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Planning Commission approves conceptual review of Brown’s Island improvement plan
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Summary
The commission approved UDC 2025‑05, advancing the Brown’s Island improvement plan (focused on five zones of public amenities) to final review with staff conditions for art integration, stormwater and ADA details.
The Richmond City Planning Commission voted to approve the conceptual location, character and extent review of the Brown’s Island Improvement Plan (UDC 2025‑05), advancing the proposal to the final review stage with conditions staff identified.
Planning staff described the project as a significant city parks improvement, noting the commission had sent an earlier version to UDC in 2019 and that the applicant narrowed the scope to focus improvements on the island itself. “This is a huge project,” Kevin Costanza, planner with the Department of Planning and Development Review, said when introducing the application.
Why it matters: Brown’s Island is a prominent public riverfront park bordered by Tredegar Street, the Manchester Bridge and the James River. The proposal would reconfigure several island zones to add visitor amenities while responding to cost, safety and environmental constraints.
What the plan includes and staff conditions - Scope and changes from 2019: The applicant reduced the number of target zones from seven to five and removed previously proposed Tredegar Street improvements and the Sturgeon Cove element to focus work on the island itself. The design team shifted a pavilion previously sited under the Manchester Bridge westward to meet VDOT requirements. - Key island features: The plan’s Zone 1 (“The Lookout”) includes a widened approach to Potterfield Bridge, a welcome plaza, permanent restrooms, vendor kiosks and seating (including bleacher‑style seat walls and trellis swings). Haxall Canal and adjacent gardens would be enhanced with seating, lighting, public art and landscape improvements. Zone 3 (“The Point”) would rework a stair terrace near the Seventh Street pedestrian bridge into deck terraces with shade structures and an interactive water feature, an embankment slide and nature play elements with an ADA‑accessible path. Zone 4 (River Terraces and Great Lawn) would include hardscape terraces, a widened esplanade for event vendors and sculptural seating. Zone 5 (Manchester Breezeway) would convert the area beneath the Manchester Bridge into a permeable‑paver plaza and a flex pavilion for events. - Staff conditions for final review: staff recommended addressing public art integration, detailed stormwater management, wayfinding signage, building materials, ADA accommodations, micro‑modal features (bike parking) and consideration of public showers in the final submission.
Applicant and project team City Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities submitted the application with design consultant Andrea Almond (3 North) and Venture Richmond on the project team. Ryan Rinn (City Parks) and Andrea Almond were present to answer questions. The applicant indicated they expect to submit final review materials in the coming months.
Action and vote The commission voted in the affirmative on the conceptual review and recorded the motion as passed by roll call. No public speakers registered on the item during the hearing.
What’s next: The applicant will return with final review materials addressing the staff conditions for detailed review and permitting.
