title
To approve an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Richmond, adopted by the City Planning Commission on Oct. 5, 2020, and approved by the City Council by Ord. No. 2020-236, adopted Dec. 14, 2020, to incorporate the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan establishing goals for identifying, recognizing, and safeguarding the City’s cultural and historic assets.
body
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 17.06 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2026), as amended, the City Planning Commission adopted and certified a Master Plan for the City of Richmond on October 5, 2020; and
WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 2020-236, adopted December 14, 2020, the Council of the City of Richmond approved a Master Plan for the City of Richmond pursuant to a request by the City Planning Commission that the Council approve such a Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan establishes goals for identifying, recognizing, and safeguarding the City’s cultural and historic assets; and
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on November 18, 2025, for the purpose of receiving public comment relative to incorporating the City of Richmond Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan as an amendment to the Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, by a resolution dated November 18, 2025, a copy of which is attached to this ordinance, the City Planning Commission adopted the proposed amendment to incorporate the City of Richmond Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan; and
WHEREAS, it is the consensus of the Council that it is in the best interest of the City of Richmond that the Council, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, consent to and adopt the aforesaid amendment to the Master Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the amendment to the Master Plan, consisting of a document entitled “City of Richmond Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan, Identifying, Recognizing, and Caring for Richmond’s Cultural and Historic Assets,” and dated October 2025, a copy of which is attached to and incorporated into this ordinance, as adopted by the City Planning Commission at its meeting on November 18, 2025, be and is hereby approved as set out in the City Planning Commission’s resolution of that date.
§ 2. That the amendment to the Master Plan adopted by section 1 of this ordinance shall supersede all other parts of the Master Plan adopted prior to the effective date of this ordinance with which it conflicts.
§ 3. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: June 18, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Daniel Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Sharon L. Ebert, DCAO Planning and Economic Development Portfolio
THROUGH: Kevin J. Vonck, Director, Department of Planning and Development Review
FROM: Marianne G. Pitts, Deputy Director Senior, Department of Planning and Development Review
RE: To approve an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Richmond, adopted by the City Planning Commission on Oct. 5, 2020, and approved by the City Council by Ord. No. 2020-236, adopted Dec.14, 2020, to incorporate the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan establishing goals for identifying, recognizing, and safeguarding the City of Richmond’s cultural and historic assets.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To amend the Master Plan for the City of Richmond to include the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan establishing goals for identifying, recognizing, and safeguarding the City of Richmond’s cultural and historic assets.
BACKGROUND: The City Planning Commission adopted the Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth Master Plan on 5 October 2020 and the City Council approved said Master Plan on 14 December 2020. Richmond 300 specifically calls for the creation of a City-wide preservation plan to establish near- and long-term preservation priorities and to identify proactive strategies to protect the character, quality, and history of the city. In 2022, in furtherance of this goal of Richmond 300, the City of Richmond entered into a Cost Share Agreement with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to hire a consultant to prepare a management plan for the City of Richmond’s cultural and historic assets. Beginning in September 2022, staff from Commonwealth Preservation Group, the hired consultants, and staff from the Department of Planning and Development Review have worked diligently to gather community and stakeholder input to craft a plan to establish a clear, equitable, and predicable approach to identifying, recognizing, and conserving the community’s cultural and historic assets. These assets include above ground resources such as buildings, structures, and landscapes; below-ground resources like archaeological sites or cemeteries; and intangible resources including community identity or character, sense of place, lost sites, and oral history.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: A 19-member Community Advisory Committee was established to help guide the process, a series of individual and small group interviews and meetings were conducted, a variety of meeting types, dates, and times were utilized, and surveys where responses were solicited were used to gather data and feedback. City Council newsletters along with a series of email blasts and fliers were employed to reach constituents. Over 1,000 participants were documented at meetings or through online comments.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption.
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 14, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 28, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee, September 22, 2026
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Office of Chief Administrative Officer, Law Department
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.:
Ord. No. 2020-236 (RE: To approve the action of the City Planning Commission adopting “Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth” as the Master Plan of the City of Richmond);
ATTACHMENTS: Draft Ordinance, CPCR.2025.08; Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan;
STAFF: Marianne Pitts, Senior Deputy Director, PDR, Marianne.pitts3@rva.gov <mailto:Marianne.pitts3@rva.gov>