Commission defers vote on Snead Road multifamily proposal after staff recommends denial; applicant and councilwoman seek infrastructure solution

The Planning Commission voted to defer action on a proposed multi‑family housing development on Snead Road to the June 3 meeting after a lengthy public hearing in which staff recommended denial and the applicant appealed to the city’s affordable‑housing priorities.

Jonathan Brown (staff) presented the request for a special‑use permit to allow multi‑family housing on roughly 10.5 acres in the Piney Knowles neighborhood. The applicant sought authorization for a three‑story garden‑style complex with up to 80 (and in places the staff packet references 180) units and a clubhouse, with no more than 270 parking spaces and conditions requiring new sidewalks and a crosswalk to J.L. Francis Elementary School if right‑of‑way acquisition permitted. Brown told commissioners staff recommended denial, citing inconsistency with the Richmond 300 master plan’s “Residential” designation, the site’s distance from transit and services, constrained pedestrian access, wetlands and an unusually shaped site that produces cul‑de‑sacs and dead‑end drives. Staff expressed concern that the proposal would create an abrupt and inappropriate intensification for a predominantly single‑family area and would increase car dependency and transportation costs for future residents.

Preston Lloyd, counsel for applicant Lawson Companies, argued the proposal addresses an urgent housing need in the Ninth District and said Lawson has extensive experience developing affordable housing. “Supply, supply, supply is the answer,” Lloyd told commissioners, urging the body to balance master‑plan analysis with the city’s declared housing emergency.

Ninth‑district Councilwoman Jones told the commission she has been working with the applicant and city staff and expressed concern about timing and infrastructure. She said the Ninth District already has projects in the pipeline and urged a partnership approach: Lawson offered a contribution and the city’s Department of Public Works agreed to a $100,000 feasibility study to scope improvements; DPW director described potential costs in the millions for full road, sidewalk and utility upgrades to bring Snead Road to a complete‑streets standard.

Public comment included supporters who emphasized the need for affordable units and neighbors who expressed concerns about scale, floodplain/wetland constraints, pedestrian safety and parking. Staff said it had received letters of support but still recommended denial because the plan’s intensity, layout and location did not match the city’s guidance for where higher‑density housing should be sited.

After discussion the applicant requested a 30‑day deferral to pursue further coordination with Councilwoman Jones, DPW and staff on infrastructure timing and commitments; the commission granted the deferral to the June 3 meeting by unanimous roll call vote.

A key outstanding issue is whether the city can coordinate right‑of‑way acquisition and CIP funding in a timeframe that aligns with the applicant’s financing and tax‑credit cycles. Staff flagged the site’s wetlands and irregular lot geometry as constraints that limit ideal street‑grid connectivity and pedestrian access. The deferral instructs the applicant and city departments to pursue a feasibility path and return to the commission with clearer infrastructure commitments or revised plans.