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To authorize the special use of the property known as 5 North Colonial Avenue Rear for the purpose of up to six attached garages, which may be rented to persons who reside outside of the same entire block as the Property, upon certain terms and conditions. (1st District)
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WHEREAS, the owner of the property known as 5 North Colonial Avenue Rear, which is situated in a R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District, desires to use such property for the purpose of up to six attached garages, which may be rented to persons who reside outside of the same entire block as the Property, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by section 30-610.3, concerning alley frontage for accessory buildings, structures or 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 5 North Colonial Avenue Rear and identified as Tax Parcel No: W000-1244/031 in the 2026 records of the City Assessor, being more particularly shown on a survey entitled “Plat Showing Proposed Vacation of a Portion of a 40’ Alley, Lying Between Floyd Avenue and Elwood [sic] Avenue, in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” prepared by McKnight and Associates, P.C., and dated December 17, 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 up to six attached garages, which may be rented to persons who reside outside of the same entire block as the Property, hereinafter referred to as “the Special Use,” substantially as shown on the plans entitled “Plat Showing Proposed Vacation of a Portion of a 40’ Alley, Lying Between Floyd Avenue and Elwood [sic] Avenue, in the City of Richmond, Virginia,” prepared by McKnight and Associates, P.C., and dated December 17, 2025, and “Boulevard Garages, 5 N. Colonial Avenue, Richmond, Va,” prepared by BOB Architecture, and dated October 3, 2025, 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 up to six attached garages, which may be rented to persons who reside outside of the same entire block as the Property, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(b) All site improvements shall be substantially as shown on the Plans.
(c) All mechanical equipment, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units, serving the Property shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any adjoining public right-of- way.
(d) The special use permit granted by this ordinance is expressly conditioned on the adoption of and compliance with an ordinance closing to public use and travel a part of an alley in the block bounded by North Colonial Avenue, Floyd Avenue, North Arthur Ashe Boulevard, and Ellwood Avenue, substantially as shown on the Plans.
§ 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) 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 6, 2026
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: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Sharon L. Ebert, DCAO for Economic Development and Planning
FROM: Kevin J. Vonck, Director of Planning & Development Review
RE: To authorize the special use of the property known as 5 North Colonial Avenue Rear for the purpose of an accessory building, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: The applicant is requesting a Special Use Permit to authorize construction of a six-bay garage structure accessible by alley. The garages are a permitted use in the R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District where the subject property is located. However, the proposal calls for a structure that exceeds the maximum permitted height limit of 12 feet and calls for the garage bays to be accessible to those persons who do not own or lease a principal dwelling unit on the block. Special Use Permit is therefore requested to authorize this proposal.
BACKGROUND: The 1,626 square foot property located within a block bounded by Floyd Avenue, N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Ellwood Avenue, and N Colonial Avenue. It currently contains a dilapidated brick garage that will be razed. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates a future land use for the subject property as Neighborhood Mixed-Use, which is described as “existing or new highly walkable urban neighborhoods that are predominantly residential.”
Intensity: Building heights are generally two to four stories.
The current zoning for this property is R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District. Adjacent properties are also located within this district.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The Fan Area Business Alliance and the Museum District Association were notified of this request. After introduction a sign shall be posted on the property and adjacent property owners shall receive notification by mail.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: Richmond 300 Master Plan
FISCAL IMPACT: $800 application fee.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: June 8, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: July 27, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Planning Commission July 7, 2026
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Office of Chief Administrative Officer
Law Department (for review of draft ordinance)
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: Draft Ordinance, Authorization from Property Owner, Applicant’s Report, Plans, Survey
STAFF:
Alyson Oliver, Program and Operations Manager, Land Use Administration (Room 511) 646-3709
David Watson, Planner, Land Use Administration (Room 511) 646-1036