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To authorize the special use of the property known as 2811 Rady Street for the purpose of four multifamily dwellings containing an aggregate of up to 352 dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions. (6th District)
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WHEREAS, the owner of the property known as 2811 Rady Street, which is situated in a R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District and a M-2 Heavy Industrial District, desires to use such property for the purpose of four multifamily dwellings containing an aggregate of up to 352 dwelling units, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by sections 30-412.1, concerning permitted principal uses, and 30-454.1, concerning permitted principal and accessory uses, 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 2811 Rady Street and identified as Tax Parcel No. N000-0720/017 in the 2025 records of the City Assessor, being more particularly shown on a survey entitled “‘ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey’ of a 22.885 Acre Parcel of Land Located ±400’ South of the Intersection of Rady St. & Magnolia St.,” prepared by Timmons Group, and dated February 27, 2023, 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 four multifamily dwellings containing an aggregate of up to 352 dwelling units, hereinafter referred to as “the Special Use,” substantially as shown on the plans entitled “Architectural Site Plan,” prepared by Humphreys & Partners Architects, L.P., dated October 1, 2024, and last revised October 3, 2024, and the plans entitled “Rady Street Illustrative Example Elevations,” prepared by Elmington, and dated May 17, 2024, hereinafter referred to, collectively, 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 four multifamily dwellings containing an aggregate of up to 352 dwelling units, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(b) The Property shall include a swimming pool, clubhouse, and amenity area, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(c) The Property shall include 88 long-term bicycle storage spaces and 17 short-term bicycle parking spaces, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(d) The height of the Special Use shall not exceed the height as shown on the Plans.
(e) All building materials, elevations, and site improvements, including landscaping,
shall be substantially as shown on the Plans.
(f) All mechanical equipment serving the Property shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way.
(g) All sidewalks fronting proposed buildings shall be a minimum of 5 feet in width and shall be separated from parking areas by a minimum 4-foot buffer zone that includes trees planted in accordance with the City of Richmond, Department of Public Works, Urban Forestry Division standards.
(h) In addition to the requirements set forth in section 4(e), all improvements and work within the public right-of way shall be completed in accordance with the requirements of the Director of Public Works consistent with the Department’s Design and Construction Standards.
§ 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 following: (i) extension and improvement of Burns Street from its intersection with Detroit Street in a southerly direction to the boundary line of the Property connecting with private access improvements on the Property, substantially as shown on the Plans, which shall be improved as a “Local Street” with curb and gutter, and sidewalk along the eastern side of the street, and the terminus of which shall be designed and constructed with an appropriate turnaround with corresponding public easement, all as approved by the Director of Public Works in connection with a building permit review; (ii) construction of a pedestrian crosswalk installed across Rady Street at Rady Court, substantially as shown on the Plans, and (iii) construction of sidewalk within the right-of-way of Rady Court, substantially as shown on the Plans. Such right-of-way 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.