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To authorize the special use of the properties known as 3301 Maplewood Avenue and 800 Freeman Road for the purpose of a stadium, upon certain terms and conditions. (5th District)
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WHEREAS, the owner of the properties known as 3301 Maplewood Avenue and 800 Freeman Road, which are situated in a R-4 Single-Family Residential District, desires to use such properties for the purpose of a stadium, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by section 30-408.1, concerning permitted principal 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 properties known as 3301 Maplewood Avenue and 800 Freeman Road, identified as Tax Parcel Nos. W000-1502/001 and W000-1583/001, respectively, in the 2024 records of the City Assessor being more particularly shown on a map entitled “Special Use Permit,” prepared by the Department of Planning & Development Review, and dated April 18, 2024, a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this ordinance, hereinafter referred to as “the Property,” are hereby permitted to be used for the purpose of a stadium, hereinafter referred to as “the Special Use,” substantially as shown on the plans entitled “Topographic Survey of City Stadium, City of Richmond, Virginia,” prepared by Draper Aden Associates, and dated January 16, 2020, 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 a stadium, substantially as shown on the Plans. Permitted accessory uses to the Special Use shall include both those permitted by the applicable underlying zoning regulations and playing fields, concourses, seating, a press box, lighting, scoreboards, signage, irrigation, restrooms, locker rooms, concessions and the sale of alcohol, parking lots, landscaping, fencing, and customarily incidental and clearly subordinate accessory uses, structures, and improvements, as well as food truck courts, farmers markets, artisan markets, and city-sponsored events including concerts as described in the Deed of Ground Lease between the City of Richmond and operator of the Special Use.
(b) The height of the Special Use, including the scoreboard, shall not exceed 60 feet, with the exception of stadium lighting, which shall not exceed 100 feet.
(c) A scoreboard shall be permitted on the Property, no less than 46 feet from the Property line. The width of the scoreboard shall not exceed 80 feet and the height of the scoreboard, not including support columns or structures, shall not exceed 50 feet.
(d) Signs on the Property shall be limited to (i) signs permitted in all districts pursuant to section 30-505 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, and (ii) signs permitted in the TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District, pursuant to section 30-518.4. of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, with the exception that animated signage shall not be permitted on the rear of the scoreboard.
(e) All mechanical equipment serving the Property shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way.
(f) Prior to the issuance of any building permit for a scoreboard, concourse, seating, press box, restroom, locker room, concessions, or parking lot, a plan of development, or an amendment of the existing plan of development, for the Special Use, shall be approved by the Director of the Department of Planning and Development Review, or designee, pursuant to Article X, Division 4 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended.
§ 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 730 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.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
DATE: April 18, 2024
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Levar M. Stoney, Mayor (by request)
(This is no way reflects a recommendation on behalf of the Mayor)
THROUGH: J.E. Lincoln Saunders, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Kevin J. Vonck, Director of Planning & Development Review
RE: To authorize the special use of the properties known as 3301 Maplewood Avenue and 800 Freeman Road for the purpose of a stadium, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: The applicant is requesting a Special Use Permit to authorize a freestanding scoreboard replacement and additional signage in an R-4 Single-Family Residential zoning district, which would exceed the permitted square footage and height requirements within the R-4 District. A Special Use Permit is therefore required.
BACKGROUND: The property is located in the Stadium neighborhood on Maplewood Avenue between Freeman Road and McCloy Street. The property improved with the stadium is a 16.5-acre parcel of land. The parcel known as 800 Freeman Road consists of 3.43 acres of lang improved with a surface parking lot serving the stadium. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates a future land use for the subject property as Residential, which is defined as, “Neighborhood consisting primarily of single-family houses on large- or medium-sized lots more homogeneous in nature” (Richmond 300, p. 54).
Intensity: Buildings are generally one to three stories. Lot sizes generally range up to 5,000 to 20,000+ sq. ft. Residential density of 2 to 10 housing units per acre. Primary Uses: Single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, and open space. Secondary Uses: Duplexes and small multi-family buildings (typically 3-10 units), institutional, and cultural. Secondary uses may be found along major streets
The current zoning for this property is R-4 Single-Family District. The area is generally residential properties.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The surrounding neighborhood is being engaged as part of this process.
STRATEGIC INITATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: None
FISCAL IMPACT: The Department of Planning and Development Review does not anticipate any impact to the City’s budget for this or future fiscal years.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: April 22, 2024
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: May 28, 2024
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Planning Commission, May 21, 2024
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: Matthew Ebinger, Planning Supervisor, Land Use Administration (Room 511) 646-9221