Nice to see you all.

Please give the electronic notice, Madam Secretary.

This meeting is being held in person in the fifth floor conference room of City Hall while staff and a quorum of planning commissioners are attending the meeting in person.

Citizens may choose to participate in the meeting virtually.

All written comments that were received by email prior to 12 p.m.

today have been provided to the planning commissioners in advance of the meeting.

During the public comment period, speakers will be asked to limit their comments to three minutes for an individual or five minutes of representing a group.

Thank you very much.

For purposes of establishing a quorum, please call the roll.

Mr.

Poole?

Here.

Yeah.

Miss Rowe?

Here.

Mr.

White?

Here.

And then Mr.

McKenzie.

We do have a quorum.

Very much.

We have some minutes.

Starting with July 1 of 2025.

Is there a motion?

Move to approve.

Second.

Any discussion.

So July 1 2025.

Mr.

Poole?

Aye.

Greenfield.

Aye.

Miss Knight?

Aye.

Ms.

Robertson.

Aye.

Miss Rowe.

Aye.

And Mr.

White?

Aye.

Okay.

Motion passes and those minutes are approved.

July 15th of 2025.

Is there a motion?

Approval.

Second.

Any discussion.

Question.

We're voting on approval of the July 15th, 2025 minutes of the planning commission.

Please call the roll.

Mr.

Pool.

Aye.

Snake.

Aye.

Ms.

Robertson.

Aye.

Miss Rowe.

Aye.

And Mr.

White.

Abstain.

That motion passes and those minutes are approved.

Finally, we have March 17th of 2026.

Is there a motion?

Second.

Any discussion.

Follow the question.

We're voting on approval of March 17th, 2026 meeting.

Minutes.

Please call the roll.

Mr.

Poole.

Aye.

Ms.

Greenfield.

Aye.

Ms.

Knight?

Ms.

Robertson.

Aye.

Ms.

Rowe.

Aye.

Mr.

White?

Aye.

And that motion passes and those minutes are approved.

Mr.

Manti, do you have a director's report?

No.

Well, right.

Uh, are there continuances or deletions?

We have none.

Could you please present the consent agenda?

So for the consent agenda, we have item four ordinance 2026-062.

This is an ordinance to authorize the special use of the property known as 3313 Elwood Avenue for the purpose of up to one two-family detached dwelling in one dwelling unit within an accessory structure upon certain terms and conditions.

Item five, UDC 202605.

This is the concept location, character, and extent review of Bryan Park Dam removal and stream restoration located at 4308 Hermitage Road.

And this is to be referred to the April 16th UDC meeting.

Questions from members of the commission.

I'll open a public hearing and ask if there's any member of the public present or online who wishes to speak to the consent agenda.

Anyone online?

I am seeing no one online.

Is there any member of the public who wishes to speak in opposition to the items on the consent agenda?

I'll close the public hearing and bring it back to the commission and ask there's a motion on the consent agenda.

Move to approve.

Okay.

Discussion.

Question, we're voting on approval of the consent agenda as presented.

Particularly with the UDC getting item number five.

Please call the roll.

Ms.

Pool.

Aye.

Miss Greenfield.

Aye.

Ms.

Knight?

Aye.

Ms.

Robertson.

Aye.

Ms.

Rowe?

Mr.

White?

Aye.

Mr.

McKenzie, would you like to vote on the consent agenda?

Aye.

Okay, thank you.

That motion passes.

The UDC item will come back to you guys and ordinance 062 will be boarded to city council with recommendation for approval.

Thank you very much.

We could present the first item on the regular agenda.

Um item six, ordinance 2026-060.

This is an ordinance to authorize the conditional use of the property known as 110 North 18th Street for the purpose of a night club upon certain terms and conditions.

And um Madison is going to be giving us a staff presentation on that.

Evening everyone.

Hey, how are you?

It's been a minute.

So we're going to be talking about ordinance uh the 2026-uh sixty.

This is for 110 North 18th Street for a conditional use permit.

Uh so the site um is in Shaco Bottom neighborhood.

It is uh 5,009 through 20 and a half square feet.

And the current use is a restaurant and performing arts in cabaret theater known as Dream House.

Um the existing context of the site, it was previously operated as a sports bar and restaurant.

Uh the new tenant has opened a cabaret theater uh with the sale of alcohol and food.

Uh, the proposal is to operate until midnight most evenings with occasional events that will run past midnight.

