Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the regularly scheduled meeting City of Richmond Planning Commissioners.

Thank you very much. In terms of establishing a quorum, would you please call the roll?

Here. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we have minutes from September 1 to 2026. Is there a motion? Second. Any discussion? Call the question. We're voting on approval of the minutes from September 1, 2026. Please call the roll.

Thank you. We're now going to consider continuances and deletions. And just for the folks who are here tonight, it is my understanding that the council person for the third district has asked that case number four 12.9 Overbrook Road be continued until October the 20th. The applicant, while the applicant would have been prepared to go forward tonight, they have accepted the request of the council person. So I would ask if there's a motion to continue until October 20th.

To continue to October 20th. Any discussion? You just say that the applicant has accepted to continue?

Voting will continue in item number 4, 12 of 9, over Grove Road to the October 20th meeting of the Planning Commission. Please call the roll.

Are there any questions from members of the commission of the item that's on the consent agenda? Hearing none, I will open a public hearing and ask if there's any member of the public who wishes to speak on the item on the consent agenda. Anyone online?

Good. Then we'll close the public hearing. We'll go back to the commission and ask if there's a motion on the consent agenda. Move approval. Any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call the question. We're voting on approval of the consent agenda as presented. Please call the roll.

Very good. If you would, please present the item on the regular attendance.

Welcome, Mr. Brown. How are you tonight? I'm well, thank you.

references to the ADUs, but it didn't appear to me that it was one of the conditions of the special use permit that you read. You're right.

So we have language to that effect, or are we just amending this to conclude that the applicant has the right to up to six

That should be part of the motion if there's a motion to approve. That's right.

But in the meantime, are there any other questions for Mr. Brown from the Commission? Mr.

Well, I was carrying newspapers at that time and watched it being built because it was in my neighborhood. Any other questions for Mr. Brown? Thank you very much. Thank you. I know the applicant is present. Would you like to make a presentation? Please come forward, and if you would, give us your name, and please, if you would, spell your last name for the record.

Any other questions for Mr. Strong? Thank you very much. I will ask. I will open a public hearing and ask if there's any member of the public who wishes to speak in favor of this paper.

Are there any members of the public who wish to speak in opposition? Mayor Lamb, come forward. Give us your name, and if you would, please spell your last name.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. Always good to see you. Are there any members of Other members of the public who wish to speak in opposition?

Unless closed public hearing, bring it back to the commission and ask if there's a motion on item number three, 5706 York Road. Before I ask staff to follow up.

Is there a motion? I move to approve. Is there a second?

I'm not sure if I'm clear as to whether or not The carrot housing has already been demolished, or is it currently there? Is this a renovation?

I defer to the applicant or the staff. I haven't been there. There's a CO complex.

But I am understanding you to say that the existing structure is there and it is occupied.

Question. We talk about the condition, but to the staff knowledge, has there ever been any code violations done in regards to this property?

Just for the record, restate your name, Mr. Schron.

Mr. Strong, you made mention of the fact that the current owner is emptying things out. Do you have any knowledge of how many remaining residents there are in these 18 units?

In your discussions with the current owner, has the current owner told you that he will not renew the leases?

The problem is we don't vote till we vote. And you have to read and make a decision that's based on what you believe is in your best interest. I think that Ms. Greenfield is giving you the opportunity to make that choice.

I'm going to ask staff to confirm that what I'm about to say is correct. The case will be forwarded to the council with the recommendation, whatever the vote is, regardless of whether it's a vote to approve or a vote not to approve. So you get to go to council. But if it is voted down at the council level, I believe you'd have to wait at least a year before you can present any other project that you can present. Any other buyer can present whatever they want. So you would be the only person that would be limited.

Do I hear a motion to continue? So moved. Second. Discussion? How long would we continue it for? I would suggest that we continue it to the October 20th meeting. The October 6th meeting has 26 items on it. I wouldn't be impressed.

Well, I do have a comment that It really doesn't have anything to do with the motion to continue. But I want to thank Ms. Rowe for raising what I think is a very important issue, and that is density does not equal affordability. That's an issue that we need to address and consider because I think this commission is fully committed to affordable housing and has shown that over and over again. And the desire to produce affordable housing is a goal that I think we should all work towards. But just having density is not going to provide affordable housing. The County of Henrico is providing incent

Thank you. I want to get my answer about the cold violations, but do you have an answer?

I just want to follow up your comments as it relates to density and affordability. I think that's a real issue that is not being resolved. I don't think that we have a definition that has been approved by council as what is affordable housing. And it is based on that 30% of income and it also indicates the every immediate income that we consider as families that we are supporting and certainly incomes for affordable housing still with the 30% of their income in housing. Some people would say 35 if it's single family home ownership. The question of density and its relationship to affordability

Any further comments on the motion to continue?

I think it's good for the applicant to hear all of this.

We're voting on a motion to continue this item to October 20th.

Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Schwartz. Council action update.

Any other questions from members of the commission? Any other items that any commissioner wishes to raise? Hearing none, my thanks, we're adjourned.