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Commission backs special‑use permit for infill housing on North 34th Street
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended City Council approve a special‑use permit allowing two duplexes, a single‑family dwelling and an apartment-over-garage at 1300/1302 North 34th Street (total up to five units on 0.18 acres); staff recommended approval after neighborhood outreach and a developer agreement to improve an alley curb per a nearby resident's request.
The Richmond Planning Commission voted to forward a special‑use permit recommendation to City Council for properties at 1300 and 1302 North 34th Street that would authorize two two‑family detached dwellings, two single‑family detached dwellings and one dwelling unit above a garage.
Principal Planner Jonathan Brown said the properties lie in the Church Hill North neighborhood and are designated neighborhood mixed use under the Richmond 300 master plan. Staff summarized the proposal: retain two existing single‑family attached dwellings and construct two two‑family detached dwellings plus a three‑bay garage building with an apartment above, for a total proposed density of seven units per 0.18 acres (about 39 units per acre in project terms). Staff recommended approval, noting conditions about elevations, landscaping, screening of mechanical equipment and required easements and recording prior to building permits.
Marissa Perez of Baker Development Resources represented the applicant; she described the project as high‑quality infill consistent with Richmond 300 and said the team conducted neighborhood outreach with the Churchill Central neighborhood association. The applicant said they accommodated a nearby resident's (Mr. Babich) request to improve the alley and expand the alley apron; the developer (Mark Baker) answered technical questions about lot widths, setbacks and how garages/units will be configured.
Commissioners sought clarification on lot division, easement arrangements for trash and maintenance access, and how the building massing will appear from the street; staff and the applicant described the design intent to read as single‑family units from public fronts while providing additional density.
At the close of the hearing the commission voted to recommend approval of the special‑use permit (Ordinance 2026-061) and the item will be forwarded to City Council with staff's recommendations and conditions.
