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Record of Proceedings

Urban Design Committee Meeting – April 16, 2026: Bryan Park Dam Removal and Sustainability Guidelines

City Council — Thursday, April 16, 2026
BodyRichmond, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, April 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:52:40

Original source
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0:13

Yeah, the total life is going well as I was telling some tunnel.

0:18

Yeah, I mean the right so it's what you do.

0:32

That's mixing it with the writing a section of the parkway or chindow.

0:40

Good morning, everybody.

0:41

Hope everybody's doing well.

0:42

This is the Thursday, April 16th, 2026 meeting of the Urban Design Committee.

0:49

Mr.

0:49

Secretary, do you mind reading the public access and participation instructions?

0:55

Yes.

0:55

To access the meeting by Microsoft Teams, please use the link available on the agenda on the calendar website in the city.

1:02

Or dial star 67804 316 9457 and enter ID 742 420 550 out.

1:15

Public comment will be requested in turn for each item on the agenda.

1:19

Please stay on mute during other times to reduce background noise.

1:23

Using your phone to access the meeting, you can use star six to mute and unmute.

1:30

You might call in the roll.

1:32

I forgot to print out one room.

1:34

That's what I have for you today.

1:36

Just a second.

2:05

Ben Edwin is not here.

2:08

Pearson?

2:09

Here.

2:10

We hunt.

2:10

Here.

2:11

Mr.

2:12

Brut's mark is not here.

2:13

Hamnet.

2:14

Here.

2:14

We do have a core.

2:16

Thank you.

2:18

You mind reviewing how we approve minutes?

2:20

Yes.

2:21

A high-level summary statement will be provided before voting on a final motion.

2:26

For each individual item, the summary statement will be transmitted to the planning commission along with the motion outcome and be recorded as minutes for the trick.

2:36

Probably get a report you remind reviewing our scope of work.

2:40

Yes.

2:41

Scope of review reminder.

2:43

1707 of the city charter.

2:45

General location character extent approval for public buildings, structure, streets, parks, etc.

2:51

Items of a specific nature that are designed by professionals, such as engineers or architects are not considered general.

2:58

1705, UDC may make recommendations on specific design items, uh, public structures, apparently, and street pictures.

3:10

And I don't believe we have any continuances or deletions from the agenda today.

3:14

Great.

3:15

And no items are currently on the consent agenda.

3:18

We do have one item on the regular agenda.

3:22

And that is UDC 2026-05.

3:27

It's uh conceptual location character except review of Prime Park dam removal and stream restoration located at 4308 Hermitage Road.

3:39

Yes.

3:40

Bringing up presentation.

3:48

So this is a conceptual review for dam removal and wetlands restoration, Burton Park.

3:56

There are two dams uh to be removed.

3:58

I have lovingly named them one and two.

4:01

You can see them here.

4:02

And I'll keep them throughout the presentation.

4:05

Uh you can see Hermitage Road here to the right, uh, and Bryant Park Avenue here to the north of this project area, and then the rest of Bryant Park to the south.

4:17

Uh and the fall line trail is currently designed and will more than likely be constructed as uh crossing Hermitage Park at the intersection of Bryan Park and Hermitage and uh entering the park at dam number one, crossing dam number one and going south on Joseph Bryant Light.

4:37

I I have a uh drawing to show that better here in a second.

4:41

Here is a three 3D view of the area.

4:49

And here's a view from the street toward dam number one, uh, but you can't see it, it's around the corner.

5:00

And this is from the street dam number two.

5:07

And the proposal is as we said, restoration of wetlands, uh, pretty significant here and removal of the dam.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████22%
Environmental Protection█████████████████████21%
Sustainability█████████████████17%
Land Use and Zoning█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Procedural████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Active Transportation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Urban Design Committee Meeting – April 16, 2026

The Urban Design Committee met on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM to consider one regular agenda item and an update to the Urban Design Guidelines. The committee approved the conceptual location, character, and extent review for the removal of two dams and stream restoration in Bryan Park, and unanimously approved the sustainability section of the Urban Design Guidelines with minor revisions.

