Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Meeting is being recorded and held in person in the fifth floor conference room of City Hall while staff in a form of planning commissioners are attending the meeting in person. Citizens may choose to participate in the meeting virtually. All written comments that were received by email prior to 12 p.m. today have been provided to the planning commissioners in advance of the meeting. During the public comment period, speakers will be asked to limit their comments to three minutes for an individual or five minutes of representative group.

Thank you very much. We need to... All right, so for purposes of establishing a quorum, please call the roll.

Mr. Bull?

Here.

Ms. Greenfield? Here. Ms. Ebert? Here. Mr. Pennant?

Here.

Ms. Robertson? Here. Mr. White?

Here.

Mr. McKenzie?

Here.

We do have an in-person quorum. And then Ms. Knight has requested to participate virtually online, and she is participating from Washington, D.C., due to work.

Is there a motion to permit Ms. Knight to speak?

So moved.

Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Thank you. And we have minutes to consider. Mr. Director, do you wish to have comments? You've heard enough from me. We have minutes from December the 2nd, 2025. Is there a motion? Move to approve. Second. Any discussion? Well, the question we're voting on approval in minutes from December 2nd, 2025. Please call the roll.

Mr. Poole. Aye. Ms. Greenfield. Aye. Ms. Ebert. Abstain. Ms. Knight. Aye. Mr. Pennock.

Aye.

Ms. Robertson. Aye. Mr. White.

Aye.

And Mr. McKenzie.

Aye.

Motion passes in those minutes are approved.

Second, 20.6. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call the question. We're voting on approval of the minutes from June 2nd, 2026. Please call the roll. Mr. Poole. Aye.

Ms. Greenfield. Aye. Ms. Ebert. Aye. Ms. Knight. Aye. Mr. Pinnock.

Aye.

Ms. Robertson. Aye. Mr. White.

Aye.

And Mr. McKenzie. Aye. Motion passes, and those minutes are approved.

Thank you. Are there any continuances or deletions from the agenda? Fair enough. Consent agenda.

On the consent agenda, we have item three, ordinance 2026-127 to authorize the special use of the property known as 902 North 28th Street for the purpose of up to one single family detached dwelling and one single family attached dwelling upon certain terms and conditions. Item four, ordinance 2026-128 to authorize the special use of the property known as 3012 Grayland Avenue for the purpose of up to two single family detached dwellings upon certain terms and conditions. Item 5, Ordinance 2026-129 to authorize the special use of the property known as 2518 Grove Avenue for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling upon certain terms and conditions. Item 6, Ordinance 2026-147. This is an ordinance to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, Lauren, on behalf of the City of Richmond to accept the funds in the amount of roughly 295, $267,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation and to amend ordinance number 2025-058 adopted May 12th, 2025, which accepted a program of proposed capital improvement projects for fiscal year 2025 to 2026 and the four fiscal years thereafter, adopted a capital budget for fiscal year 2025 to 2026 and affirming the means of financing the same to appropriate the increase to the fiscal year 2025 to 2026 capital budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works complete street project and the transportation federal state regional category by $295,267 for the purpose of providing funding for the Chamberlain Avenue resurfacing project from Walton Avenue to Hammond Avenue. Item seven, this is the City Planning Commission Resolution 2026-003, This is the resolution of the Richmond City Planning Commission to adopt Richmond Inspire, a citywide vision for parks, recreation, and community facilities as an amendment to the Richmond 300, a guide for growth master plan. Item eight, this is the City Planning Commission resolution 2026-004. It's a resolution of the Richmond City Planning Commission to adopt the Richmond Connects strategic plan, a strategic plan for improving transportation equity in Richmond as an amendment to the Richmond 300, a guide for growth master plan. And that is the consent agenda.

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

I am seeing no one online.

We'll close the public hearing, bring it back to the commission and ask if there's a motion on the consent agenda. And in discussion, I'll call the question. We're voting on approval of the consent agenda as presented. Please call the roll.

Mr. Poole.

Aye.

Ms. Greenfield. Aye. Ms. Ebert. Aye. Ms. Knight. Aye. Mr. Pinnock.

Aye.

Ms. Robertson. Aye. Mr. White. Aye. And Mr. McKenzie.

Aye.

Motion passes and the consent agenda has been adopted.

And then finally, would you please present the item on the regular agenda.

We have one item on the regular agenda today. This is item nine, and this is a presentation on the 2026 Public Art Commission Work Plan. And we will be joined by Monica Kinsey, who is the Public Art Commission Secretary, to give us the presentation.

Welcome.

Do you want me to start sharing or?

Yes, please. You know when you want me to go. Hello, I'm Monica Kinsey, the Planner Secretary of

City of Richmond's Public Art Commission. Excited to share with you first some highlights of recently completed public art projects. The work plan required that we have a little information on our recently completed projects. And I'm just going to highlight two for you. I know it's been a long afternoon, but this one is on Fire Station 12. It looks familiar to a number of you, I'm sure. This public art project was completed by a gang of three. They also worked with a local historian, Sylvia Lynch, on this project. Could you go to the next slide, please? This was completed last summer. We have, as you see here, some archival images that were incorporated into the facade on the windows. This was with the help of the Valentine and the local historian. This imagery honors the history of Richmond's firefighters, including Richmond's first integrated fire company, its first black fire chief, first female firefighter, and more. Next slide, please. The iconic form of a fire ladder inspired the sculptural component of the installation. It acts as an allegory for the complex decades-long climb towards a more inclusive department, city, and society. Next slide. And this project was really unique in that it integrated public art into the actual structure of the architecture. And so it's not only speaking to the function of the building, but also the neighborhood's history and firefighting history here in Richmond. So notably, this project has received a handful of distinctions, the fire station with its uniquely integrated public art, has received distinctions, including the top award for fire station design, which is called a Fiero. And we have an artist talk that we're working on planning. So that will be coming soon. That will highlight more about the local history.

