Urban One’s proposed casino and resort for Philip Morris-owned land just off Interstate 95 may come back for a second vote by residents if the City Council approves another referendum. (BizSense file)
Casino vote do-over, City Center Plan, TIF districts on agenda
The Richmond City Council meets Monday. Agendas available here.
Business on the agenda for the 6 p.m. regular meeting includes Councilmember Reva Trammell’s requests to revive the city’s arrangement with developer Urban One and hold a second referendum on its proposed One Casino + Resort, which city voters narrowly defeated in a referendum last November. The council’s Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee supported the proposal at its meeting last week.
Business on the consent agenda includes potential adoption of the proposed City Center Plan as an amendment to the Richmond 300 plan. Presented last summer, the document envisions future uses for a roughly 20-block area around and including the dormant Richmond Coliseum.
Staff seeks approval of a planning grant agreement with the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority to develop a “transformation plan” to redevelop the Gilpin Court public housing complex in Jackson Ward as a mixed-income community, similar to efforts underway at Creighton Court.
Councilmember Andreas Addison requests that the city evaluate and report on the possibility of creating tax-increment financing (TIF) districts in four areas of Richmond: the Diamond District, City Center, the Port of Richmond area and Southside Plaza. TIF districts are an option that local governments can use to help pay for a project using tax revenues generated over time.
Also on the consent agenda is a special-use request to allow an outdoor event venue and farmers’ market in the parking lot at River City Roll at 939 Myers St. The bowling alley plans to host 12 outdoor events annually on Saturdays and no later than 10 p.m. Planning staff finds the proposed uses consistent with recommendations in the city’s master plan.
$1M allocated for slavery commemoration site in Shockoe Bottom
At their Jan. 10 meeting, councilmembers approved transferring $1 million from the city attorney office’s delinquent tax sales special fund and other sources to the Enslaved African Heritage Campus project for procurement of design services and related community engagement. The transfer adds to other city and state funding commitments made last year for the years-in-the-making commemoration site planned in Shockoe Bottom.
The council also approved a special-use authorization for a proposed mixed-use conversion of a duplex at 3101-3105 E. Marshall St. in Church Hill.
City to revise short-term home rental rules
At its meeting last week, the Richmond Planning Commission adopted a resolution of intent to amend the city’s regulations for short-term home rentals. The resolution does not include specific recommendations but rather reopens the process for the public and staff to revisit the rules that have been in effect since 2020.
Chesterfield townhome developments come before supervisors for vote
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet Wednesday. Full agenda here.
On the docket is a proposal by Duke Quality Homes LLC to build a 145-unit townhome development on 32 acres at Osborne Road and Interstate 95 in Chester. At least 110 townhomes would be age-restricted.
Piedmont Venture LLC wants to develop 245 townhomes on a 164-acre site at 17501 Genito Road in the western part of the county, and that proposal is also slated to be voted on by the board.
Also on the agenda is an update on the county-led effort to rezone the Upper Magnolia Green property for a technology park and residential development.
Private landing strip moves forward in Chesterfield
The Chesterfield County Planning Commission voted last week to recommend approval of a proposal by Doug Sowers to build a private landing strip.
Sowers filed an application for a conditional-use permit to allow the creation of a private landing strip for airplanes in Chesterfield County near its border with Powhatan County. The airstrip would be built on a 232-acre property at 1401 County Line Road.
The landing strip would be used primarily by Sowers and family members, according to a staff report. The Board of Supervisors will consider the proposal for final approval at a future meeting.
Short Pump developments on Henrico agenda; Varina zoning case deferred
Henrico supervisors meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. On the agenda are rezoning and provisional-use permit requests for Eagle Construction of VA’s 1,600-home Avenlea development and Edward Rose & Sons’ plan for 325 apartments in Short Pump.
A request to rezone 530 acres in Varina for industrial and distribution uses is set to be deferred to the board’s March 8 meeting. A group that includes Texas-based Hillwood Development is behind the request, which would effectively extend the uses of the nearby White Oak Technology Park.
Patricia O’Bannon
O’Bannon to lead Henrico supervisors in 2022
Tuckahoe District Supervisor Patricia O’Bannon was elected chairman of the Henrico board for 2022, with Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton elected vice chairman.
O’Bannon is serving as chairman for the sixth time. She and Thornton are serving their seventh terms as supervisors, having joined the board in 1996. They are the longest-serving active members of Henrico’s board.
Hanover County launches website tied to comp plan update
Hanover County announced last week the launch of a website focused on its comprehensive plan update.
The review process will update the county’s long-term roadmap used to guide land use and development.
The county plans to hold open-house events regarding the plan update from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Oak Knoll Middle School and Patrick Henry High School as well as 5-7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Atlee and Mechanicsville high schools.
The county plans to have a draft update in hand in January 2023, with adoption expected later that year.
Brian Moore
Petersburg names new economic development director
The City of Petersburg announced Brian Moore as its new economic development director. He succeeds Carthan Currin, who served in the post in 2020.
Moore is a 35-year resident of the city and has 12 years of experience in Petersburg government. He has held board and commission appointments with the Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, National League of Cities, Virginia Municipal League and other groups.
Moore has a managerial economics degree from Hampden-Sydney College, a project management certificate from University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business, and an executive certificate in nonprofit leadership from Duke University.
