Richmond City Council Land Use Committee Meeting - March 17, 2026
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Richmond City Council Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Meeting - March 17, 2026
The committee met on March 17, 2026, starting at approximately 10:00 AM. The meeting included a public hearing on an honorary street designation, a continuation vote, and a preview of the next meeting's agenda. The meeting was brief and orderly.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Martin Gary spoke in support of designating the 2300 block of Barton Avenue in honor of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. He highlighted her pioneering role as the "godmother of rock and roll," her influence on artists like Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix, and her ownership of 2306 Barton Avenue in Richmond from 1948. He noted her home served as her base of operations and a place for relaxation and arranging music, and that an honorary street sign would bring attention to Richmond's rich musical history. He urged support for the measure.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Resolution 2026 R003 – A motion was made to continue this item to the April 21, 2026, Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee meeting. The motion passed unanimously (Mr. Breton and Chair Jones voting aye).
- Item 2: Ordinance 2026 056 – This paper proposes designating the 2300 block of Barton Avenue in honor of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The public hearing was held, with no one speaking in opposition. No speakers signed up prior to the 10:00 AM deadline. The committee then voted to forward the ordinance to the full City Council with a recommendation to approve. The motion passed (Mr. Breton and Chair Jones voting aye).
Staff Report & Future Agenda
- Sophie McGinley, Council Chief of Staff Office, provided a preview for the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026. That meeting will include two presentations: one from the Greater Richmond Transit Company and one from the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 2026 R003 was continued to the April 21, 2026, committee meeting.
- Ordinance 2026 056 (honorary street designation for Sister Rosetta Tharpe) was recommended for approval by the full City Council.
- The meeting adjourned with no further business.
Meeting Transcript
No, no, no, no. I think that's your best. You provide the chamber emergency evacuation plan. Upon activation of the Merlin C alarm signal, all persons should immediately exit the building. Please use the exit to the left, right, or front of the council chamber, or either west there, outside of the rear doors of the chamber. Do not use elevators or escalators. Persons wishing to speak during the public comment period and or public hearings are generally allowed three minutes to speak. Persons appearing before the committee are now allowed to campaign for public office, promote private business ventures. The committee is voting on the motion to continue item one resolution 2026 R003 to the April 21st, 2026, land use housing and transportation and standing committee meeting. Mr. Breton. Aye. Chair Jones. Aye. That motion has been approved. Thank you. Paper number two. Item two, ordinance 2026 056 to designate the 2300 block of Barton Avenue in honor of Sister Rosetta Thart. That paper is before the committee. Is there anyone that would like to provide a comment? Please approach the podium and state your name for the record. My name is Martin Gary. She is known as the godmother of rock and roll. Her unique gospel, jazz and blues influences combined to what we now know as rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Her explosive stage presence and pioneering electric guitar influence Chuck Berry, who stole a lot of her stage moves and some of her music. The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and countless others. She lived in Richmond during the height of her career. She purchased 2306 Barton Avenue in 1948 for $7500, and it served as her base of operations and a place where she could relax between the touring and get her arrangements and uh music sorted out. It provided easy access to her recordings in Ashville as well as touring throughout the country. She was a celebrity celebrity to her neighbors, and uh for good reason. She had a lavishly uh expanded interior, and she had a three-car garage that served as a temporary shed for her horse. She also had a cedar lined outbuilding that uh housed all of her costumes, dresses, and accessories. This is a rich story that more people would like knowing. If you know of her connection to Richmond, and an honorary street sign would bring attention to Richmond's rich musical history. Uh encourage you to support this measure. Thanks for your uh consideration. Thank you. Do we have anyone online or signed up? No, ma'am. Is there any um one that would like to speak in opposition of item two? Seeing none, the public hearing is not closed, bring it back to the committee, and there was no one that signed up prior to the 10 a.m. deadline. Well, I move that we um recommend this paper for approval. Second. The committee is voting on the motion to forward item two ordinance 2026 056. Do council with the recommendation to approve Mr. Britton. Aye. Chair Jones, that motion has been approved. Thank you.
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