Title
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3131 Kensington Avenue for the purpose of five single-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, the owner of the property known as 3131 Kensington Avenue, which is situated in a R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District, desires to use such property for the purpose of five single-family attached dwellings, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by sections 30-412.4(2)(b), concerning lot area, 30-412.5(1), concerning yards, and 30-412.8, concerning height, of the Code of the City of Richmond (2015), as amended; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with section 17.11 of the Charter of the City of Richmond (2019), 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 (2015), 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 3131 Kensington Avenue and identified as Tax Parcel No. W000-1411/024 in the 2020 records of the City Assessor, being more particularly shown on a survey entitled “Condominium Plat of Lee School Lofts, Situated at #1301 Kensington Avenue, City of Richmond, Virginia,” prepared by Shadrach & Neal, inc., and dated February 22, 2008, 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 five single-family attached dwellings, substantially as shown on the plans entitled “Kensington Cleveland Townhouses, 3131 Kensington Ave, Richmond, Virginia,” prepared by Johannas Design Group, and dated May 20, 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 five single-family attached dwellings, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(b) Up to ten off-street parking spaces shall be provided for the use of the Property, 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) The height of the Special Use shall not exceed the height on the Plans.
(e) All building materials and elevations shall be substantially as shown on the Plans.
(f) Prior to the issuance of any certificate of occupancy for the Special Use, the establishment of up to five residential lots, substantially as shown on the Plans, shall be accomplished by obtaining subdivision approval from the City and by recording the appropriate plats 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 (2015), as amended, and all future amendments to such laws.
(e) The Owner shall make improvements within the right-of-way, including installation of a street tree along Kensington Avenue and four street trees along Cleveland Street, substantially as shown on the Plans, which 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 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, 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 (2015), 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 (2015), 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 (2015), 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: June 29, 2020 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: Levar M. Stoney, Mayor (Patron: Mayor, by Request)
(This in no way reflects a recommendation on behalf of the Mayor.)
THROUGH: Lenora G. Reid, Acting Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Sharon L. Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development and Planning
FROM: Mark A. Olinger, Director, Department of Planning and Development Review
RE: To authorize the special use of the property known as 3131 Kensington Avenue for the purposes of five single-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the special use of the property known as 3131 Kensington Avenue for the purposes of five single-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
REASON: The application wishes to subdivide the property at 3131 Kensington Avenue and construct five, single-family attached dwellings. The application, as submitted, does not meet certain feature requirements of the underlying R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District including lot area, front yards, side yards, and height. A Special Use Permit is therefore 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. This item will be scheduled for consideration by the Commission at its September 8, 2020, meeting.
BACKGROUND: The subject property consists of an 11,979 SF, or .28 acre unimproved parcel of land, and is a part of the Museum District neighborhood in the Near West Planning District at the intersection of Kensington Avenue and Cleveland Street. The property is also located in the West of the Boulevard Overlay District.
The City of Richmond’s Master Plan designates the subject property for Single-Family Medium Density land use. Primary uses are single-family and two-family dwellings, both detached and attached, at densities of 8 to 20 units per acre. Includes residential support uses such as schools, places of worship, neighborhood parks and recreation facilities, and limited public and semi-public uses. Typical zoning classifications that may accommodate this land use category: R-5A, R-6 and R-7. (City of Richmond, Master Plan, p. 133).
The current zoning for this property is R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential. Surrounding properties are located in the same district. The existing land uses in the vicinity are comprised of single-, two- and multi-family residential and commercial land uses.
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
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: July 27, 2020
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 14, 2020
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: None
CONSIDERATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES: City Planning Commission, September 8, 2020
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: Jonathan Brown, Senior Planner
Land Use Administration (Room 511) 646-5734
Recommended Action
Key Issues:
Retain on Consent Agenda
Move to Regular Agenda
Refer Back to Committee
Remove from Council Agenda
Strike Withdrawn ---- Continue to: