….attended by 200 planning, real estate, transportation and land-use experts….Thomas A. Silvestri [head of the Richmond Media Group, which includes the Richmond Times-Dispatch], who was the opening speaker….Transportation and infrastructure will be the focus of the next discussion…..Realty Check cities have included Los Angeles; Washington; Baltimore; Charleston, S.C.; Seattle; and Phoenix, Ariz. The one for the Richmond region will be sometime next year…. timesdispatch.com