The Richmond City Planning Commission convened on Thursday, August 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the 5th Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Chair Rodney Poole presided over the meeting, which included roll call, approval of minutes, a continuance, a consent agenda, and a major regular agenda item regarding the Shockoe Valley Streets Improvement Project. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM.
Public comments were heard only for Regular Agenda Item 6 (Shockoe Valley Streets Improvement Project). A total of 20 speakers addressed the Commission, with 12 speaking in favor and 8 speaking in opposition or with conditions. Key speakers included:
Regular Agenda Item 6 – UDC 2026-07: Shockoe Valley Streets Improvement Project The project proposes multimodal transportation improvements along Oliver Hill Way, North 18th Street, Venable Street, Mosby Street, and Leigh Street, including two-way street conversions, new sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and four modern roundabouts. The project is approximately 70% designed and has a total budget of nearly $50 million, with federal and state funding at risk of deallocation if not advanced promptly.
Staff and UDC Position: The Urban Design Committee recommended denial, citing three master plan concerns: (1) the main roundabout’s layout creates residual land that is difficult to activate; (2) pedestrian safety issues at the Lee Street/Mosby roundabout near MLK Middle School; (3) the project prioritizes vehicle movement over pedestrian needs. Planning staff (PDR) recommended not approving the current layout, urging reconsideration of the main roundabout to create usable green space.
Applicant Response: The Department of Public Works (M. Kara, O. Thierry, C. Daly) and engineering team argued that the roundabouts are necessary for traffic calming and cannot be relocated due to engineering constraints (grade, interstate ramp). They noted that the project has undergone extensive Section 106 review, public hearings (90% approval in November 2025), and meets Richmond 300 goals. They committed to addressing UDC conditions, including adding a speed table, pedestrian hybrid beacon, and working with PDR on gateway treatments.
Commission Deliberation:
Y all set and ready to go. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the regularly scheduled meeting of the city of Richmond Planning Commission. Secretary, would you give the electronic note? This meeting is being recorded and 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. Members of the public 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. Mr. Poole? Here. Ms. Greenfield. Here. Ms. Ebert? Here. We'll come back to Mr. Pennick. Ms. Robertson, Ms. Rowe. Here. Mr. White? Here. Mr. McKenzie. Can you come back to Mr. Pennick as well? Do that after the minutes or before? We can do that now. Mr. Pennock has made a request to attend virtually. Is there a motion to consider that? Um ahead of the motion. Mr. Commissioner Pennick, could you please uh tell the commission where you will be participating from and um a general reason as to why yes? I'm doing required traveling and I'm participating from New Hampshire. Yeah, in a basement. Is there a motion to allow Mr. Pinnock? Motion do I have any discussion? Paul's question on allowing Mr. Pinnock to attend virtually. Please call the role. Mr. Poole?