Richmond commission approves Spirit Drive zoning change, adopts police policies and approves hires, appointments

The Richmond City Board of Commissioners on March 3, 2025 approved a mix of land-use decisions, personnel actions and policy adoptions, including a contested zoning change for a Spirit Drive parcel and the adoption of two Richmond Police Department policies addressing officer-involved incidents and wellness.

The most contested item was Ordinance 25‑O‑3, a second reading that changes a 2.8‑acre parcel on Spirit Drive (deed book 830, page 669) from B‑3 (highway business) to R‑3 (multifamily residential). The board adopted the recommendation of the Richmond Planning and Zoning Commission and passed the ordinance 4–1; Commissioner Newby voted no. The planning commissionrecord shows it held a hearing on Dec. 18, 2024 and adopted written findings of fact recommending the change.

Other land‑use items were introduced on first reading and will return for final votes on subsequent agendas: Ordinance 25‑O‑7 (corner of Barnes Mill Road and Robbins Drive, Greenway Heights; 0.68 acres; applicant: Peyton Holmes LLC) and Ordinance 25‑O‑8 (818 Barns Mill Road; 1.58 acres; applicant: Van Winkle Real Estate Holdings LLC). At the March 3 meeting commissioners asked basic questions about unit counts and traffic; transcript notes indicate the Barnes Mill proposal would include about seven units and the 818 Barns Mill proposal about 18 units.

On departmental and personnel items, the board:

- Promoted a Richmond Police Department officer to…