Commissioners hear first reading on rezoning for 324 East Irvin Street; property owner seeks multifamily designation

The Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation to rezone 324 East Irvin Street to R‑3 multifamily apartments was presented to the Richmond City Board of Commissioners as Ordinance 25‑19 in a first reading.

Corey Isaacs, attorney for Great View Properties LLC, told the commission the parcel has been vacant for an extended period and the owner seeks to build apartments. "Very simply, we're asking to build apartments," Isaacs said, and he described multiple points of vehicle ingress and egress and proximity to other multifamily units near the site. The application asked to change roughly 0.93 acres from a current B‑2 (neighborhood business) classification to R‑3 (multifamily residential). Isaacs noted an adjacent 1.8‑acre parcel had title issues following a master commissioner sale and said his client would return for additional approvals if that parcel becomes available.

The ordinance summary presented to the commission states the planning and zoning commission held a public hearing on May 21, 2025, received testimony for and against the rezoning and voted to recommend approval; the board of commissioners adopted those written findings as its own for the first reading. Commissioners asked about the likely unit count and parking; Isaacs said specific unit numbers will be returned for approval after site plan and parking requirements are developed, and he cautioned the small lot size limits the number of units.

This matter was advanced as a first reading; the mayor said a second reading will occur at the commission's next regular meeting. No final rezoning vote was taken tonight.