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To reverse in part the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review partially denying an application for a retroactive certificate of appropriateness for the property located at 510 West 20th Street in the city of Richmond, regarding replacement of main and front porch roofs, by fully approving such application. (5th District)
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WHEREAS, on May 27, 2025, the Commission of Architectural Review partially denied an application, identified as Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. COA-164459-2025, for retroactive approval of the replacement of main and front porch roofs on the property located at 510 West 20th Street, which is situated within the Springhill Old and Historic District, by deciding that replacement of standing seam metal with asphalt shingles on the main roof was an inappropriate choice for the historic structure in question; and
WHEREAS, on June 10, 2025, pursuant to section 30-930.8 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, the owner of the property located at 510 West 20th Street filed an appeal with the City Clerk asking that the Council reverse the Commission of Architectural Review’s decision partially denying approval of the application identified as Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. COA-164459-2025 to instead grant full approval of Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. COA-164459-2025; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 30-930.8 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, the Council may reverse or modify the decision appealed, in whole or in part, by resolution when it is satisfied that the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review is in error; and
WHEREAS, the Council, in accordance with Chapter 30, Article IX, Division 4 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, is satisfied, in consideration of the evidence before it and contrary to the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review, that the aforementioned replacement of the main roof on the property located at 510 West 20th Street is architecturally compatible with the buildings, structures, sites and general character of the Springhill Old and Historic District;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That the Council hereby reverses in part the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review partially denying Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. COA-164459-2025, attached hereto and made a part hereof, for retroactive approval of the replacement of main and front porch roofs at the property located at 510 West 20th Street, by reversing the Commission of Architectural Review’s denial of the request to replace standing seam metal with asphalt shingles on the main roof and thereby fully approving such application.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Council hereby directs that a Certificate of Appropriateness sufficient to show the Council’s full approval of Certificate of Appropriateness Application No. COA-164459-2025 be issued to the owner of the property located at 510 West 20th Street.
DATE: October 3, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilmember
THROUGH: RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
THROUGH: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager
FROM: Steven Taylor, Council Policy Analyst
RE: Reversing the Decision of the Commission of Architectural Review - regarding the property at 510 W 20th Street (CAR Application No. COA-164459-2025).
CNL - 2025 - 0045
PURPOSE:
Reversing the May 27, 2025, decision by the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR) to deny a certificate of appropriateness for the property at 510 W 20th Street for the installation of a roof made of asphalt shingles on a detached, single-family dwelling unit.
BACKGROUND:
The owners of the property at 510 W 20th Street, has filed an appeal with City Council requesting that the denial of their request for a retroactive certificate of appropriateness to install asphalt roof shingles, by CAR be reversed. A timely appeal, with all necessary fees, was filed with the City Clerk on June 10, 2025. Appellant states that they relied on their contractor to obtain necessary permits for the roof repair only to learned after work had begun and a notice of violation was received informing them that their asphalt roof replacement may be a violation of CAR Guidelines. Appellants contend that there are several roofs in the neighborhood that have asphalt shingle roofs and that a replacement roof is cost prohibitive.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: October 14, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: November 10, 2025
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing, and Transportation
AFFECTED AGENCIES: City Council, PDR. CAR
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: CAR Decision, Appeal of Applicant
STAFF: Steven Taylor, Council Policy Analyst, (804) 646-2780