Land Use Committee forwards floodplain ordinance and VDOT grant request; strikes photo-speed resolution

The Richmond City Land Use Committee on an uncontested vote recommended that City Council approve an updated floodplain ordinance aligned with the latest FEMA flood insurance study, and also recommended approval of the city’s VDOT revenue-sharing application totaling $10 million for fiscal years 2027–28.

The committee advanced three ordinances to council: Ordinance 2025-104 (floodplain ordinance), Ordinance 2025-105 (designating the 300 block of N. 32nd Street in honor of Reverend Dr. Edward Daniel McCreary Jr.) and Ordinance 2025-106 (designating the 2100 block of Edwards Avenue in honor of Harold Thomas). The committee also approved forwarding Resolution 2025-R18, the city’s application supporting $10 million in VDOT revenue-sharing funds. By separate vote the committee struck Resolution 2024-R041, which had expressed support for study and installation of photo-speed monitoring devices.

Janae Prevostoy, engineering services, Water Resources Division, Department of Public Utilities, told the committee that the updated FEMA Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) use more sophisticated hydrologic and hydraulic models and improved terrain data and that, by law, adoption of a local ordinance reflecting the updated maps is required for continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Prevostoy said, "Flooding is the number 1 natural disaster in The United States," and warned that failure to adopt the ordinance could jeopardize NFIP coverage for Richmond property owners.

Kara (Department of Public Works) presented the VDOT revenue-sharing request and said Richmond applied for the maximum allowable share across two fiscal years: $5 million in FY27 and $5 million in FY28. The submission identifies four projects with funding gaps, including Jefferson Avenue and Brooklyn Park Boulevard phase 2; the resolution asks council to proceed with the pre-application to meet the state deadline.

On the photo speed monitoring resolution, staff presented a cost analysis showing that adding high-risk intersection segment (HRIS) enforcement beyond the existing 26 school-zone cameras would require a separate procurement and substantial up-front funds. Staff estimated roughly $864,000 per year for an illustrative six-school expansion and said, as currently structured by state law, citation revenue for HRIS does not return to the city. Councilmembers moved and approved a motion to strike the resolution after the cost and contract limits were discussed.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-104 (floodplain update): motion forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve. Recorded roll-call: Brunson — Aye; Vice Chair Robertson — (roll not read); Chair Jones — Aye; motion approved by the committee. - Ordinance 2025-105 (N. 32nd Street designation): forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve; committee vote recorded in favor. - Ordinance 2025-106 (Edwards Avenue designation): forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve; committee vote recorded in favor. - Resolution 2024-R041 (photo-speed monitoring study/installation): motion to strike the resolution carried by committee vote; the paper was removed from the committee’s docket. - Resolution 2025-R18 (VDOT revenue-sharing application, $10 million): forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve.

The committee held public hearings for the papers and reported no in‑chamber public testimony in opposition on the ordinance and resolution items that went to vote. The committee did not adopt any ordinance or appropriation itself; it forwarded recommendations to the full council for final action.

The committee’s actions will appear on a future council docket for final votes; staff told members that certain actions (notably the floodplain ordinance) must be adopted before FEMA maps become effective to preserve NFIP eligibility.