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To direct the City Planning Commission, as a part of its required review of the Master Plan in 2025, to prepare, submit to public hearing, and consider an amendment to the Master Plan updating the Vision and Primary Next Steps for the Six Points Neighborhood Node and to request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Department of Planning and Development Review, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Housing and Community Development to collectively work with the City Planning Commission to prepare such amendment to the Master Plan.
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WHEREAS, pursuant to section 17.06 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, the City Planning Commission by resolution dated October 5, 2020, adopted a new master plan for the City of Richmond, and the City Council by Ordinance No. 2020-236, adopted December 14, 2020, approved the master plan adopted by the City Planning Commission (hereinafter the “Master Plan”); and
WHEREAS, the Master Plan describes “nodes” as current and potential activity centers in the city of Richmond capable of accommodating growth in jobs and population that are deserving of aligned land use planning, transportation planning, and public policy to ensure that each node becomes a thriving crossroads for its respective community; and
WHEREAS, the Master Plan defines a “Neighborhood Node” as a local crossroads typically within or next to larger residential areas that offers goods and services to nearby residents, employees, and visitors; and
WHEREAS, the Master Plan designates Six Points as a Neighborhood Node at the center of the Highland Park Community that can serve as the community center with small-scale, neighborhood serving commercial uses; and
WHEREAS, the City contracted the Urban Land Institute to conduct a Technical Assistance Panel to provide expert guidance on the future development of the Six Points Neighborhood Node; and
WHEREAS, the Technical Assistance Panel was conducted on July 9, 2024, and July 10, 2024, and resulted in recommendations for the City to develop additional guiding documents to address (i) blighted properties, (ii) zoning and land use modifications, (iii) opportunity sites, (iv) pedestrian and bike infrastructure, (v) design standards, (vi) developing a central gathering space, (vii) incorporating public art, (viii) developing acquisition or redevelopment strategies, (ix) supporting commercial development, (x) institutional partnerships, (xi) maker spaces, (xii) incubators, and (xiii) locally owned goods and services; and
WHEREAS, though the Master Plan includes primary next steps to achieve the vision for the Six Points Neighborhood Node, additional steps, to include details on implementation and place-based recommendations, are needed to address the issues raised by the Technical Assistance Panel; and
WHEREAS, it is the opinion of the Council that the Six Points Neighborhood Node warrants greater attention in the Master Plan to ensure additional land use, transportation, and economic development planning work are performed so the Six Points Neighborhood Node can reach its full potential as a Neighborhood Node and commercial center of the Highland Park community in accordance with the recommendations of the Technical Assistance Panel; and
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission will review the Master Plan to determine whether it is advisable to amend the plan in 2025 as required by section 15.2-2230 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended; and
WHEREAS, it is the consensus of the Council that it should direct the City Planning Commission, as a part of its required review of the Master Plan for 2025, to prepare, hold a public hearing on, and consider an amendment to the Master Plan that updates the Six Points Neighborhood Node and, in accordance therewith, sets forth a detailed next steps for land use, transportation, and economic development in the Six Points Neighborhood Node that prioritizes creating a vibrant, well-connected, neighborhood-serving, commercial center;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That, in accordance with section 17.06 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and section 15.2-2229 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, the City Planning Commission, as a part of its required review of the Master Plan for 2025 as provided in section 15.2-2230 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, is hereby directed to:
1. Prepare an amendment to the Master Plan that updates the vision and primary next steps for the Six Points Neighborhood Node that begins on page C-23 of Appendix C of the Master Plan;
2. Submit such amendment to public hearing and conduct all other proceedings as may be required by law within the 60-day timeframe specified by section 15.2- 2229 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended; and
3. Adopt and certify to the City Council the requisite resolution to adopt such amendment in accordance with section 17.06 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the required public hearing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Council requests that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Department of Planning and Development Review, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Housing and Community Development to collectively work with the City Planning Commission to prepare such amendment to the Master Plan by, at a minimum:
1. Developing an economic development strategy to encourage neighborhood-serving, commercial development within the Six Points Neighborhood Node;
2. Identifying blighted and underutilized properties and developing strategies as to how best to encourage the redevelopment of such properties;
3. Analyzing vehicular traffic and pedestrian safety along the corridors of Brookland Park Boulevard, 2nd Avenue, Meadowbridge Road, and Dill Avenue at the Six Points traffic circle to develop tailored recommendations that prioritize pedestrian safety, enhance walkability, and improve multimodal connectivity within and to the Six Points Neighborhood Node;
4. Developing placemaking and branding strategies for the Six Points Neighborhood Node such as pocket parks and parklets;
5. Considering zoning districts and available incentives that best encourages a mix of uses, particularly additional neighborhood serving commercial uses, in the Six Points Neighborhood Node; and
6. Considering necessary infrastructure within and adjacent to the Six Points Neighborhood Node to accommodate the increased residential development that has and is approved to occur within the greater Highland Park community, such as lighting, sewer, transit, and parking.