Um, the applicant seeks a conditional use permit to allow for sale of alcohol past midnight and events defined other night um under a nightclub use.

Uh here is the floor plan provided by the applicant.

Um, so to just to outline the definition of nightclub use, uh, nightclub means any establishment in which all of the following features are made available at any time between 12 midnight until 6 a.m.

Uh, this applicant does not intend to be open until 6 a.m.

That's just the definition of the nightclub.

Um alcoholic beverages served or consumed on premises between uh midnight and 6 a.m.

floor space provided for dancing or standing or for uh or both for patrons in conjunction with an entertainment activity provided that floor space utilized for patrons to view television or similar media shall not be construed to constitute floor space provided for dancing or standing, or both for patrons in conjunction with an entertainment activity and uh three music or other sound that is amplified through speakers for which the purpose of entertaining patrons except for the following sound associated with television or similar media being viewed by patrons and being needed provided exclusively as background entertainment for dining patrons.

In any case where the above features are only incidental to a private event, not open to the general public, such as a wedding reception, banquet, nonprofit event, or similar functions, such features shall not be construed to constitute a nightclub.

Um the Richmond 300 master plan designation is destination mixed use, uh, which is uh defined as key gateways featuring prominent destinations such as retail, sports venues, and large employers, as well as housing and open space uh located at the convergence of several modes of transportation, including the pulse BRT or other planned transit uh improvements.

Active commercial ground floor uses are required on street-oriented commercial frontages.

Uh the intensity is minimum five stories typically, and primary uses are retail, office, personal service, multifamily residential, uh cultural and open space, and secondary uses are institutional and government.

Uh the existing zoning is B5 Central Business District.

Um, and uh the use of nightclub is not included under B5 unless it is permitted by a conditional use permit, which is why they have to go through this process.

And the ordinance conditions are the following.

Pursuant to section 30-442.1 of the code of the city of Richmond as amendment, uh, the conditional use of the property shall be as a nightclub substantially as shown on the plans.

Operation of the conditional use permit shall be conducted strictly in accordance with the document entitled Dreamhouse Management and Operations Plan prepared by Vincent Venuti and Dreamer Dreamer FX Studio LLC and dated October 3rd, uh 2025, a copy of which is attached to and made part of this ordinance.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in section three B above the hours of operation for the conditional use shall be from 12 midnight until 2 a.m.

Wednesday through Sunday, the conditional use shall not operate between the hours of 2 a.m.

and 6 a.m.

daily.

Patron queuing on the exterior of the building shall be only permitted directly adjacent to the building wall and without any improvements temporary or temporary or otherwise, unless said improvements are approved according to the applicable provisions of the code of the city Richmond as amended and all future amendments, such laws.

Operation of the conditional use does not constitute an exemption to providing sound control.

The nightclub shall use shall be conducted strictly in accordance with chapter 11, Article 2 of the Code of the City of Richmond as amended.

And notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 30-1045 uh point 10 of the code of the city Richmond as amended, this conditional use permit shall be valid for a period of 548 calendar days from the date of issuance of a certificate of occupancy as described in the section six below and shall terminate and become null and void upon the expiration of such period of validity.

Um and the asterisk is pointing to if no zoning or ABC violations are within that period, the applicant may amend the ordinance to remove this condition so they don't have to uh be on this timeline any longer.

Uh for neighborhood participation, area residents within 150 feet of the properties were sent an official notice by mail uh from the city.

The Shaco Partnership Civic Association was notified of the application to date staff has not received any feedback regarding this proposal.

And uh our staff recommendation is approval.

The city's uh Richmond 300 master plan designates a future land use for the subject property as destination mixed use in the Shako Bottom priority area growth note staff have reviewed the application and finds the proposal is generally consistent with the designation, which supports retail as a primary use and a mix of complementary uses in this district.

Staff finds the master plan supports the proposed nightclub use, which is considered complementary to a dense urban environment.

Therefore, staff recommends uh approval of this request.

And the applicant is here as well.

Questions from members of the commission for Ms.

Wilson.

I have several.

Okay.

The 18 month limitation may be removed by amendment, but by amendment, that means they come back to the commission.

Yes.

So because of the kind of the issues happening in Shaco, our agreement that we made to back when we were working with poppies.

Um the way that we met in the middle with the Shaco partnership at the time, and I believe police is we put a essentially probationary period on nightclubs that are proposed to happen in Shaco for the time being until they feel that they have the area better under control because of um because of the essentially gun violence that's happening down there as of late.

