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Richmond BZA approves ‘Nana Pod’ accessory dwelling for Winburns with occupancy condition
Summary
The Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special-exception accessory dwelling at 432 S. 22nd St. for Martell and Shannon Winburn, accepting staff findings and two written commitments including a revised occupancy condition that the unit 'shall not be occupied' until permits and final inspection are complete.
Richmond — On Oct. 25 the Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve a special-exception accessory dwelling unit for Martell and Shannon Winburn at 432 South 22nd Street, according to the record.
The petitioners described the structure as a secondary residential unit they called the "Nana Pod." "We affectionately refer to that as the Nana Pod," one petitioner said, adding the unit would be about 512 square feet (16 by 32 feet) and that "all the utilities will be tied into that of the primary residence." Staff recommended approval, saying the city's Unified Development Ordinance was updated in 2023 to allow accessory dwellings in R-2 zoning by special exception and that the proposal met the ordinance's findings of fact.
The board approved the petition with two written commitments. The record shows the commitments require that the accessory dwelling not be occupied until general remodel permits are approved and final inspection is completed by the Richmond City building official, and that the accessory dwelling be set back at least 45 feet from the southeast property line. A board member moved—and the petitioner and staff accepted—a wording change changing the first commitment from "may not be occupied" to "shall not be occupied," language the chair noted is operative in code.
Two adjacent property owners responded to notice: Paul and Adelina Bain (420 S. 20th Street) submitted opposition, saying they believed an accessory dwelling would devalue the neighborhood; Timothy and Jan Tyler (424 S. 22nd Street) filed a letter of no objection. The board's staff report also described the property's lot and zoning context and concluded the ADU would be a low-impact use compatible with the traditional neighborhood character.
A motion to approve BZA 20-2025, based on the staff findings and the two written commitments (with the revised wording), was made, seconded and passed. The roll-call vote recorded Jeff Cook, Rob Tidrow, Sayward Salazar and Nathan Sheets voting "aye." The motion passed as recorded in the meeting minutes.
Next steps: the written commitments recorded in the public record will be enforced through the city's permit and inspection process; the transcript shows no additional appeals or conditions beyond those two commitments were added at the hearing.
