Title
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3600 Grove Avenue for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling containing up to [260] 253 dwelling units and amenity spaces, with off-street parking, upon certain terms and conditions. (As Amended) (1st District)
Body
WHEREAS, the owner of the property known as 3600 Grove Avenue, which is situated in a R-48 Multifamily Residential District, desires to use such property for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling containing up to [260] 253 dwelling units and amenity spaces, with off-street parking, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by sections 30-416.1, concerning permitted principal uses, 30-416.4(b), concerning lot area and width, 30-416.5(1), concerning front yards, 30-416.5(2)(b), concerning side and rear yards, 30-416.6, concerning usable open space, and 30-416.8, concerning height, 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 3600 Grove Avenue and identified as Tax Parcel No. W000-1657/002 in the 2023 records of the City Assessor, being more particularly shown on a survey entitled “ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey of 2.093 Acres of Land Owned by JFC Windsor DST,” prepared by Timmons Group, dated June 29, 2022, and last revised July 7, 2022, 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 a multifamily dwelling containing up to [260] 253 dwelling units and amenity spaces, with off-street parking, hereinafter referred to as “the Special Use,” substantially as shown on the plans entitled “3600 Grove Avenue Multifamily, Richmond, Virginia, Conceptual Design, [1-30-2023] 04-12-2023,” prepared by Dynamik Design, and dated [January 30, 2023] April 12, 2023, and “3600 Grove Avenue Multifamily Conceptual Plan,” prepared by Timmons Group, and dated [January 30] April 12, 2023, 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 a multifamily dwelling containing up to [260] 253 dwelling units and amenity spaces, with off-street parking, substantially as shown on the Plans. The ground floor of the building may also contain permitted principal uses on corner lots in the R-63 Multifamily Urban Residential District, pursuant to section 30-419.3 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, within the area labeled “Leasing/Amenities” on the Plans.
(b) No fewer than [335] 330 off-street parking spaces shall be provided for the Special Use, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(c) All building materials, elevations, and site improvements shall be substantially as shown on the Plans.
(d) All mechanical equipment serving the Property, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, shall be located or screened so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way.
(e) The height of the Special Use shall not exceed six stories, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(f) Storage for no fewer than 65 long-term, on-site bicycle parking spaces and six short-term, off-site bicycle parking spaces shall be provided, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(g) All ground floor dwelling units fronting Grove Avenue and North Thompson Street shall be accessible from the exterior of the building and shall be provided with walkways from the entrances to the sidewalk.
(h) Subject to approval by Dominion Virginia Energy, which approval the Owner shall obtain from Dominion Virginia Energy in writing, all power lines along Grove Avenue and North Thompson Street adjacent to the Property shall be buried, substantially as shown on the Plans.
(i) Signs on the Property shall be limited to an aggregate of 300 square feet in area and shall not be internally illuminated. Roof-mounted signs shall not be permitted on the Property.
§ 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) The Owner shall make improvements within the right-of-way, including the
installation of sidewalks and 19 new street trees, 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 (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: January 30, 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 3600 Grove Avenue for the purpose of a multi-family building, with off-street parking, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the special use of the property known as 3600 Grove Avenue for the purpose of a multi-family building, with off-street parking, upon certain terms and conditions.
REASON: The applicant is requesting a Special Use Permit which would allow for a multi-family building, with off street parking, within an R-48 Multifamily Residential District, which use, among other things, is not currently allowed by sections 30-416.1, 30-416.4(b), 30-416.5(1), 30-416.5(2)b, 30-416.6, and 30-416.8 regarding permitted principal uses, lot area and width, front yards, side and rear yards, usable open space, and height, respectively, of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended. 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.
BACKGROUND: The property is located in the Museum District neighborhood on Grove Avenue, between Grove and Hanover Avenues. The property is currently a 98,699 sq. ft. (2.3 acre) improved parcel of land, with a 27,390 sq. ft. vacant building constructed, per tax assessment records, in 1955. The application is for a new, 6-story multi-family building with off-street parking.
The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates a future land use for the subject property as Community Mixed Use. This designation is defined as clusters of “…medium-density, walkable commercial and residential uses that provide neighborhood services to nearby residential communities and sometimes feature regional attractions.”
Intensity: Buildings generally ranging from two to six stories, based on street widths and depending on the historic context and stepping down in height adjacent to residential areas, as necessary. New buildings that are taller than historical buildings should step back from the build-to line after matching the height of the predominant cornice line of the block.
Primary Uses: Retail/office/personal service, multi-family residential, cultural, and open space.
Secondary Uses: Single-family houses, institutional, and government. (p. 58)
The current zoning for this property is R 48 Multifamily Residential. The surrounding land uses include primarily residential with some institutional and commercial uses within the Museum District neighborhood and nearby Carytown.
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: $2,400 application fee
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: February 27, 2023
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: March 27, 2023
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: None
CONSIDERATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES: City Planning Commission March 20, 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: 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
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