Council hears update on citywide zoning "code refresh" as draft map and districts near public review

Mary Anne Pitts, deputy director of the Planning Department, told Richmond City Council that the city's code refresh project has moved from background analysis into drafting of the zoning ordinance and a draft zoning map.

The update matters because the code rewrite will replace the existing zoning ordinance citywide and implement the Richmond 300 master plan, setting district rules that affect building types, uses and potential density across neighborhoods.

Pitts said the project began in February 2024 and staff are now working on a draft ordinance, draft map and use tables. The team is delivering the work in modules: the current module covers districts, uses and the draft map; the next module, expected later this year, will address development standards such as landscaping, buffering, transitions and vehicle access requirements and administrative provisions for applying or seeking relief from requirements.

Pitts described outreach to date: two series of open houses, pop-ups, roundtables with stakeholders, panel discussions, "community ambassadors" to reach underrepresented groups and youth engagement at the Boys & Girls Club. She said a draft zoning map is available online and the city's Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC) is reviewing it; the consultant team is scheduled to be in town to support a concentrated round of public meetings at the end of the month. Pitts said staff will post a revised draft map at the end of the month to collect public input.

Councilmember Gibson said residents appreciated staff's presence at a recent district meeting and noted one specific neighborhood concern: a draft that briefly showed six-story heights on MacArthur Avenue had been reduced in the revised draft to three stories, a change residents welcomed. Gibson also urged that the zoning rewrite be coordinated with historic preservation work and with a clearly defined infrastructure plan to address increased density.

Pitts said the cultural heritage stewardship plan has been continued at the Planning Commission and moved to a subcommittee for deeper review; she also said staff will begin conversations this fall about options short of full local historic-district review, such as standards focused on new construction or demolition. On infrastructure, Pitts acknowledged the council's concern and said staff will continue to discuss how zoning changes relate to investments and capacity.

Pitts listed upcoming in-person engagement tied to the draft maps and draft use tables: an open house 4'7 p.m. at Southside Community Center; two sessions the following day at City Hall (9 a.m. to noon) and at the Main Library (4'7 p.m.), with equivalent online materials for those who cannot attend. She encouraged civic associations to request staff presentations.

Councilmember Robertson told staff she is volunteering to serve on the Zoning Advisory Council and said she has been meeting with staff to review districts in detail. Pitts said the draft map will be revised based on ZAC comments and reposted for public input.

Staff provided the project website and offered their contact information for councilmembers; Pitts gave the web address as rva.gov/coderefresh and said she could be reached by email and phone for follow-up.

The council did not take formal action on the code refresh at the meeting; Pitts said more community meetings and draft materials are expected in the coming weeks.