So um, they just want to make sure that everybody is behaving properly down there.

My question was that it actually comes back to the commission because in order to amend the CUP, it has to come back to the commission.

Yes, yeah, I would have to go through the amendment process.

But if they don't have any ABC violations, we would usually look kindly towards that application.

Right.

So if they have no issues with ABC or um fire department, any new zoning violations, um, they can uh amend to remove that last condition.

So we could just remain a nightclub.

Introductory statement, you talked about later usage of the nightclub being occasional and yet the ordinance itself says until 2 a.m.

Wednesday through Sunday, correct?

Right.

So I wrote it in to be until 2 a.m.

as an allowable uh hour because we don't know essentially what they want to do is occasionally have uh uses past midnight, but it wouldn't be regular every week, it would be for things like New Year's Eve or special events.

So instead of having to come back and get special events permits over and over, their regular hours will be until midnight.

Um, but they will be allowed to stay open in case they're operations statement contains hours in it, and that's part of this ordinance, correct?

Well, yeah, they we had to put that verbiage in there so that it matched, so we can't have it not matched, so we had to put that in.

And I know the applicants here, and this is probably a question more applicable to him, but there are inconsistencies in the management statement with respect to hours as well.

Some say 12, some say 11:30, some say two.

Is that because of that flexibility that you yeah, I wanted to be able to offer that flexibility because from what I was told by the applicant, they don't want to make it a regular occurrence where they're open until 2 a.m.

every single on those dates, but there might be a time where an event falls on one of those nights, like New Year's Eve, for instance.

It might fall on a Wednesday or Thursday.

Um we wanted to give that flexibility.

Well, I I'll address these questions with the applicant as well.

Any other questions for members of the commission?

Look, you had a question there, Ms.

Roberts.

I just want to follow up.

Um I appreciate your questions, um, Mr.

Paul.

Thank you.

Um it raises another issue with another SUP that we've been dealing with for a long, long time.

It's trying to have hours, and we've been having a real difficult time trying to adjust to some of what the applicant want and what I this is somewhat unusual to have flexibility without any definition of what that flexibility is.

I guess I'm I'm concerned.

I'm wanting you to help me appreciate how you will come to that recommendation.

I hear you said I want to.

Oh, well, it because the request was occasional events.

The thinking was it is still the zoning will allow up to 2 a.m.

if they need to stay open past midnight for a specific event.

So it would it be also just to clarify it.

So as of right now, the way the ordinance was written, they can stay open to 2 a.m.

Wednesday through Sunday, Saturday or Sunday.

Okay.

Um, so that is in their prerogative.

They could, if this gets adopted to the next day, change their regular hours to open till 2 a.m.

if you wanted to.

Uh the statement about what they they have stated, they're only interested in doing special events.

Uh the way the ordinance is written, they can do that, they'll have the flexibility to do that, or they could they could very well change their hours.

Um, it's not unusual for us to for a nightclub use.

This is the hours we normally put in the in the ordinance.

It's is until 2 a.m.

This was a point I was thinking with Ms.

Wilson.

So help me understand.

Part of the ordinance itself talks about the management agreement that was submitted by the applicant.

And that that's part of the ordinance, correct?

So if the management agreement says they're gonna have and I'm gonna clarify with the applicant what what it really means by occasional in his management agreement.

So we'll get some clarity for that.

But it seems to me that if I were the zoning administrator, might have some trouble interpreting to provisions of the CUP.

My reading that ordinance correctly.

It says hours of operation typically between 6 p.m.

and 1230 a.m.

with limited late shows until 2 a.m., subject to copper zoning approval.

Um that's one area where uh yeah, so yeah, it's um I guess this would be I don't I don't know that I can make an interpretation on this.

It's a uh section three says operation of the conditional use shall be permitted, shall be conducted strictly in accordance with the document entitled Dreamhouse Management and Operations Plan.

Um a copy of which it is attached to this ordinance.

So I guess I'd I don't have an answer.

I don't know.

Yeah, in some instances, I do say 1 a.m.

Yeah, but the intention is to allow up to 2 a.m.

in case there is still activity going on, so they're not hit with a new by election.

So perhaps you like for me.

I'll just tell you what I'm reading here.

Um paragraph B says it shall be conducted strictly in accordance with the management plan.

Paragraph C says notwithstanding anything that the contrary in section hours from 12 minute to 2 a.m.