Next, please.

And this is a project that was completed more recently at Gilpin Community Farm. with a local artist named Barry O'Keefe. This is one of three community garden public art projects. We partnered with the Richmond Grows Gardens Group to identify community gardens that could benefit from public art projects. Community engagement informed the final outcome. For each of these projects, the outcome is quite different just depending on what the community stewards and community wanted to see. In some cases, that's tool sheds, in other cases, It's more of an aesthetic approach. In some, there's a combination. Next slide, please. We had a great turnout in December. It was cold, but still had a great turnout from the community. And the artist Barry O'Keefe was there to provide more information on the inspiration behind the design. Next slide, please. And the next, or I'm sorry. The elements included this gateway arch, wrought iron details, reference flora and fauna. You can see that on the bench as well. There's a teaching component that the artist was really interested in, thinking of the art as a way to educate visitors to the garden. So for example, the life cycle of a firefly is extremely important to gardens. And so you can see that on the bench incorporated in the wrought iron details. So not only are the flora and fauna of the garden referenced, but the actor Charles S. Gilpin, neighborhood's namesake, is also referenced in the design, as well as Lily A. Esty, the community community founder. And Barry worked closely with Kinfolk Community Youth Program on the project, who like to think of the arch as a gateway of possibilities for Gilpin Court.

Next slide, please.

And then my favorite photo from the event, the mayor, jumped into the sweet tooth food truck that we had on hand that was providing warm treats for attendees. And I also want to draw attention to the fact that the artist Barry partnered with OK Foundry, which has been producing wrought iron installations, projects, architectural elements in the city for about 114 years.

A truly incredible project. Thank you for sharing that. Please share the work plan document. I'm so sorry, Monica. No worries.

And I encourage you to go check out those public art projects if you have not yet, especially the Fire Station 12 images on the windows. You really can't see those very well during the day. It's a completely different experience when you drive by at night and they're lit from within. And the sculptural installation, that ladder, can change colors. There's lighting all around it. And so the Fire Station has fun with the colors on occasion. Sometimes the color reflects a different holiday, so it can look a little different each time you go by. Okay, so for the work plan for the coming fiscal year, we have a number of projects that are underway in varying phases. One of those is Broad Rock Community Garden, and that is the last of our three community garden projects in partnership with Richmond Grows Gardens. And with this project, the community was interested in having a tool shed and a solar power for garden tools. And so local artist Silly Genius has installed the shipping container and murals on the shipping container. The last order of business there is coordinating hookup of solar panels. And then we will be identifying a celebration date soon for that project. We also have City Hall Art coming soon. This project will bring art to City Hall lobby to increase exhibition opportunities for local artists and improve visitor and staff experience here in the building. Main Street Station will also be getting public art. We're partnering with the staff to uplift Main Street Station as an arts and culture destination. There's so much potential there. So we'll be pursuing opportunities for public art there. And it's listed as TBD under the budget due to potential partnership with other departments on that front and still hammering out how much will be needed funding lines for those as the Public Art Commission works with the stakeholders to determine the scope of these projects. We also have Southside Community Center phase two, This sculpture will consist of cloud or rain structures that evoke rain and visualize the water cycle to complement nearby water management systems that have been installed out there. We have some updates that the artist is making to her plans. And we also have the trailhead at Anquero's Landing. This is a really important and significant project that will complement interpretation at that site being undertaken by Baskerville. And this artist is also updating her plans at the moment. Then we have Fire Station 21 coming up soon. We're just in the early phases of planning there. We're meeting with Public Art Commission project lead to identify and develop the artist selection panel. And We're almost to that point with police precinct one as well and meeting with representatives and stakeholders to discuss potential approaches and options there that will be best. Then we have Brown's Island. We'll also be meeting with stakeholders soon to hammer out the approach for that. And then TB Smith Community Center will be next on the agenda. But with all of these projects, we are really focused on increasing the availability and accessibility of quality public art projects throughout the city, on city property, and we're facilitating projects that tell the city's stories, enhance neighborhood identity, and engage with the community in meaningful ways, particularly with an emphasis on community gathering and park sites as we move forward.

That's what I have to share for our

plan for the public art commission for coming fiscal year. Any questions?

Questions for members of the commission? Thank you very much. I think you covered every district except the first and the second.

We'll get them on the next fiscal year.

Thank you very much. In keeping with my normal course of conduct, I'm going to ask if there's any member of the public that wishes to speak with respect to the public art presentation. Anyone on?

I'm seeing no one online.

Good. And I'll close the public hearing. Council, I can update and upcoming items.

All right.

So for the council met on Monday and there were five new special use ordinances that were introduced for the July 7th planning commission meeting. There were four special use permits that were continued at city council that are still hanging out. And then five items were adopted at city council.

Anything further from any member of the commission? Yes, ma'am.

To the director. Presentation earlier today on timelines for SUPs and those kind of things. One of the things that I think would be beneficial to add to that is continued at city council.

It would be very valuable.

Okay, thank you.

Any further from members of the commission? We're adjourned. Thank you very much for your attendance and particularly given the early hour of the first meeting.

When you run away.