Regular Agenda: UDC 2026-05 – Prime Park Dam Removal and Stream Restoration

  • The project involves removing two non‑compliant dams in Bryan Park (at 4308 Hermitage Road) to restore Upham Brook to a natural stream, improve ecological conditions, and enhance park amenities.
  • Presenters from the Department of Parks and Recreation, Hazen and Sawyer, and Water Street Studio described the project: removal of dams, construction of two bridges, planting 450 new native trees (91 trees to be removed, including 20 invasive/unhealthy), invasive vegetation removal, and installation of trails and educational signage.
  • The project will provide fish passage for over 5 miles of stream and up to 9 miles for some species. Community engagement included over 100 participants through pop‑up events and public meetings.
  • Committee members discussed the design, including concerns about the accessibility of cobblestones in gathering areas and the performance of decomposed granite. A condition was added to consider alternative materials for improved accessibility.
  • The committee also discussed the alignment of the Fall Line Trail and recommended that plans show the alignment on and adjacent to the site for the final application.

Other Business: Urban Design Guidelines Update – Sustainability Section

  • Staff presented the proposed sustainability section, which consolidates goals from Richmond 300, RVA Green 2050, and other city documents into actionable guidelines for UDC review.
  • The section covers stormwater management, green infrastructure, urban heat mitigation, tree canopy, disaster resilience, and renewable energy.
  • Committee members engaged in a discussion about the scope of the UDC’s authority, the value of referencing external documents versus creating unique guidelines, and the practical use of the guidelines in conditioning projects.
  • Minor edits were suggested (typos, adding a section on material lifespan, removing overly specific interior recommendations). The section was approved as revised.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion on UDC 2026-05 (Prime Park dam removal): Approved with conditions (6‑0 vote). Conditions require: (1) plans to show Fall Line Trail alignment, (2) dark‑sky‑compliant lighting, (3) signage addressing natural area and site history, and (4) consideration of accessible alternatives to cobblestones in gathering areas.
  • Motion on Guidelines Update – Sustainability Section: Approved unanimously by voice vote, with staff directed to incorporate minor edits and present the final version at a future meeting.
  • Next steps: The dam removal project will return for final application; the full set of updated guidelines will be consolidated for final UDC approval after all sections are reviewed.

Meeting Transcript

Yeah, the total life is going well as I was telling some tunnel. Yeah, I mean the right so it's what you do. That's mixing it with the writing a section of the parkway or chindow. Good morning, everybody. Hope everybody's doing well. This is the Thursday, April 16th, 2026 meeting of the Urban Design Committee. Mr. Secretary, do you mind reading the public access and participation instructions? Yes. To access the meeting by Microsoft Teams, please use the link available on the agenda on the calendar website in the city. Or dial star 67804 316 9457 and enter ID 742 420 550 out. Public comment will be requested in turn for each item on the agenda. Please stay on mute during other times to reduce background noise. Using your phone to access the meeting, you can use star six to mute and unmute. You might call in the roll. I forgot to print out one room. That's what I have for you today. Just a second. Ben Edwin is not here. Pearson? Here. We hunt. Here. Mr. Brut's mark is not here. Hamnet. Here. We do have a core. Thank you. You mind reviewing how we approve minutes? Yes. A high-level summary statement will be provided before voting on a final motion. For each individual item, the summary statement will be transmitted to the planning commission along with the motion outcome and be recorded as minutes for the trick. Probably get a report you remind reviewing our scope of work. Yes. Scope of review reminder. 1707 of the city charter. General location character extent approval for public buildings, structure, streets, parks, etc. Items of a specific nature that are designed by professionals, such as engineers or architects are not considered general. 1705, UDC may make recommendations on specific design items, uh, public structures, apparently, and street pictures. And I don't believe we have any continuances or deletions from the agenda today. Great. And no items are currently on the consent agenda. We do have one item on the regular agenda. And that is UDC 2026-05. It's uh conceptual location character except review of Prime Park dam removal and stream restoration located at 4308 Hermitage Road. Yes. Bringing up presentation. So this is a conceptual review for dam removal and wetlands restoration, Burton Park. There are two dams uh to be removed.

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