Wednesday Sunday.

So regardless of what the management plan says for paragraph C, the hours will be 12 minute to 2 a.m.

or the hours of authorized operation, whether or not they operate is so that'll clarify for the zoning administrator, it doesn't matter.

Notwithstanding is very important.

Thank you for the clarification.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

There, my name is Vinny Benuti.

I am the owner of Dream House down in Chacobata.

Thank you very much.

Thank you for having me today.

You like to give us a presentation, or you want us just to ask you a question.

I would love to give you a little bit of context.

That'd be great.

Sure.

So Dream House is a cabaret theater down in Chaco Bottom that I opened.

And this was born from an initiative called Shaco Shine.

The whole point of Dream House is to help neighborhood with gotten violence, create safety and create a stage for artists to kind of flood the area, take up space and reduce the crime down there and make it a little bit more livable and flip the narrative.

So without so understanding that there were there are nightclubs down there and we are familiar with them.

And I understand there are many problems.

And the whole point of us being down in Shaco Bottom, because honestly, Shaco Bottom is not my first place to put a gabaret theater.

I would not have done that.

But I heard the problems that are happening down there.

I sat down with the mayor when he called for all the business owners.

I listened to the issues and I kept listening that there were no resolutions, there are no solutions being excuse me, no solutions being um thrown into the ring.

And so that's where I came in and rose my hand and said, this is what we should do because I did it up in New York City.

Um I helped turn Bushwick into one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country into the most expensive neighborhood in the country.

And so I know that I am fully capable of helping transform a neighborhood through art and through theater.

So when it comes to cabaret, I would love to kind of explain what cabaret is, because that's usually the biggest question.

It's like a talent show.

That's all it is.

It's America's Got Talent.

So here in Richmond, um we do have lots of different types of talent.

So we celebrate circus, we celebrate drag artists, we celebrate um singers, dancers, bands.

And so right now we are after a few months of operation.

We've been listening to the community, we've been seeing how it's been like impacting the community.

And so we've seen that we have been taking up space, and that's the most important goal.

We want to be able to take up space on the streets, the parking.

We want it to be the uh guests that are actually patronizing the venues, supporting the venues, and not actually causing trouble.

And so I put together a 30-slide um uh deck called Shaco Shine that I presented to the mayor's office.

They loved it.

Um, and to Martin Agency to Venture Richmond and uh Chaco Records, so many other establishments.

Um, and they are all on board behind it with the the plan of treating Shaco Bottom like a music festival.

Now, don't get scared when I say that.

A music festival, the way the reason why I say it like that is because people come to music festivals, which I've produced for a common reason, enjoy their time to have a good time, enjoy art, enjoy music, and if we implement um those elements that like excuse me, the elements that festivals use, like the community ambassadors that the mayor was talking about that came from Shaco Shine.

Um that can create an environment that feels safer and welcomes people back down to Shaco Bottom so it can be a thriving community rather than a war zone.

So the reason why shop uh we planted ourselves there, Chaco Shine came first, and then Dream House was born out of that.

And the reason why we were asking to go um for a nightclub use was we just really wanted to celebrate New Year's.

I'm sorry, I didn't think that's saying that really I just wanted to celebrate New Year's.

That's the whole point of all of it, and I did not expect that it was gonna be this big process.

Are you ready for some questions?

Absolutely.

Any members of the commission have questions?

Sure, I do have a question.

Just wanted better understand the hour standpoint.

Uh during the previous presentation, it was stated that the hours were requested for things like New Year's and others, so you don't have to keep going back for a permit.

But if the only goal is New Year's, I mean our issue with just getting one permit, then I mean, if there was an opportunity for a wedding that said, hey, can we go till 1230?

I would love to.

I mean, I don't plan on being down in Shaco Bottom past 1 a.m.

That's I mean, I did New York City nightlife for over a decade.

I'm not staying up late anymore, and I don't see Dream House to be open as late as the other venues around.

So having the ability and opportunity to have a client be able to do their wedding till 1 a.m.

would be great, but the whole point of me submitting this, we may never have that client.

Um, but the whole point was just so I could celebrate New Year's um and have like a champagne toast at midnight.

We'll follow up why Wednesday through Sunday would those exact days.

Those are just the days that we plan to be open.

Okay.

Mondays, Tuesdays are usually used for rehearsals.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Questions.

I have several.

Okay.

Your management statement talks about security.

One or two numbers of security.

But you're talking about crowds of 60 to 100.

