Council gives first reading to ordinance to streamline site-plan review for private special events

The Richmond City Council introduced and gave first reading to an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would change how the city reviews site plans for temporary and special-event uses.

City Manager summarized that planning staff and the planning commission recommended allowing events held entirely on private property — examples cited included Moer Fest and certain business events — to be reviewed administratively rather than requiring planning commission site-plan review, which can delay applicants when the commission meets only monthly. He emphasized that events using public property, such as street closures or park use, would still come to the council under the charter.

A councilmember noted a typo in the ordinance draft but said the motion as presented was correct. The council voted to introduce and give first reading to ordinance 156-36 (the text referenced both 156-35 and 156-36; the draft contains a typographical inconsistency the council flagged). No substantive amendments were adopted at first reading; further consideration will follow the city's ordinance process.

The move aligns the written zoning code with current administrative practice, according to the city manager, and aims to reduce scheduling delays for private events that do not use public property.