Planning Commission (Richmond) — July 15, 2025: multiple housing cases advanced; bridge and street improvements approved; zoning changes for tobacco/hemp recommended
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The City of Richmond Planning Commission met July 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the 5th Floor Conference Room (Chair Rodney Poole). Seven commissioners were present and two were absent. Several special-use housing cases and subdivision matters were continued; a consent agenda of land-use and UDC items was adopted; multiple individual special-use requests were recommended for approval with amendments (including a lodginghouse use for Ronald McDonald House Charities, a 17-unit multifamily project on Jahnke Road, and accessory dwelling unit allowances). The Commission recommended a zoning amendment to define and regulate retail sales of tobacco and hemp, approved a bridge replacement/location review along Lombardy Street with pedestrian/bicycle improvements, and approved a community pavement-art pilot. The meeting adjourned at 10:14 PM.
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Key decisions
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- Continued ORD. 2025-014 (3618 Hawthorne Avenue special use) and SUBD 2025.003 (subdivision exception) to the August 19, 2025 Planning Commission meeting (motion carried unanimously).
- Continued ORD. 2025-025 (Snead Road multifamily), ORD. 2025-081 (2618 Rear West Main Street), and ORD. 2025-113 (3200 2nd Avenue) to the September 2, 2025 Planning Commission meeting (motions carried unanimously).
- Continued ORD. 2025-150 (3923 Grove Avenue) to the August 19, 2025 Planning Commission meeting (motion carried unanimously).
- Adopted the consent agenda as amended; Item 14 (ORD. 2025-155) was moved from consent to the regular agenda (motions carried unanimously).
- Recommended approval of ORD. 2025-144, ORD. 2025-149, ORD. 2025-151, ORD. 2025-152, ORD. 2025-153, ORD. 2025-154, ORD. 2025-156, and ORD. 2025-162 (consent items) as listed in the minutes.
- ORD. 2025-155 (505 West Leigh Street — lodginghouse for Ronald McDonald House Charities) recommended for approval with amendment that the conditional use permit becomes invalid upon a change in ownership (motion carried unanimously).
- ORD. 2024-312 (7100 Jahnke Road multifamily) recommended for approval with amendments: include amended plans dated July 9, 2025 showing only residential uses; remove condition 3(h) regarding commercial uses; revise condition 3(a) to specify up to 17 dwelling units with off-street parking; remove condition 3(g) regarding short-term rentals. Vote: six Aye, one No (Commissioner Rebecca Rowe).
- ORD. 2025-079 (3801/3803 Hanover Avenue — allowance for accessory dwelling units and revised unit counts) recommended for approval with amendments: incorporate amended plans dated July 7, 2025; explicitly permit accessory dwelling units; remove private trash collection requirement (motion carried unanimously).
- ORD. 2025-157 (zoning amendments to establish and regulate 'retail sales of tobacco and hemp') recommended for approval with amendment to include the full text of the applicable state code language directly in the ordinance (motion carried unanimously).
- UDC 2025-24 (Lombardy Street bridge replacement and pedestrian/bike improvements) approved (motion carried unanimously).
- PAC 2025-004 (Richmond Connects asphalt art at Mechanicsville Turnpike and Brauers Lane) approved; Commission noted need for legal advice on its role regarding installation of flex posts (motion carried unanimously).
- Council Action update and upcoming items were provided by the Secretary; meeting adjourned at 10:14 PM.
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