Planning Commission forwards multiple ordinances, vacates and UDC reviews to City Council; several items continued to April and May

The Richmond City Planning Commission on an adopted consent agenda forwarded a package of vacate ordinances and several Unified Development Code (UDC) reviews to City Council and agreed to continue several special‑use requests to later meetings.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the consent agenda, forwarding a set of ordinances — including requests to vacate portions of plats under Virginia Code §15.2‑2272 and multiple UDC location, character and extent reviews — to the City Council for final action. The planning staff notified adjacent property owners where legislative changes were proposed and recommended approval of several UDC items with conditions in staff reports.

Why it matters: The consent agenda includes property vacates and reviews that enable development or reclassification of parcels in established neighborhoods. A single vote advanced multiple items to City Council for final consideration, consolidating what would otherwise be separate hearings.

Key details and outcomes - Continuances: The commission continued several active special‑use/rezoning applications: ordinance 2024‑312 (special use for 7100 Jank Road) was continued to the May 6 meeting; ordinance 2025‑048 (2701 Garland Avenue, proposed adult transitional housing and repeal of a 1997 ordinance) and a related Westwood Avenue community unit plan amendment were continued to April 15; multiple Snead Road multifamily applications (including ordinance 2025‑025 covering 5009 Rear Snead Road and related addresses for up to 180 multifamily units) were continued to April 15. Commissioners encouraged members of the public who came for those items to return on the new dates. - Consent agenda: Items forwarded to Council included vacate ordinances for portions of the Oxford Edenton Terrace subdivision (addresses referencing East Weyburn Road and Sherbrooke Road), an amendment to a prior special use for 1807 Harwood Street (to revise plans), a special use at 1822 Ingram Avenue for up to two single‑family detached dwellings, a special use at 2527 Stewart Avenue for a food and beverage service establishment, and several UDC reviews for Reed Elementary, Woodville Elementary, two Shaco Valley projects, and Amelia Street School that staff recommended either adoptatory action or referral to UDC depending on the case. The staff report explained that two UDC items (Reed and Woodville elementary school projects) had been reviewed by UDC and were being returned with recommendations. - Public comment: An online commenter, Tangy Terry, spoke against the Weyburn/Oxford vacate (UDC/ordinance 2025‑044) on environmental and neighborhood‑character grounds. Tangy Terry said the open area provides habitat for deer and foxes and expressed concerns that removing reserved lots could increase vehicle‑wildlife collisions and affect neighborhood diversity. Staff explained that the lots were originally reserved when the area was platted (cited as a 1962 plat) and that removal of a reserved designation requires the legislative process underway before the commission; if removed the underlying R‑2 zoning would apply and lots could be developed consistent with R‑2 standards.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: Adopted; motion passed by roll call. Commissioners present voted aye; staff noted an abstention from two specific consent items (items 12 and 13) as recorded in the meeting. Ordinances and UDC items were forwarded to City Council per staff recommendations. (See actions[] for per‑item references.)

What’s next: Continued matters will return to the Planning Commission on April 15 (multiple items) and May 6 (Jank Road). Items forwarded on the consent agenda will appear on a future City Council agenda for final action.