File #: ORD. 2024-023    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Adopted
File created: 8/7/2023 In control: City Council
On agenda: 2/26/2024 Final action: 2/26/2024
Title: To authorize the special use of the property known as 3112 Woodcliff Avenue for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions. (6th District)
Patrons: Mayor Stoney (By Request)
Attachments: 1. Ord. No. 2024-023, 2. Application Documents, 3. Staff Report

Title

To authorize the special use of the property known as 3112 Woodcliff Avenue for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions. (6th District)

 

Body

WHEREAS, the owner of the property known as 3112 Woodcliff Avenue, which is situated in a R-5 Single-Family Residential District, desires to use such property for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by section 30-410.4, concerning lot area and width, 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 3112 Woodcliff Avenue and identified as Tax Parcel No. N000-1055/012 in the 2024 records of the City Assessor, being more particularly shown on as a survey entitled “Plat of Property Situated on the Western Line of Woodcliffe Avenue and North of Highlandview Avenue, Richmond, Va.,” prepared by Chas. H. Fleet and Assocs., and dated May 17, 1968, 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 two single-family detached dwellings, hereinafter referred to as “the Special Use,” substantially as shown on the plans entitled “New Single Family Residence, 3112 Woodcliff Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222,” prepared by Penn & Co., and dated March 18, 2023, 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 two single-family detached dwellings, substantially as shown on the Plans.

(b)                     The height of the Special Use shall not exceed three stories, substantially as shown on the Plans.

(c)                     All mechanical equipment serving the Property shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way.

(d)                     All building materials, elevations, and site improvements shall be substantially as shown on the Plans.

(e)                     Prior to the issuance of a building permit for the Special Use, the establishment of two residential lots, substantially as shown on the Plans, shall be accomplished by obtaining the necessary approvals from the City and recording the appropriate plats and deeds among the land records of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond.

                     § 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.

 

O & R Request

DATE:                     September 26, 2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            EDITION:                     1

                                                               

TO:                      The Honorable Members of City Council

 

THROUGH:                     The Honorable Levar M. Stoney, Mayor (Mayor, by Request)

                     (This is no way reflects a recommendation on behalf of the Mayor.)

 

THROUGH:                     J.E. Lincoln Saunders, Chief Administrative Officer

 

THROUGH:                      Sharon L. Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic

                     Development and Planning

 

FROM:                     Kevin J. Vonck, Director, Department of Planning and Development Review                     

 

RE:                     To authorize the special use of the property known as 3112 Woodcliff Avenue for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.

                     

ORD. OR RES. No.                                          

 

 

PURPOSE:  To authorize the special use of the property known as 3112 Woodcliff Avenue for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.

 

REASON: The applicant is requesting a Special Use Permit for a second single-family detached dwelling in the R-5 Single Family Residential District, which would be located on a separate parcel after a lot split. The single-family dwelling is a permitted use but feature requirements regarding lot area and lot width cannot be met. Therefore, a Special Use Permit is required.

 

RECOMMENDATION: In accordance with the requirements of the City Charter and the Zoning Ordinance, the City Planning Commission will review this request and make a recommendation to City Council.

 

BACKGROUND: The property is located in the Highland Terrace neighborhood between Craigie Avenue and Highland View Avenue. The property is currently a 4,200 (0.096 acre) parcel of land. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates a future land use for the subject property as Residential, which is defined as a “Neighborhood consisting primarily of single-family houses on large- or medium-sized lots more homogeneous in nature.”

 

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 the property is R-5 - Residential (Single Family). Adjacent properties are within the same R-5 District. The area is generally residential properties.

 

FISCAL IMPACT / COST:  The Department of Planning and Development Review does not anticipate any impact to the City’s budget for this or future fiscal years.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  Staff time for processing the request; preparation of draft ordinance; and publishing, mailing and posting of public notices.

 

BUDGET AMENDMENT NECESSARY:  No

 

REVENUE TO CITY:  $300 Application Fee

 

DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE:  Upon Adoption

 

REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE:  October 10, 2023

 

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE:  November 13, 2023

 

REQUESTED AGENDA:  Consent

 

RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE:  None

 

CONSIDERATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES: Planning Commission

                                                                                                                                                                                                   November 6, 2023

 

AFFECTED AGENCIES:  Office of Chief Administrative Officer

                                                                                                                                                         Law Department (for review of draft ordinance)

 

RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.:  None

 

REQUIRED CHANGES TO WORK PROGRAM(S):  None

 

ATTACHMENTS:  Draft Ordinance, Application Form, Applicant’s Report, Plans, Survey, Map

 

STAFF:  Shaianna Trump, Associate Planner, Land Use Administration (Room 511) 646-7319

 

Recommended Action

Key Issues:

  Retain on Consent Agenda          
  Move to Regular Agenda    
  Refer Back to Committee 

  Remove from Council Agenda  

                      Strike         Withdrawn       ---- Continue to: