Richmond City Planning Commission September 2024 Summary

APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 6, 2024 MEETING MINUTES

Approved.

CONTINUED DISCUSSION FOR FRAMEWORK AND ASSIGNMENTS ON A NEW MULTI-FAMILY ZONING ORDINANCE.

The discussion covered several aspects of development planning, including setbacks, open space, amenities, parking requirements, building height, and fencing. Here’s a breakdown of key points from the meeting:

• Setbacks, Open Space, and Building Requirements
• Setbacks: The Commission decided on a 20-foot side setback and a 30-foot front setback. These setbacks will also define the clearance between or behind buildings.
• Height: A maximum height of 45 feet was decided.
• Open Space: Developments must include 40% open space.
• Maximum Building Size: A cap was set for the size of complexes, with a 6-plex as the maximum allowed.
• Amenities and Homeowners Association (HOA)
• Amenities: If amenities are proposed, a Homeowners Association (HOA) would be responsible for maintaining them, but the inclusion of amenities would not be a mandate.
• Location of Amenities: There was a suggestion to keep amenities inside the development for safety, and to avoid placing them near main roads.
• Parking and Garages
• Parking Requirements: The Commission agreed to 3 parking spaces per unit. 
• Garage Use: Brock raised a concern about garages being used for storage rather than parking. While covered parking was considered, the Commission did not favor carports.
• Fencing
• Fencing Requirements: The Commission discussed types of acceptable fencing, with an emphasis on avoiding wood and chain-link fences. Jay suggested fencing between multi-family and adjoining zones, but there needed to be more concern about the visual impact of fencing around a project. Cindy emphasized avoiding the appearance of segregation.
• Maintenance Issues: Justin noted that placing fences too close to park strips could create maintenance issues.
• Density and Development Size
• Bonus Densities: Developers could present plans for bonus densities, but fencing alone wouldn’t qualify for them.
• Size of Developments: Cache raised the question of capping the size of developments and managing multiple parcels during the zoning process.
• Selling Units
• Individual Unit Sales: The Commission discussed allowing developers to sell individual units within developments, with Cache noting that owners are generally more invested in maintaining their properties.
• Detention Ponds
• Detention Ponds and Open Space: Jay suggested considering whether detention ponds should be counted as open space, but Justin opposed this, arguing that they aren’t versatile enough to qualify as open space.
• Assignments
• Justin: Draft the ordinance based on the discussion points, including the agreed-upon building heights, setbacks, open space requirements, and parking requirements. The draft will be reviewed at the next meeting on October 1st.
• Cache: Work on defining the amenities that should be included in the open space.
• Brock: Develop a list of permitted uses to avoid reliance on conditional-use permits.
• Brent: Prepare a use matrix that can be adjusted as needed.

The draft ordinance will be presented to the City Council after review, and further changes can be made if needed. The Commission will reconvene on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, to review the ordinance and finalize its recommendations.