Commission establishes "social assembly" as conditional use across most zones to accommodate small event venues

The Richmond City Planning Commission voted to create a pathway for small event venues by classifying a new land-use category called "social assembly" and making it a conditional use in most zoning districts.

During a lengthy discussion, planning staff explained that the current use chart lacks an explicit home for small-scale event spaces — including wedding venues, small reunions or retirement gatherings — and recommended inserting a "social assembly" term so staff can apply parking, occupancy and other standards consistently during plan review. Staff noted these uses differ from churches, large assembly venues, or eating-and-drinking establishments and recommended treating them as conditional uses so site-specific requirements (parking, traffic flow, noise mitigation) can be applied.

Commissioners discussed which zones should permit the conditional use. After debate, the commission approved a motion to classify "social assembly" as a conditional use broadly across zones while exempting certain districts (the motion as moved excluded designated industrial and certain planned districts; the commission discussion referenced exclusions including I-1, I-2, mobile-home park/MP categories and PUDs). The commission also agreed to allow the classification in agriculture (AG) where lot size and other site constraints could be appropriate. The motion passed on a recorded vote: Commissioner Francis — yes; Commissioner Short — yes; Commissioner Miller — no; Commissioner Perkins — yes; Commissioner Miles — no; Commissioner Estelle — yes.

Staff clarified the approval at the policy stage does not approve any particular wedding venue; individual proposals must still meet development-ordinance requirements. Applications that do not meet zone-specific standards could pursue a conditional-use hearing before the Board of Adjustments (BOA) or a rezoning to a commercial district. Planning staff described parking calculations for assembly uses (often tied to seating/occupancy) and cautioned that small residential lots may not be able to satisfy parking or setback requirements for event assembly.

Next steps include staff drafting language to insert "social assembly" into the development ordinance, specifying zones where it is permitted or conditional, and forwarding the change to the City Commission for final adoption. Individual applicants will then submit development plans or conditional-use requests as required by the ordinance.