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To close, to public use and travel, an unimproved portion of Lafayette Street, located north of Sterling Street and south of Grove Avenue, consisting of approximately 5,159± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions. (1st District)
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That an unimproved portion of Lafayette Street located between Sterling Street and Grove Avenue consisting of approximately 5,159 square feet, is hereby closed to public use and travel as a right-of-way of the City of Richmond, as shown enclosed with bold lines on a drawing prepared by the Department of Public Works, designated as DPW Drawing No. N-29157, dated February 26, 2026, and entitled “Right of Way Vacation Plat for a Portion of Lafayette Street Public Right of Way Bound by Grove Avenue and Sterling Street” a copy of which drawing is attached to this ordinance.
§ 2 That this ordinance, as to the closing of the right-of-way identified above, shall be in force as provided in section 4.09 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and shall become effective only when, within 18 months from the day this ordinance is adopted:
(a) The applicant obtains consent to the closing from each of the owners of land, buildings or structures from whom consent is required under section 24-314 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, which consents shall be in writing, approved as to form by the City Attorney, and filed in the office of the City Clerk.
(b) The applicant makes arrangements satisfactory to public utility or public service corporations whose properties or facilities are in the right-of-way area to be closed either for the removal, relocation or abandonment thereof or for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair thereof, evidence of which shall be in writing, approved as to form by the City Attorney, and filed in the office of the City Clerk. If the applicant submits to the Chief Administrative Officer a writing indicating the applicant’s decision not to relocate the utilities in the right-of-way area to be closed, the applicant shall grant to the City an easement over the subject areas, which easement shall be defined on a plat provided by the applicant and approved by the Director of Public Works. In such case, the Chief Administrative Officer shall be authorized to accept the dedication of such easement, provided that the easement shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney.
(c) The applicant bears all costs associated with the closing, including, but not limited to, realignment, relocation or removal of utilities or infrastructure, installation of new utilities or infrastructure, new or revised street name or directional signs, streetlights, and similar infrastructure, as required by City agencies, and agrees in writing with the City that, for itself, its successors and its assigns, they shall indemnify, reimburse, and keep and hold the City free and harmless from liability on account of injury or damage to persons, firms, corporations or property, which may result directly or indirectly from the closing of the rights-of-way to public use and travel by this ordinance and from the interference with the drainage, flow or overflow of surface or subsurface water resulting directly or indirectly therefrom; and in the event that any suit or proceeding is brought against the City at law or in equity, either independently or jointly with the owner or owners of all the property abutting the aforesaid alleys on account thereof, they shall defend the City in any such suit or proceeding at their cost; and in the event of a final judgment or decree being obtained against the City, either independently or jointly with the property owner or owners granting consent for the aforesaid rights-of-way to be closed to public use and travel, they shall pay such judgment or comply with such decree including payment of all costs and expenses or whatsoever nature and hold the City harmless therefrom.
(d) The applicant shall provide evidence that they have identified any public or private utilities that may have a vested interest in or facilities located within the subject right-of-way and worked out arrangements with the owners of any such utilities to protect the owner’s rights. All affected owners of private and public infrastructure must provide written acknowledgement that they are satisfied with the resolution of their facilities within the proposed closing area for this ordinance to be valid.
(e) The applicant submits and obtains approval by the Director of Planning and Development Review of a Plan pursuant to Chapter 30, Article X, Division 4 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, for the construction of the improvements on the site and the proposed rights-of-way closure and vacation, or if no Plan is required, the applicant must apply for and be issued a building permit pursuant to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Should approval of the Site Plan or building permit be denied, this closure of the public right-of-way shall not go into effect.
(f) The applicant provides written evidence satisfactory to and approved as to form by the City Attorney that all facilities of the Department of Public Utilities in the right-of-way area to be closed have been removed, relocated or otherwise accommodated within the right-of-way area to be closed in such a manner satisfactory to the Director of Public Utilities.
(g) The applicant pays the City the sum of $41,153.71 for the right-of-way area to be closed. This condition is satisfied when all abutting property owners execute an agreement to purchase the right-of-way area to be closed, with such agreement being in accordance with section 15.2-2008 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, and approved as to form and legality by the City Attorney. If any property owner fails to make the payment for such owner’s fractional portion within 18 months of the date of adoption of this ordinance, then the closing shall be null and void.
(h) The applicant satisfies all terms and conditions requisite for the closing of the rights- of-way areas to be closed by this ordinance and provides the Department of Public Works, the Office of the City Attorney, and the Office of the City Clerk with written evidence that all terms and conditions of this ordinance have been satisfied.
§ 3. That, at such time as this ordinance becomes effective, the City shall have no further right, title or interest in the closed rights-of-way areas other than that expressly retained under provisions of this ordinance or granted to satisfy the terms and conditions set out in this ordinance.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect only upon the satisfaction of the terms and conditions set out above.