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Planning commission recommends approval of special-use permit for 13 attached garages at Crenshaw Mews
Summary
The Richmond Planning Commission voted to forward ordinance 20-26-102 to city council with a recommendation of approval for a special-use permit allowing up to 13 attached garages at 3415 French Chalmers Alley; staff said the conditions meet master-plan safeguards and the applicant emphasized neighborhood outreach and modern, larger garage design.
The Richmond Planning Commission on the evening forwarded ordinance 20-26-102 to city council with a recommendation to authorize a special-use permit for 3415 French Chalmers Alley to allow up to 13 attached garages.
Staff presenter Mr. Brown told commissioners the property sits in an R-6 single-family attached residential district and the master plan designates the site as neighborhood mixed use; because the applicant intends to allow some garage use by residents who do not live on the same block, a special-use permit and two waivers are required. "Staff concludes that the proposed ordinance conditions substantially satisfy the safeguards established in the city charter concerning the granting of special use permits," the presenter said.
Sid Shuff of Baker Development Resources, representing the property owner, described the proposal as a response to neighborhood feedback and modern parking needs. He said the plan retains 10 existing parking spaces in an easement, would subdivide each garage for individual sale or rental, and requests a height waiver to permit 16-foot garages so lofted storage can be included. "These garages are larger, purposely designed for vehicles as you can expect with a modern garage and accommodate typical household storage," Shuff said.
Commissioners asked about material choices, parking counts and how the proposal differs from the prior 2021 approval for dwellings at the site. Shuff said setbacks would be modest to provide aprons for maneuverability and that gravel improvements to Crenshaw Alley would be completed as part of the site plan review. Staff noted there were some letters of opposition but recommended approval based on conformance with the master plan and the ordinance conditions.
After a brief discussion, the commission voted to recommend approval and forward the ordinance to city council. The recommendation means the project will next undergo further scrutiny at final site-plan and permitting stages where materials, exact dimensions and construction details will be examined.
The commission’s action is advisory; city council will make the final decision on the ordinance.
