Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Meeting - October 20, 2026

The Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee met on October 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM in Council Chamber. The committee received a presentation on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) implementation and housing production, considered four ordinances, made appointments to various boards and commissions, and continued one ordinance to the next meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from the September 22, 2026 meeting as presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made regarding items not on the agenda.
• For Item 2 (Cancer Retreat Centers lease expansion), Kristen Harris, Executive Director of Cancer Retreat Centers, spoke in support, noting the organization provides integrative cancer care services at no cost to participants.
• For Item 3 (Sampson Paints park lease), Janet Woodcott, President of the Manchester Alliance, spoke in support, highlighting the lack of public parks in Manchester and the need for green space to reduce heat island effects.
• For Item 4 (James River Association grant), no public testimony.

Presentation: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Implementation and Housing Production

Kevin Vonck, Director of Planning and Development Review, presented an update on ADU regulations and production since the 2023 ordinance update. Key points:

• ADUs are small independent dwelling units (internal, attached, or detached) on the same lot as a primary residence.
• Current regulations allow one ADU per lot, up to one-third of the primary dwelling's floor area or 500 square feet, whichever is larger, subject to zoning requirements.
• Building permit data from 2020-2026: After the 2023 ordinance, there was a noticeable uptick in permits. In 2026, a substantial number of permits were issued.
• ADUs are clustered in North Side (Highland Park), Northern Union Hill, and West Manchester/Blackwell.
• Proposed Code Refresh changes: increase maximum ADU size to 1,200 square feet, with height limited to 20 feet or the primary dwelling's height (whichever is less), and total footprint of all accessory buildings not to exceed primary building's footprint.
• Committee members asked about sizes of built ADUs (typically 500-800 sq ft, some up to 1,100), feasibility (detached most expensive, garage conversion, internal conversion least expensive), and potential city assistance for low-income homeowners (pre-approved plans, design contest, leveraging financial resources).
• Clarification on distinction between Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU same acronym). Affordable Dwelling Units are defined by income/rent restrictions, not size; the city is exploring ways to incentivize affordable ADUs through a future committee.
• Staff will work to extract ADU size data from the permit system and report back.

Discussion Items

• Board Vacancies Report: The committee considered applications for several boards. Key actions:

  • Affordable Housing Trust Fund Supervisory Board: Recommended Victor McKenzie Jr. for service provider representative. Continued the charitable organization vacancy to allow more applications.
  • Board of Fire Appeals: Reappointed Matthew Clark.
  • Commission of Architectural Review: Continued the Citizen at Large vacancy to solicit more applications.
  • Community Transportation Advisory Committee: Continued to next quarter for more applications.
  • Plan RVA: Reappointed Priscilla Eatings.
  • Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA): Continued to next quarter and will conduct interviews via a special committee meeting.
  • Safe and Healthy Streets Commission: Recommended Corey Glenn.
  • Urban Design Committee: Reappointed Keith Van Inwigan.
  • The committee voted unanimously to forward the slate as recommended.

• Ordinance 2026-190 (Affordable Dwelling Unit Advisory Committee): Continued to November 17, 2026 meeting by a vote of 3-0.

• Ordinance 2026-291 (Cancer Retreat Centers lease expansion): Approved unanimously (3-0) to allow expansion of leased premises at Blanton House.

• Ordinance 2026-298 (Sampson Paints park lease): Approved unanimously (3-0) to facilitate construction of a public park at 311 Bainbridge Street. Councilmember Breton added as co-patron.

• Ordinance 2026-299 (James River Association grant): Approved unanimously (3-0) for green infrastructure projects at Belmont and Hull Street library branches. Councilmember Breton added as co-patron.

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes, board appointments, and four ordinances (items 2-4) with unanimous votes (all 3-0). Item 1 continued.
• Staff directed to schedule RRHA interview special meeting and pull ADU size data.
• Next meeting scheduled for November 17, 2026 with two presentations.