Urban One’s proposed casino and resort for Philip Morris-owned land just off Interstate 95 may come back for a second vote by residents if the City Council approves another referendum. (BizSense file)
Casino vote do-over, City Center Plan, TIF districts on agenda
The Richmond City Council meets Monday. Agendas available here.
Business on the agenda for the 6 p.m. regular meeting includes Councilmember Reva Trammell’s requests to revive the city’s arrangement with developer Urban One and hold a second referendum on its proposed One Casino + Resort, which city voters narrowly defeated in a referendum last November. The council’s Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee supported the proposal at its meeting last week.
Business on the consent agenda includes potential adoption of the proposed City Center Plan as an amendment to the Richmond 300 plan. Presented last summer, the document envisions future uses for a roughly 20-block area around and including the dormant Richmond Coliseum.
Staff seeks approval of a planning grant agreement with the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority to develop a “transformation plan” to redevelop the Gilpin Court public housing complex in Jackson Ward as a mixed-income community, similar to efforts underway at Creighton Court.
Councilmember Andreas Addison requests that the city evaluate and report on the possibility of creating tax-increment financing (TIF) districts in four areas of Richmond: the Diamond District, City Center, the Port of Richmond area and Southside Plaza. TIF districts are an option that local governments can use to help pay for a project using tax revenues generated over time.
Also on the consent agenda is a special-use request to allow an outdoor event venue and farmers’ market in the parking lot at River City Roll at 939 Myers St. The bowling alley plans to host 12 outdoor events annually on Saturdays and no later than 10 p.m. Planning staff finds the proposed uses consistent with recommendations in the city’s master plan.
$1M allocated for slavery commemoration site in Shockoe Bottom
At their Jan. 10 meeting, councilmembers approved transferring $1 million from the city attorney office’s delinquent tax sales special fund and other sources to the Enslaved African Heritage Campus project for procurement of design services and related community engagement. The transfer adds to other city and state funding commitments made last year for the years-in-the-making commemoration site planned in Shockoe Bottom.
The council also approved a special-use authorization for a proposed mixed-use conversion of a duplex at 3101-3105 E. Marshall St. in Church Hill.
City to revise short-term home rental rules
At its meeting last week, the Richmond Planning Commission adopted a resolution of intent to amend the city’s regulations for short-term home rentals. The resolution does not include specific recommendations but rather reopens the process for the public and staff to revisit the rules that have been in effect since 2020.
Chesterfield townhome developments come before supervisors for vote
The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet Wednesday. Full agenda here.
On the docket is a proposal by Duke Quality Homes LLC to build a 145-unit townhome development on 32 acres at Osborne Road and Interstate 95 in Chester. At least 110 townhomes would be age-restricted.
Piedmont Venture LLC wants to develop 245 townhomes on a 164-acre site at 17501 Genito Road in the western part of the county, and that proposal is also slated to be voted on by the board.
Also on the agenda is an update on the county-led effort to rezone the Upper Magnolia Green property for a technology park and residential development.
Private landing strip moves forward in Chesterfield
The Chesterfield County Planning Commission voted last week to recommend approval of a proposal by Doug Sowers to build a private landing strip.
Sowers filed an application for a conditional-use permit to allow the creation of a private landing strip for airplanes in Chesterfield County near its border with Powhatan County. The airstrip would be built on a 232-acre property at 1401 County Line Road.
The landing strip would be used primarily by Sowers and family members, according to a staff report. The Board of Supervisors will consider the proposal for final approval at a future meeting.
Short Pump developments on Henrico agenda; Varina zoning case deferred
Henrico supervisors meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. On the agenda are rezoning and provisional-use permit requests for Eagle Construction of VA’s 1,600-home Avenlea development and Edward Rose & Sons’ plan for 325 apartments in Short Pump.
A request to rezone 530 acres in Varina for industrial and distribution uses is set to be deferred to the board’s March 8 meeting. A group that includes Texas-based Hillwood Development is behind the request, which would effectively extend the uses of the nearby White Oak Technology Park.
Patricia O’Bannon
O’Bannon to lead Henrico supervisors in 2022
Tuckahoe District Supervisor Patricia O’Bannon was elected chairman of the Henrico board for 2022, with Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton elected vice chairman.
O’Bannon is serving as chairman for the sixth time. She and Thornton are serving their seventh terms as supervisors, having joined the board in 1996. They are the longest-serving active members of Henrico’s board.
Hanover County launches website tied to comp plan update
Hanover County announced last week the launch of a website focused on its comprehensive plan update.
The review process will update the county’s long-term roadmap used to guide land use and development.
The county plans to hold open-house events regarding the plan update from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Oak Knoll Middle School and Patrick Henry High School as well as 5-7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Atlee and Mechanicsville high schools.
The county plans to have a draft update in hand in January 2023, with adoption expected later that year.
Brian Moore
Petersburg names new economic development director
The City of Petersburg announced Brian Moore as its new economic development director. He succeeds Carthan Currin, who served in the post in 2020.
Moore is a 35-year resident of the city and has 12 years of experience in Petersburg government. He has held board and commission appointments with the Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, National League of Cities, Virginia Municipal League and other groups.
Moore has a managerial economics degree from Hampden-Sydney College, a project management certificate from University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business, and an executive certificate in nonprofit leadership from Duke University.