In your experience in operating clubs, nightclubs of four, is that a sufficient number of security for a hundred people?

I agree.

I I think so.

Um, so up in New York City, when we do our, I know that we're in Richmond, but uh when I produce music festivals, it was one security guard per 50 people.

Um so that's kind of what I was going off for down here.

Now we also have this thing in place that we have volunteers called consentiorns.

They are unicorns that walk around the venue, and they are also policing.

They're also, they are volunteers, they're not staff, they're not technically security, they're people who are walking around the venue, making sure that women feel safe.

There's no guy harassing a woman or vice versa.

Um, people are just playing by the rules and having a good time.

So even though it's two securities, it's also consentical.

I know I'm so sorry.

It's also consent accordance, consent guiders.

I'm sorry.

That's the only word that I've ever used for it.

And I've had staff confirm that you have an ABC license currently.

But it's a wine and beer only.

Correct.

Is that how you intend to keep it?

Absolutely.

I've been sober for two years, and um, I know that liquor can be part of the issue down in Chapeau Bottom.

Our biggest thing from the very beginning was saying we don't want to liquor people up and throw them on the streets.

That's not what we're trying to do.

We want to bring down a demographic that wants to have a glass of champagne or a glass of wine.

So the management agreement, the management statement includes that.

So you would consider that to be binding on them.

Sorry.

Would you consider that you have in your management agreement that you're gonna serve wine and beer only?

Consider that to be binding on you.

Absolutely.

And you understand that the 18 month limitation means that you need to come back to the planning commission to clean ABC record.

Absolutely.

I'm very, very close with our ABC agent.

We offer our space all the time for her to use, use it as meeting spaces or just for her to get some work done.

So I mean, the whole point of Dream House is to be as compliant as possible with fire, ABC, police, city government zoning.

We want to be sample.

Well, I must say, just as one member of this commission, what you present is a very compelling case.

I'm hopeful you'll be able to maintain that and take it's an area of the city that has real problem.

Make it a better place.

It's it's I mean, I'll be honest, it's been um beat.

I didn't get any loans.

I haven't received any grants.

Um we tried to.

Uh I this was all out of pocket, and I have no more money left.

And I'm really hopeful people are gonna maybe start showing up soon.

Um so having this ability to have that nightclub esque and say, like New Year's Eve party, because I know with APC, since we're not nightclub, you can't say party.

So being able to maybe pull in uh or at least open that opportunity up to see if a crowd would come.

Um, but really we're more of like an event venue rather than doing karaoke until 2 a.m.

That's not what we're trying to do.

We're more of a private event venue.

So you you've sort of talked about different talent coming.

Uh and you're gonna make your talent aware of the difference between a nightclub and an adult entertainment.

Oh, yes, that's I mean, that's one thing that we've actually been educating our community on.

So there's a lot of people that don't really understand ABC burlesque, how that really works and what the laws are part of that and how we differentiate from adult entertainment to entertainment.

Um so a lot of people, that's been a hard part with uh people coming in expecting liquor.

And it's like, no, sorry, we don't serve liquor because we do celebrate burlesque, the art of burlesque sometimes.

So we are compliant in that way, and we're also not trying again, we're not trying to booze people up and then throw them out on the streets.

We wanted to also if everything worked out and it's going well, bring back to the bottom and back um that bus line, but call it the dream line, so that it would reduce the amount of traffic going down there, the amount of uh drinking and driving, and it would be able to get people from one end of the city to the other.

It's a it's a very ambitious plan that we um put together, but it can work and it can really flip the neighborhood down in Shaco Bottom because really all we want is just to feel safer.

And so if I can do if I can have a hand in doing that, I would love to.

You made mention of the fact that you went to the meetings that were held down there.

I take it you've interrelated with some of the other operators down there because there's some good, there's some pretty good operators down there.

I oh, I know the good ones and I know the bad ones.

They're on board.

Um with Shaco Shine or with Dream House, but with what part with what you're presenting.

Absolutely.

I mean, what we're presenting is I've spoken to Carlos, my neighbor at La Bodega and Margaritas, even Jackie across the street at Fallout, and well the bakery.

Um about Rosie Connolly's Rosie Connolly's.

Well, over in Seventh Street 17th Street Farmers Market.

I mean, they are not attending the meetings.

Okay.

A lot of business owners are not attending the meetings where these conversations are happening and solutions are being made.

So get involved.

Any other questions from members of the commission?

