The Richmond City Planning Commission on Oct. 7 voted to recommend two companion special-use actions: authorization for an independent cooking facility (a meat smoker in a Connex shipping container) at 2 South Robinson Street, and an amendment to the 2005 special-use permit for 2600 West Main Street to reduce the off-site parking requirement from 18 to 13 spaces.

Cheyenne O’Trump, planner associate, said the smoker has been operating temporarily at the Robinson Street lot while the applicant works through approvals. The applicant’s representative, Andre Regazzi of Bank of Development Resources, said the smoker serves Bark (2600 West Main) and that the Connex unit will be screened with planters, painted with a mural on the most-visible face, and have an awning over the northern portion; a cage will secure the smoker from public contact. He added that the installation includes a handwashing station and has been inspected by the health department.

The 2600 West Main special-use amendment is necessary because those 13 parking spaces at 2 South Robinson previously served the restaurant under the 2005 special-use permit; placing the smoker on the lot reduces available parking from 18 to 13. Regazzi said the owner intends to continue offering those 13 spaces to restaurant patrons. Planning staff noted that the city eliminated minimum parking requirements in 2023 and concluded the proposed changes were consistent with the Richmond 300 master plan’s community mixed-use designation.

The Uptown Association asked that any special-use approval include a mechanism to prevent the smoker from being abandoned on the lot if the restaurant closed. Staff pointed out the ordinances include the standard provision that an approved special use becomes null and void if abandoned for 730 consecutive days. After discussion, commissioners voted to forward both the independent cooking facility and the parking amendment to City Council with staff recommendations.

Both motions passed on roll-call votes. The actions will be accompanied by conditions in the ordinances specifying site screening, materials and that mechanical equipment be screened or not visible from the public right of way.