Richmond Planning Commission Meeting - April 8, 2026

Note on Date Discrepancy: The official meeting minutes list the meeting date as Tuesday, April 7, 2026. However, the user instruction specifies the meeting took place on April 8, 2026. This summary uses the latter date as instructed, but the discrepancy is noted.

The Richmond Planning Commission met on April 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall's 5th Floor Conference Room. Chair Poole presided. The meeting covered a consent agenda and two regular agenda items related to special/conditional use permits. All items were recommended for approval to City Council. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 PM.

Consent Calendar

• ORD. 2026-062 – Special use for 3313 Ellwood Avenue to allow up to one two-family detached dwelling and one dwelling unit in an accessory structure. Unanimously recommended for approval.
• UDC 2026-05 – Concept review of Bryan Park dam removal and stream restoration at 4308 Hermitage Road. Referred to the April 16, 2026 Urban Design Committee meeting.

The consent agenda was adopted unanimously with 7 ayes (Commissioner McKenzie joined mid-agenda).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the consent agenda hearing.
• No public speakers for Regular Agenda Item 6 (nightclub).
• For Regular Agenda Item 7 (special use on 34th Street), staff noted a letter of opposition from a nearby resident (Mr. Babick), but no one spoke in person or virtually.

Discussion Items

Item 6 – ORD. 2026-060 (110 North 18th Street – Nightclub Conditional Use)

• Applicant Vinny Venuti sought a conditional use permit for Dream House, a cabaret theater in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood. The permit would allow operation past midnight (up to 2 AM Wednesday through Sunday) and sale of alcohol after midnight, meeting the city’s nightclub definition.
• Staff recommended approval, noting consistency with Richmond 300’s “destination mixed-use” designation. A key condition is a 548-day (18-month) probationary period; if no ABC or zoning violations occur, the applicant may amend to remove the condition.
• Commissioners questioned inconsistencies between the management plan (stating occasional late events) and the ordinance (allowing regular 2 AM hours). Staff clarified that the ordinance’s hours section (12 midnight to 2 AM) overrides the management plan via a “notwithstanding” clause.
• Mr. Venuti emphasized that Dream House is part of a community safety initiative (“Shockoe Shine”) and that he intends to serve only wine and beer, maintain security, and operate responsibly. He expressed need for occasional late hours (e.g., New Year’s Eve) without repeated permit amendments.
• Commissioner White recused himself (1 recusal), Commissioner Robertson abstained (1 abstention). The motion carried 5 ayes (Knight, Poole, Greenfield, McKenzie, Rowe) and was recommended for approval.

Item 7 – ORD. 2026-061 (1300 & 1302 North 34th Street – Special Use Permit)

• The applicant sought a special use permit to retain two existing single-family attached dwellings and construct two two-family detached dwellings and a garage with an apartment above, totaling seven units on 0.18 acres (39 units/acre). The property is zoned R-5 (single-family residential), which does not permit two-family uses or for-rent garages.
• Staff found the proposal aligns with Richmond 300’s “neighborhood mixed-use” designation and would not be detrimental to the community.
• Commissioner White questioned lot dimensions and access easements. The applicant’s representative (Marisa Perez) and Mark Baker explained that lot widths would vary (21–22 feet) and that easements would be recorded during subdivision. They noted that the parking alley would be improved per a neighbor’s request.
• A letter of opposition from a nearby resident cited parking and density concerns. The applicant responded that on-street parking is ample and that the density is respectful of the neighborhood context.
• The motion to recommend approval passed unanimously (8 ayes).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 4 and 5): Approved unanimously; Item 5 referred to UDC.
• Item 6 (Nightclub, 110 N. 18th St.): Recommended to City Council with a 5-0-1-1 vote (5 ayes, 1 abstention, 1 recusal).
• Item 7 (Special Use, 1300-1302 N. 34th St.): Recommended to City Council unanimously (8 ayes).
• Council Action Update: The Secretary reported on March 23 City Council actions, including adopted special use permits and a continued item. Two new special use permits and one amendment are expected on the April 21 agenda.
• Director’s Report: None provided.
• Minutes Approvals: Minutes from July 1, 2025, July 15, 2025 (Commissioner White abstained), and March 17, 2026 were approved.