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Great presentation.

Oh, thank you very much.

Um, not really a question, but uh we have issues in the city website so many businesses that are operating past midnight, but don't have the night club like uh permits.

So for land use and planning, we appreciate when people like him come over to apply and do the right thing.

That is why we recommended that proof out.

I mean, when the CCET go out in the night past over club has so many businesses that operate without every C U.

So we recommended approval because we fully do the right and and hopefully uh did it a year and a half.

You'll continue to be compliant with everything else.

Of course, we want to be able to be an example of that.

You can do night life right in Richmond, you can do it safe, you can do it fun.

Just follow the rules and like you'll be fine.

That's simple.

And so that's what that's where we started.

Admirable.

Thank you.

I was not expecting that.

Any other questions for members of the commission?

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

And I ask if there's any member of the public that wishes to speak in favor of this case.

Anyone online?

There's no one online.

Is there anyone in the public who wishes to speak in opposition to this case?

We'll close a public hearing.

We're gonna go back to the commission and ask if there's a motion.

I will tell you folks, I was very skeptical when I read this paper.

And I certainly hope this young man is able to do exactly what he says he's gonna do, because that would be a wonderful thing for the bottom.

I intend to support the paper based on his presentation.

Any other comments?

Well, call the question.

We're voting on approval of item number six, 110 north 18th street for the purpose of the nightclub.

Terms and conditions.

Please call the roll.

Hi.

Ms.

Robertson.

Abstain.

Miss Rao.

Hi.

Mr.

McKenzie.

Abstain.

Motion passes, and that item will be recommended for approval to city council.

Thank you very much.

Would you present the next item on the agenda?

Item seven, ordinance 2026-061.

This is an ordinance to authorize the special use of the properties known as 1300 North 34th Street and 1302 North 34th Street for the purpose of up to two two-family detached dwellings, two single-family attached dwellings, any single family detached dwelling with garages for rent upon certain terms and conditions.

And Jonathan Brown, our principal planner, will be giving a presentation for us.

Hello are you?

Thank you very much.

All right.

So this is ordinance 2025 at 061 for 1300 and 1302 North 34th Street.

The properties are located in the Church Hill North neighborhood on S Street between North 34th and 33rd Streets.

The properties are currently a combined 8,121 square feet, point one acres.

Improved with two single family attached dwellings, converted for city records 1950.

Current conditions.

So this is gonna fit in with the diversity of architecture for sure.

The proposed density of the parcel is seven units upon 0.18 acres or 39 units per acre.

And you can see a site plan there with the elevations and near the bottom.

Excuse me.

Master plan designates a future land use for the subject property as neighborhood mixed use.

I'm sorry.

Which is defined as we uh as existing or new highly walkable urban neighborhoods that are predominantly residential with a small percentage of parcels providing retail to personal services and institutional uses.

The intensity is recommended at two to four stories.

Primary uses include single family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multifamily buildings, and open space.

Secondary uses includes large multi multi-family buildings, retail, institutional and cultural government government.

This uh application fits the primary uses very well.

The current zoning for this property is R5, single family residential.

The ordinance will suffice some uh areas of the ordinance that which are not met, including permitted principal uses and permitted accessory uses and structures.

The special use of the property shall be as up to two family detached dwellings, two single family attached dwellings, and a single family detached dwelling with garages for rent substantially is shown on the plans.

The height of the special use shall not exceed the height as shown on the all building materials, elevations, and site improvements, including landscaping, shall be substantially as shown on the plans.

All mechanical equipment serving the property shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any adjacent public right-of-way prior to the issuance of any building permit for the special use.

Shall be accomplished by obtaining the necessary approvals from the city and recording the appropriate plats and deeds among the land records of the clerk with the circuit courts.

Facilities for the collection of records shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of director of public works.

The owner shall make improvements within the public right away.

So substantially is shown the plans, including without limitation the installation of seven street trees along S Street and one street tree along North 34th Street, which improvements may be completed in one or more phases as approved by the director of public works.

Staff notified the adjacent property owners of the application to the state staff has received a letter of opposition from a nearby resident.

Here are staff's recommendations.

Staff finds that the proposed uses align with the master plan recommendations for neighborhood mixed use and are considered primary uses.

The massing height and architectural typology of the new buildings also match surrounding patterns of housing.

Staff concludes that the proposed ordinance conditions substantially satisfy the safeguards established in the city charter concerning the granting of special use permits.

