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To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, certain fee simple interests and temporary construction easements for the public purpose of facilitating the construction and operation of the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project.
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WHEREAS, in the opinion of the City Council of the City of Richmond, a public necessity exists for the acquisition of certain fee simple interests and temporary construction easements, each hereinafter referred to as an “Interest” and all hereinafter referred to as the “Interests,” as shown on the plats entitled “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Marie Lewis in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated January 15, 2025, “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Thomas R. Larkin & Rebecca W. Larkin in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated January 31, 2025, “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property Owned by the Estate of Leon Ellis Stovall in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated February 11, 2026, “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Jasmine Renee Fraizer & Jessica Nicole Fraizer in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated November 28, 2025, and “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of 824 Circlewood Dr Trust in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated January 31, 2025, all prepared by H&B Surveying and Mapping, LLC, copies of which are attached to and made a part of this ordinance, for the public purpose of facilitating the construction and operation of the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That a public necessity exists for the acquisition of the Interests as shown on the plats entitled “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Marie Lewis in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated January 15, 2025, “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Thomas R. Larkin & Rebecca W. Larkin in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated January 31, 2025, “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property Owned by the Estate of Leon Ellis Stovall in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated February 11, 2026, “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Jasmine Renee Fraizer & Jessica Nicole Fraizer in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated November 28, 2025, and “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of 824 Circlewood Dr Trust in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” dated January 31, 2025, all prepared by H&B Surveying and Mapping, LLC, copies of which are attached to and made a part of this ordinance, for the public purpose of facilitating the construction and operation of the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project.
§ 2. That the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof is hereby authorized and directed to, within the constraints imposed by this ordinance, (i) acquire, by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise the aforementioned Interests, (ii) act for and on behalf of the City of Richmond in agreeing or disagreeing with the owners of the properties from whom such Interests must be acquired upon the compensation to be paid therefor, and (iii) to execute the deeds and other documents necessary to complete the acquisition and acceptance of such Interests, provided that all such deeds and other documents first must be approved as to form by the City Attorney or the designee thereof.
§ 3. That in the event the City cannot agree with any owner of an Interest to be acquired pursuant to this ordinance on the terms of the purchase thereof, the City Attorney is authorized to acquire the Interest by undertaking appropriate condemnation proceedings to exercise the City’s power of eminent domain for the public purpose of facilitating the construction and operation of the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
O&R Transmittal
DATE: August 12, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Al Wiggins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Scott Morris, DBA, P.E., Director of Public Utilities
FROM: Billy Vaughan, Deputy Director Senior, Department of Public Utilities
RE: TO DECLARE THAT A PUBLIC NECESSITY EXISTS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OR DESIGNEE THEREOF TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN FEE SIMPLE INTERESTS AND TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS BY VOLUNTARY CONVEYANCE OR BY CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE WOODHAVEN DRIVE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
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PURPOSE: To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, certain fee simple interests and temporary construction easements for the public purpose of facilitating the construction and operation of the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this O&R transmittal is to declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or the designee thereof, to acquire certain fee simple interests, temporary easements, by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise for the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project as illustrated on the attached plats prepared by H&B Surveying and Mapping, LLC entitled “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Marie Lewis in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Thomas R. Larkin & Rebecca W. Larkin in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property Owned by the Estate of Leon Ellis Stovall in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of Jasmine Renee Fraizer & Jessica Nicole Fraizer in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” and “Plat Showing the Location of a Proposed Temporary Construction Easement to be Acquired Through the Property of 824 Circlewood Dr Trust in the City of Richmond, Virginia.”
The Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project will bring updated and adequate stormwater infrastructure to this 8th City Council neighborhood, including the replacement of existing swales and culverts beneath driveways and roadway intersections with over 13,000 linear feet of underground stormwater pipe. The project will also involve installing stormwater inlets and roll curb and gutter to allow for proper drainage within the new piped system. The engineering design for the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project is complete.
