Plan commission recommends rezoning of East National Road site for commercial entertainment use

The Richmond Advisory Plan Commission on May 27 recommended that Richmond City Council approve a rezoning that would let an existing business expand at 6412 East National Road.

Planning staff presented ordinance 18206, a petition by owner Daryl Kger and agent Katrina Anne to change the parcel’s zoning from Institutional to General Commercial. Staff described the property as a 39,200‑square‑foot mixed‑use commercial structure with an associated residential dwelling and said the site has most recently hosted events such as wrestling, live music and arcade activity. The application was referred to the commission by the Richmond Common Council.

Louis Keane, who said he will operate the site under a lease‑purchase agreement with the owner, told the commission he plans to expand his existing Uranus business and convert the property into a family‑entertainment destination with features such as mini golf, a restaurant and a museum element. "We're just trying to build something fun... and we've hired seven people," Keane said, describing local hiring and ongoing engineering work on stormwater and fueling‑station infrastructure.

Staff recommended approval, concluding the proposed commercial use aligns with the Richmond Rising community action plan and the character of the nearby commercial corridor. Zoning administrator Jeran Broker told the commission city departments and utilities raised no health‑or‑safety objections to the rezoning application.

Commissioners moved and seconded the recommendation; the roll call vote was 8–0 in favor. The commission’s vote is advisory and will be forwarded with a positive recommendation to Richmond City Council, which has final authority to adopt or deny the ordinance.