Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission adopts multi-item consent agenda with technical amendments and referrals
Summary
At a meeting in the 5th Floor Conference Room of City Hall, the Richmond City Planning Commission approved a multi-item consent agenda, adopted three staff-proposed technical amendments (including permitting outdoor dining at one site), withdrew two Hawthorne Avenue applications, and continued a Daytona Drive ordinance to March 3. (Abstention on item 15 noted.)
The Richmond City Planning Commission approved a broad consent agenda at a meeting held in person in the 5th Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Commissioners voted to recommend several special-use ordinances to City Council, adopt three staff-proposed textual amendments to consent items, withdraw two applications for 3618 Hawthorne Avenue, and continue another ordinance to the March 3 Planning Commission meeting.
Staff member Ms. Oliver told the commission that the amendments were technical and would not change project plans. For item 7 (ordinance 2026-019), staff proposed changing the description from “no more than 2 single family detached dwellings” to “no more than 1 single-family detached dwelling and 1 two-family dwelling” to reflect an existing two-family dwelling on site. On item 12, staff recommended removing a requirement to screen refuse collection with a six-foot fence because the trash pickup uses an existing location where such a fence would be prohibited in the historic district. For item 14 (ordinance 2026-026), staff proposed explicitly permitting outdoor dining on the project’s ground-floor patio.
During the public-comment portion, Janice Allen, who identified herself as president of the Historic Jackson Water Association, raised a late-submitted letter about item 6 (217 West Clay Street) and asked about a change to hours of outdoor dining. Ms. Oliver said the applicant agreed to amend operation times so outdoor dining would end at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and remain 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The applicant confirmed on the record they were comfortable with that change.
Commissioners first voted to withdraw two Hawthorne Avenue applications from the agenda — ordinance 2025-014 (special use for 3618 Hawthorne Avenue) and subdivision exception 2025-0003 under §25219 — and the withdrawals passed by roll call. The commission also approved a continuance for ordinance 2025-258 (6320–6340 Daytona Drive) to the March 3 Planning Commission meeting at the applicant’s request.
A motion to adopt the consent agenda with the staff-recommended amendments (and the additional outdoor-dining hours amendment for 217 West Clay Street) carried on roll-call votes. The clerk recorded affirmative votes and the commission recommended that items requiring City Council action be forwarded with a favorable recommendation; UDC-related items were referred or finalized as directed by staff. Commissioner Knight registered an abstention on item 15 specifically; the record otherwise shows the motion passed.
Staff closed with a brief council-action update: there was no City Council meeting because of weather-related cancellations (described as “snowmageddon”), and staff said two items remained on the Feb. 17 council agenda, including a Sankofa community orchard land item and a planning commissioner refresher. The commission adjourned with no further business.
What happened next: Items requiring council approval were forwarded to City Council for consideration; UDC item 22 was referred to the Feb. 12 UDC meeting and UDC item 23 received final LCE review approval as noted by staff.