Specifically, staff finds that the proposed use would not be detrimental to the general welfare of the community involved and would not create congestion streets in the area involved.

Therefore, staff recommends approval of the special use permit.

That concludes my presentation.

Are there any questions for Mr.

Brown?

Go to the plans to show where the private is and the uh this is uh site plan.

The applicant is here for more detail, but um this unit here, see my cursor, uh is they've done a great job with this project, in my opinion, with the architecture not appearing as a garage from the public realm.

Um, so the the you the garage garages would be here.

Uh, but from a street, it looks like um a house, and it is out, it is will be a dwelling above the garages.

And the alleyway is there.

Where are the private easements?

Oh, just wait until the has to go through subdivision.

Um, so I'm just trying to understand how it closed.

Each of the buildings will have its own line.

So is that what you're asking?

Yeah.

All right.

Any other questions for Mr.

Brown?

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

Presentation.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mr.

Chairman, members of the planning commission.

My name is Marcia Perez with Baker Development Resources.

I'm here to represent the property owner of 1300 and 1312 North 34th Street.

Um, thank you, Jonathan, for the patient.

Can you help direct the process?

Um, are located at the northwest function of the intersection of S and North 34th Streets.

The underlying zoning is our five single family residential.

Uh the property has a total lot of the property has a total of roughly 66 feet of frontage along North 34th Street, 124 feet of frontage along S Street, and contains approximately 8100 square feet of lot area.

The property is currently improved with two single-family attached dwellings, front and north three fourth street.

Um the goal here is to permit high quality infill development consistent with the Richmond 300, which is appropriately done and efficient, consistent with uses found nearby and respectful to the historic development pattern and predominant character of the neighborhood the area.

Specifically, the SCP would authorize the retention of the existing two homes and the construction of two two family detached dwellings fronting S Street, um, and uh three car garage with an apartment above designed to appear as an accessory dwelling unit on an alley.

Three garage parking spaces would be made available either for tenants on the property or for rent to nearby residents in need of the space.

Um access will be provided by an existing north-south alley at the rear of the property and along S Street.

When complete the proposed two family dwellings would each be two stories in height and configured as flats.

Each unit would contain two bedrooms and two bathrooms and roughly 88 um 880 square feet of living area.

The floor plans are appropriately uh modern and efficient with an ensuite bathrooms and an open concept living room and kitchen.

Um full width front porches on each level would provide private outdoor living area uh for each unit and engage the street.

The garage building would contain three bays for parking on the bottom level, and the upstairs apartment contain one bedroom and one bathroom and roughly 800 square feet of floor area.

Uh the reason for the request.

Well, two family um dwellings can be found in the block nearby.

The underlying R5 zoning does not permit the two family use.

Further, the zoning code permits um the garage use but requires it to be for accessory use.

Therefore, in order to construct the proposed dwellings and retain the flexibility to permit the use of the garages by residents who live outside the property, the SCP is required.

Finally, in terms of neighborhood outreach, the properties located within the Church Hill Central Civic Association.

We presented our project to the association in July of 2025 and ensured we included their standard comments and did not hear any additional concerns at the meeting.

We have insured the protection of an existing tree in addition to providing eight new street trees.

Um we also sent out letters to all owners within 150 feet of the property.

In terms of the public comments submitted by Mr.

Babbick, uh we discussed the proposal with him after he received our letter, and the developer agreed to improve the alley and expand the alley apron at Mr.

Babic's request.

We did not hear any additional comments after accommodating his request.

We have not been made aware of any further opposition until the email was received by staff from Mr.

Babick a couple of days ago.

Um in terms of his stated concerns of parking and density in terms of parking.

Um, we have made observations within the area.

Parking is typically made uh typically available along the entire frontage of S Street between North 33rd and North 34th Street, which alone should be adequate enough to serve the project, along with the three off-street parking spaces currently proposed.

In terms of a state of concerns of density, the Richmond 3 Hydro Plan does call for the neighborhood mixed use, um, which suggests a mix of uses up to and including multi-family.

We've chosen to instead achieve density with a mix of uses that are prevalent uh in the area in order to be respectful to the context of the neighborhood.

Uh thank you for your time.

Happy to answer any questions.

Can I also reserve a couple minutes for rebuttal?

About two.

Okay.

Any questions?

I have a couple.

The lots that you're gonna create.

Five watts.

13 feet wide.

I don't think so.

I just did a quick mat.

