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To authorize the special use of the property known as 1400 School Road for the purpose of student housing, containing up to three stories and up to four student housing units, that will individually house more than three unrelated persons, upon certain terms and conditions. (3rd District)
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WHEREAS, the owner of the property known 1400 School Road, which is situated in a R-53 Multifamily Residential District, desires to use such property for the purpose of student housing, containing up to three stories and up to four student housing units, that will individually house more than three unrelated persons, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by sections 30.-418.4, concerning lot area and width, 30-418.5, concerning yards, and 30-1220.33(2) concerning the definition of the term “family,” of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with section 17.11 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, it has been made to appear that, if granted subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this ordinance, the special use granted by this ordinance will not be detrimental to the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the community involved, will not tend to create congestion in streets, roads, alleys and other public ways and places in the area involved, will not create hazards from fire, panic or other dangers, will not tend to overcrowding of land and cause an undue concentration of population, will not adversely affect or interfere with public or private schools, parks, playgrounds, water supplies, sewage disposal, transportation or other public requirements, conveniences and improvements, and will not interfere with adequate light and air; and
WHEREAS, (i) the City Planning Commission has conducted a public hearing to investigate the circumstances and conditions upon which the Council is empowered to authorize such use, (ii) the City Planning Commission has reported to the Council the results of such public hearing and investigation and its recommendations with respect thereto, and (iii) the Council has conducted a public hearing on this ordinance at which the person in interest and all other persons have had an opportunity to be heard;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Finding. Pursuant to section 30-1050.1 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, the Council hereby finds that the special use set forth in and subject to the terms and conditions of this ordinance will not (i) be detrimental to the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the community involved, (ii) tend to create congestion in streets, roads, alleys and other public ways and places in the area involved, (iii) create hazards from fire, panic or other dangers, (iv) tend to overcrowding of land and cause an undue concentration of population, (v) adversely affect or interfere with public or private schools, parks, playgrounds, water supplies, sewage disposal, transportation or other public requirements, conveniences and improvements, or (vi) interfere with adequate light and air.
§ 2. Grant of Special Use Permit.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this ordinance, the property known as 1400 School Road and identified as Tax Parcel No. N000-0946/022 in the 2025 records of the City Assessor, being more particularly shown on a survey entitled “Plat Showing Topographic Survey on 1800 Bath Street, City of Richmond, Virginia,” prepared by Dan Carney & Associates, dated August 6, 2024, and found on sheet C-1 of the plans entitled “1400 School Road Dorms, 1400 School Road / 1800 Bath Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220,” prepared by RS Design Works, LLC, and dated March 4, 2025, a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this ordinance, hereinafter referred to as “the Property,” is hereby permitted to be used for the purpose of student housing, containing up to three stories and up to four student housing units, that will individually house more than three unrelated persons, hereinafter referred to as “the Special Use,” substantially as shown on the plans entitled “1400 School Road Dorms, 1400 School Road / 1800 Bath Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220,” prepared by RS Design Works, LLC., and dated March 4, 2025, hereinafter referred to as “the Plans,” copies of which are attached to and made a part of this ordinance.
(b) The adoption of this ordinance shall constitute the issuance of a special use permit for the Property. The special use permit shall inure to the benefit of the owner or owners of the fee simple title to the Property as of the date on which this ordinance is adopted and their successors in fee simple title, all of which are hereinafter referred to as “the Owner.” The conditions contained in this ordinance shall be binding on the Owner.
§ 3. Special Terms and Conditions. This special use permit is conditioned on the following special terms and conditions:
(a) The Special Use of the Property shall be as student housing, containing up to three stories and up to four student housing units, that will individually house more than three unrelated persons, substantially as shown on the Plans. For the purpose of this ordinance, the term “student housing unit” shall mean a room or group of rooms within the building constituting a separate and independent unit occupied or intended for occupancy by one to twelve students and containing one kitchenette. Student housing units shall be occupied exclusively by individuals that are or have been registered, whether full-time or part-time, within the previous 12 months at a post-secondary educational institution, including, without limitation, a two-year community college, a specialty education center, a four-year public or private institution, or a post-graduate program. In no case shall the normal common area of the units, such as the living room, family room, or dining room, be used as sleeping areas or not be available on an equal or common basis to all occupants.
(b) No more than 45 total tenants shall live on the Property, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(c) No more than 12 unrelated persons or combination of related and unrelated persons shall reside within the individual student housing units.
(d) No fewer than 20 bicycle parking spaces shall be provided on the Property.
(e) All building materials, building colors, and site improvements, including landscaping, shall be substantially as shown on the Plans.
(f) The height of the Special Use shall not exceed three stories, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(g) Interior doors to bedrooms within dwelling units may contain exterior locking mechanisms.
(h) Leases of occupancy shall be 30 days or greater in length and may include separate rental agreements for different occupants of the same unit.
(i) All mechanical equipment serving the Property shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way.
§ 4. Supplemental Terms and Conditions. This special use permit is conditioned on the following supplemental terms and conditions:
(a) All required final grading and drainage plans, together with all easements made necessary by such plans, must be approved by the Director of Public Utilities prior to the issuance of the building permit.