Thus far, the Department of Public Utilities has acquired 95 temporary easements and one permanent easement for 95 of the 100 properties within the project area, pursuant to Richmond City Code (2020) § 8-33. The Department of Public Utilities needs to acquire additional temporary easements for 625 Shelby Drive, 636 Newkirk Drive, 800 Newkirk Drive, 836 Woodhaven Drive, and 824 Circlewood Drive in order to progress with and facilitate the construction and operation of the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project.
The total cost of these remaining easement acquisitions is estimated to be $3,700.00. Funds are available within the project budget and will be paid from the Stormwater Utility Fund.
Relocations of residences or businesses are not required or necessary for the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project. Property rights for the easements will be purchased using fair market value and negotiations. However, if the Department of Public Utilities is unable to negotiate successfully with the property owners, the Department of Public Utilities will request that the Chief Administrative Officer, or the designee thereof, exercise the authority delegated through City Council to perform condemnation action of the necessary easements under Richmond City Charter § 18.03. If condemnation is required, the Department of Public Utilities will continue negotiations with the property owners during the condemnation process in order to allow the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project to continue to proceed.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Community engagement efforts have been ongoing throughout the project’s design and the easement acquisition process for the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project, and will continue throughout construction activities.
Since February 25, 2025 the project team has engaged with or attempted to engage with the owners of all 100 of the properties for which easements are necessary, as well as neighboring properties adjacent to planned construction activities. The project team has done extensive outreach to the owners of all 100 properties in order to coordinate the acquisition of the necessary easements, including the owners of the five properties where easements are still needed. These easement acquisition outreach efforts have included sending letters to introduce the easement acquisition process on February 25, 2025, and mailing the easement plats and proposed deeds to property owners between March 5, 2025, and August 13, 2025. Following these original introductory mailings, easement acquisition coordination has occurred in earnest on a parcel-/owner-specific level and has included in-person conversations and meetings, phone conversations, voicemail messages, emails, text messages, and additional letters and mailings sent via both First-Class and Certified Mail to the property addresses and, where applicable, separate mailing addresses for the properties as well.
Robust community engagement with all owners of the 100 properties and the greater neighborhood will continue throughout the duration of the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project, especially during construction activities.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: Completing the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project will upgrade the neighborhood’s drainage system and improve stormwater facilities, helping the Department of Public Utilities to best deliver high-quality service, an intention included in the “Excellence” value within the Mayoral Action Plan, through the construction of this capital improvement project. In addition, the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project aligns with the Mayoral Action Plan’s Thriving Neighborhoods pillar, and particularly Goal D to keep the City’s neighborhoods safe and prepared, the Thriving Economy pillar through Goal F and investing in Richmond’s Southside which has been historically neglected and the Thriving and Sustainable Built Environment pillar and both its Goal D to build, maintain, and repair City infrastructure that will serve residents for generations to come and Goal B to advance the goals of RVAgreen 2050. Specifically, the Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project helps to achieve RVAgreen 2050: Climate Equity Action Plan 2030 Environment Objective 3: Reduce risks and impacts to the community and natural environment from extreme precipitation and flooding. The Woodhaven Drive Drainage Improvement Project also aligns with Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth’s Resilient and Healthy Communities Objective 17.5 to reduce the effect from heavy rainfall events and sea level rise and its Objective 17.6 to increase the resiliency of infrastructure and community assets.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total anticipated cost for the remaining easements is $3,700.00. The actual acquisition cost is to be negotiated by the Department of Public Utilities and will be set at fair market value as determined pursuant to state and local regulations. Funds are available within the project budget and will be paid from the Stormwater Utility Fund.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 14, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 28, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent Agenda
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Planning Commission (September 15, 2026)
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Public Utilities; Planning and Development Review
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: Plats for 625 Shelby Drive, 636 Newkirk Drive, 800 Newkirk Drive, 836 Woodhaven Drive, and 824 Circlewood Drive
STAFF: Billy Vaughan, Deputy Director Senior, DPU - 804.646.5232
Bill Boston, Program and Operations Manager, DPU - 804.646.8161
Jenn Clarke, Program and Operations Supervisor, DPU - 804.646.8131