If you would please chance to be the overbearing boss yet this week, so that's so I'm uh Mark Baker, Baker Development Resources.

And so you have five lots.

I think it's the orientation that's messing me up with it.

It is that's we have another.

These are the existing single family attached, and they both they both run on 34 instead of the extent that we have a lot with there, it's half of that 60 60 something.

And then going this direction.

It's a division by four, right?

So we need to end up being various sizes within the 20s.

Can't read that, but it's uh 21.

21, 22.

Yeah, yeah.

There you go.

That helps.

Okay.

And as far as your question is concerned, um, that's that's this gray area here.

I mean, this is all about flexibility, right?

I mean, the the rich, the rich one 300 plans talking about neighborhood mixed use.

That could easily be on an 8,000 square foot lot if we're talking about today's zoning.

Code refresh aside, who knows what's happening with that, right?

But we're talking about today's zoning, that's neighborhood mixed use and a lot like this.

Uh that's R63 and a lot like this at 8,000 square feet, that's eight units and 1500 square feet of ground floor commercial.

We're like, well, let's not do that, right?

Let's come in and do something that's respectful to the neighborhood.

And so we have this mix of uses that are prevalent in the area, the single family patch, the duplex, and the single family over the garages.

And then in the take a step further, let's let's be able to split them up.

So it's not just it's not just a building housing that density, it's multiple uses that could ultimately you got home ownership opportunity.

This could ultimately be duplex ownership opportunity where I own it, someone else lives above above me, or probably below me.

Um, and then and then again opportunities for single family attached ownership here.

So that's so I guess to the extent that it does get sold into separate pieces.

The question is, how do these folks get back and access the trail?

to take a step further let's let's be able to split them up so that it's not just it's not just a building housing that density it's it's multiple uses that could ultimately i mean you got home ownership opportunity this could ultimately be duplex ownership opportunity where i own it someone else lives it above above me or probably below me um and then and then again opportunities for single family attached ownership here so that's so i guess to the extent that it does get sold into separate pieces the question is how do these folks get back and access the trail we have to have an easement for the trash if this is under separate ownership right you want that individual to be able to walk across the sidewalk come back to easement these are actually stepping stones right but come across the easement and then go back to the trash area without having to walk through the alley to take my trash back maintenance on the sides the interior those on the between the single family above the garages the new two family how are you going to maintain the exterior walls when they need painting or remote I mean I think I mean we have we have uh we have three foot setbacks here we have ample setbacks around here there is it is tighter through here um you know I suppose if you were going to sell those you might want to put an easement in there and allow for common use of that for for access but I think the pieces there are maybe more likely to be selling off were were these two in the in the single and that kind of gets to the point of like why why do we need to be able to rent those garages separately as well because if these are broken off and this is sold you have a what's our square footage here four or five hundred square foot unit on top of three on top of three garage spaces they don't necessarily need right and that would give them an opportunity to rent to one of these other folks or to someone else that's that's in need of the space so other questions from members thank you Mr.

Beck and thank you and we reserve some rebuttal if you'd like are there any members I'm gonna open a public hearing now and ask if there are any members of the public who wish to speak in favor of this case member anybody online I am seeing no one online in the public wish to speak in opposition to this case I'm close public hearing bring it back to the commission and ask if there's a motion move to approve second any discussion I will say this is creative.

You're right Mr Brown this is very creative it confused me but it looks good the other we'll call a question we're voting on approval of item number seven 1300 north 34th and 1302 north 34th please call the role strange Mr Bull aye is greenfeld aye is me let me get ready to do a miss Robertson Miss Route Mr White Mr McKenzie motion passes and that item will be forwarded to city council with a recommendation of approval.

Thank you very much uh council action update uh yes I do uh an update and upcoming items right before that um the binders in front of you guys are the budget um you can take it and loop it if you want you can if you don't want it you can leave it where it is um you are not given one because it's not council and so they only gave me enough for people that were not you have still enough dead i know if I want all of these nice rand books I didn't think I'm running so you can have them you can you can leave them if you want you can take the binder or just the stack of papers um and as far as council goes they last met on March 23rd um there were three special use permit ordinances that were adopted and then one of the land conveniences and then the 1705 Commonwealth Avenue special use permit is still going on that was continued until the 13th and then you're gonna have two new special use permits and one special use permit amendment um on your April 21st agenda so far.

Any other issues that any member of the commission would like to raise then we are for gentlemen thank you very much thank you