(b) Storm or surface water shall not be allowed to accumulate on the land. The Owner, at its sole cost and expense, shall provide and maintain at all times adequate facilities for the drainage of storm or surface water from the Property so as not to adversely affect or damage any other property or public streets and the use thereof.
(c) Facilities for the collection of refuse shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of the Director of Public Works. Such facilities shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from adjacent properties and public streets.
(d) Any encroachments existing, proposed on the Plans or contemplated in the future shall require separate authorization and shall be subject to the applicable provisions of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and all future amendments to such laws.
(e) The Owner shall make improvements within the right-of-way, including the installation of a new sidewalk extension along Bath Street and a new sidewalk along School Road, substantially as shown on the Plans, which improvements may be completed in one or more phases as approved by the Director of Public Works. All improvements and work within the public right-of-way shall be (i) completed in accordance with the requirements of the Director of Public Works, (ii) considered completed only upon written confirmation by the Director of Public Works or the designee thereof that such improvements and work are in accordance with such requirements, and (iii) transferred to the City, following the written confirmation by the Director of Public Works or the designee thereof, pursuant to a transfer of interest document approved as to form by the City Attorney and accepted by the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof on behalf of the City. The Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City, is hereby authorized to accept, in the manner for which this subsection provides, all improvements and work required by and meeting the requirements of this subsection. The final certificate of occupancy shall not be issued for the Property until all requirements of this subsection are fully satisfied.
(f) In all other respects, the use of the Property shall be in accordance with the applicable underlying zoning regulations.
§ 5. General Terms and Conditions. This special use permit is conditioned on the following general terms and conditions:
(a) No permit implementing this special use permit shall be approved until satisfactory evidence has been presented to the Zoning Administrator that any delinquent real estate taxes applicable to the Property have been paid.
(b) The Owner shall be bound by, shall observe and shall comply with all other laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the Property, except as otherwise expressly provided in this ordinance.
(c) Words and phrases used in this ordinance shall be interpreted to have the meanings ascribed to them by section 30-1220 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this special use permit is being approved due, in part, to the mitigating effects of each and every condition attached hereto; consequently, if any portion of this ordinance is determined to be invalid for any reason by a final, non-appealable order of any Virginia or federal court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity shall cause the entire ordinance to be void and of no further effect from the effective date of such order.
(e) The privileges granted by this ordinance may be revoked pursuant to the provisions of sections 30-1050.7 through 30-1050.11 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and all future amendments to such laws. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of this ordinance shall constitute a violation of section 30-1080 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and all future amendments to such law, or any other applicable laws or regulations.
(f) When the privileges granted by this ordinance terminate and the special use permit granted hereby becomes null and void whether as a result of the Owner relinquishing this special use permit in a writing addressed to the Director of Planning and Development Review or otherwise, use of the Property shall be governed thereafter by the zoning regulations prescribed for the district in which the Property is then situated.
§ 6. Implementation. The Commissioner of Buildings is authorized to issue a building permit substantially in accordance with the Plans for the Special Use subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this ordinance. An application for the building permit shall be made within 1,096 calendar days following the date on which this ordinance becomes effective. If either the application for the building permit is not made within the time period stated in the previous sentence or the building permit terminates under any provision of the Virginia Statewide Building Code, this ordinance and the special use permit granted hereby shall terminate and become null and void.
§ 7. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: May 28, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor (by request)
(This in no way reflects a recommendation on behalf of the Mayor)
THROUGH: Sharon L. Ebert, Interim Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Kevin J. Vonck, Director of Planning & Development Review
RE: To authorize the special use of the property known as 1400 School Road for the purpose of student housing, containing up to three stories and up to four student housing units, that will individually house more than three unrelated persons, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: The applicant is requesting a Special Use Permit to authorize the construction of one three-story student housing building. The current parcel cannot meet underlying zoning codes regarding lot area and width, and the definition of family therefore, an SUP is required.
BACKGROUND: The property is located in the Virginia Union neighborhood on the corner of Bath Street and School Road, in an R-53 Multi-family Residential zoning district. The future land use designation is Institutional, which is defined as, “Public and quasi-public entities, such as local, state, and federal government, hospitals, universities, schools, and religions institutions. Development Style: Several buildings owned by an institution are often connected by an engaging character that creates a campus-like environment…. Primary Uses: Institutional, cultural, government, and open space.
Secondary Uses: Retail/office/personal service and multi-family.” The surrounding neighborhood is zoned R-53, with mainly single-family homes and the Virginia Union University Campus.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The Edgehill Chamberlayne Court Civic Association was notified. Additional community notification will take place after staff introduction.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: Richmond 300 Master Plan
FISCAL IMPACT: $2400 application fee.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: July 28, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 8, 2025
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Planning Commission, August 19, 2025
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Office of Chief Administrative Officer
Law Department (for review of draft ordinance)
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: Draft Ordinance, Application Form, Applicant’s Report, Plans, Survey,
STAFF:
Madison Wilson, Planner, Land Use Administration (Room 511) 646-5734