Richmond City Council hears update on citywide zoning code refresh; open houses planned

At an informal meeting, the Richmond City Council received an update from Mary Anne Pitts, deputy director of the Planning Department, on the city's code refresh project, a multi-module rewrite of Richmond's zoning ordinance that staff says is moving from background work into drafting a new ordinance and a draft zoning map.

The code refresh matters because the rewrite will replace the city's current zoning text and maps and could change allowable uses, building form and heights, and administrative procedures across Richmond neighborhoods. Pitts told the council the project began in February 2024 and that the team has completed background work, including a pattern book that compares existing conditions to the current ordinance.

Pitts said staff is now drafting the ordinance and a draft map in three modules: districts, uses and a draft map (under review now); development standards (landscaping, buffering, vehicle access), likely released later this year; and administrative provisions. "We're really just getting into the heart of working on the draft ordinance and working on the draft map," Pitts said. She said a Zoning Advisory Council is reviewing the draft map and will meet this week to provide recommendations.

To solicit public feedback on draft districts and use tables, Pitts announced in-person engagement later this month including three open houses: an evening session at the Southside Community Center and two sessions at City Hall and the main library (one morning and one evening). Pitts also described pop-ups, round-table stakeholder meetings, panel discussions, civic association briefings, community ambassadors to reach underrepresented groups, and youth outreach at the Boys & Girls Club. Staff will publish a version of the materials online and said the draft map currently available on the project page will be revised after the advisory council's comments. Pitts directed residents to rva.gov/code-refresh for materials and contact information.

Council Member Gibson praised outreach and said residents welcomed a change in the draft that reduced a proposed maximum building height on MacArthur Avenue from six stories to three. "Seeing the revised draft that had that reduced down to 3, I think, felt like a win for a lot of residents," Gibson said. Gibson also urged linking the zoning rewrite to historic-preservation work and to infrastructure planning for increased density.

Pitts said the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan remains with the Planning Commission and that a subcommittee will take a deeper look at design and demolition language. She said the code-refresh process will include conversations about whether some areas need full Commission of Architectural Review protections or lighter, project-level review focused on new construction and demolition.

Council Member Robertson volunteered to work with staff and the Zoning Advisory Council to review districts. Pitts said the consultant team will be in town during the outreach period and that staff can replicate open houses or tailor meetings for specific districts upon request.

The presentation was informational; no ordinance or resolution was introduced or voted on during the update.

Planning staff provided contact information and an online portal for comments; Pitts said an updated draft map will be posted at the end of the month for public comment.