The Richmond City Commission held a meeting on August 20, 2025, addressing multiple agenda items including zoning map amendments, a proposed Chipotle restaurant, new use classifications for wedding venues and shooting ranges, a resident-led rezoning request, and updates on industrial development and infrastructure. Key decisions were made on zoning changes and new conditional use definitions.
Zone Map Amendment for MBR Properties (Heath Street and Estel Avenue): The applicant, Mike Rice (MBR Properties), requested a rezoning from B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to I-1 (Light Industrial) for a 0.23-acre lot at the corner of Heath and Estel. The property is currently vacant and planned for light industrial warehousing. Staff noted that I-1 setbacks (25 feet) and minimum building site (1 acre) would limit future development, potentially requiring a variance. The amendment was approved unanimously (6-0).
Chipotle Restaurant Proposal (adjacent to 859 Eastern Bypass): Representatives presented a plan for a Chipotle with a drive-up window in an existing parking lot. Commissioner Perkins raised concerns about traffic flow, safety, and parking on both sides of the drive aisle, suggesting the parking area adjacent to the bypass should have a single entrance/exit. Staff argued the plan meets all development ordinance regulations and that the drive aisle remains unchanged. No formal action was taken; the item was considered ministerial and will proceed to plan review.
Zone Determination for Wedding Venue (116 Miller Drive): The owner sought a use classification for a wedding/event venue on a historic 4-acre residential property. Staff proposed adding "social assembly" as a conditional use in the zoning ordinance to cover wedding venues, birthday parties, and similar events. After discussion, the commission voted to approve social assembly as a conditional use in all zoning districts except I-1, I-2, mobile home parks (MPs), planned unit developments (PUDs), professional office (P1), and agricultural (AG). The motion passed 4-2 (Commissioners Miller and Miles dissenting).
Zone Determination for Shooting Range: A business owner in a B-3 (Highway Business) zone requested a use classification for an indoor shooting range. Staff recommended allowing shooting ranges as a conditional use in B-3 and I-1 zones, noting that I-2 (Industrial Park) would be inappropriate due to existing covenants. The commission approved shooting ranges as a conditional use in B-3 and I-1 zones unanimously (6-0).
Baker Court Rezoning Request: Approximately eight to nine residents on Baker Court requested a rezoning from R-2 (Medium Density Residential) to R-1 (Low Density Residential) to prevent future high-density rentals. The commission agreed to proceed with official applications, requiring each resident to sign a formal application, similar to a previous process on High Street.
Other Business:
Approval of July the 16th, 225 minutes. So I get a motion on it, please. Make the motion. I make a motion. We approve the uh July 16, 2025 minutes. Second. Okay. Commissioner Francis. Yes. Commissioner Sorry? Yes. Commissioner Miller? Yes. Commissioner Perkins. Yes. Commissioner Miles. Yes. Commissioner South. Yes. Next on the agenda is a zone map amendment for MBR properties, property located at the corner of Heath Street and Estel Avenue. Currently zone B1 parole zone I one. Representative here for them. Yes, sir. Good. Um we have filed a uh application for a zoning map amendment. They've already got it pulled up here. This is a lot that my client MBR representative Mike Rice is here on. Uh the lot is currently uh B1. He's looking to have it reclass to I one. Uh just for point of reference on that corner of Heath and Estel. He also owns the properties that are all adjacent to it on the back side uh through his company. Um and that's really the long and short of it. That's a I'm sure everyone's familiar with it. It's a fairly industrial area of town. I think his plan would be to do some light industrial warehousing, something along those pl those lines. There's not a set plan yet for that exactly, but that's that's what our uh applications for now is that the property that uh Mike had the storage unit, those storage for vehicles and stuff, or is it across the street from there? I'm not sure. Mike, can you as shown there? Mr. Estel is the that's when the concrete plant owned it. It had a lot of pick you up for the record. It's right on the corner. I made a trade with them, and I owned a lot on the other side. They needed it, and I needed this one. And it touches those other four properties I have. So we have cleaned it all now, so that's not updated. Okay, but there's never been anything there. Stuff they had parked there in the past 20 years probably. Okay. Kevin, you got anything.