Category Archives: government

2nd Draft Of ‘Code Refresh’ Ignores Neighborhood Input

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Yesterday the City government released the latest drafts for its zoning ordinance rewrite project.

The Draft 2 zoning map now has 7 properties south of Green Alley changed from RA-A to RM-A zoning (6 dwelling units per building 40′ height, 70% lot coverage).

These properties now targeted with RM-A zoning are:
123 S. Pine
125 S. Pine
516 S. Pine

200 S. Linden (Grace Arents Housing)
202 S. Linden (Grace Arents Housing)

314 S. Cherry
316 S. Cherry
(314 and 316 were built in 1860, according to Zillow, and are now owned as a duplex)
407 S. Cherry has been changed from RA-A to RM-C

The athletic field of St Andrews is now proposed with MX-5 zoning with 75′ height limit.

The Draft 2 zoning map now proposes zoning for the properties north of Green Alley on the 100 blocks of Pine, Laurel and Cherry zoned RM-A.

Draft 2 zoning map now changed the St. Andrews Church and Pine Street Baptist Church zoning from RA-A to MX-3 zoning.

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) voted that all of these properties should be zoned RA-A

In addition, some properties on the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of W. Cary Street are now proposed with MX-5 zoning and some with MX-3.

OHNA voted that all of the properties on these blocks of W. Cary should be zoned MX-3.

General office and retail are still shown as permitted uses by right under the RA-A and higher zoning.

It’s discouraging, but not surprising that the City’s ‘Code Refresh’ push continues to toss aside neighborhood input. After all, it already has a reputation as a scam for developers’ profits and very little to do with ‘affordable housing’.

City government and local corporate media go on and on about the need for Richmond to update its zoning, which they say has not been updated since the 1970’s, refusing to acknowledge that Oregon Hill was properly and appropriately rezoned for R-7 in 2002, not the seventies. It’s dishonest.

5th District “Town Hall” Meeting This Thursday

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Richmond City Councilmember Stephanie Lynch will be hosting a ‘Town Hall’ meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13 from 6 pm to 7:35 pm at Richmond High School for the Arts PTSA, 4314 Crutchfield St.

From announcement:

We are excited to be hosting a 5th District Town Hall at Richmond High School for the Arts on Thursday, November 13 at 6pm. Please enter the auditorium on the Crutchfield side.
Draft Agenda:
• Disposable Plastic Bag Tax – Tara Worden (tentative)
• DPW Update, Kenny Horak
Hull Street Project
Midlothian Turnpike improvements
James River Branch rails to trails
• Q&A
We look forward to seeing you there!

Code Refresh is a Scam

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Email sent last night to Mayor, City Council representative, planners, neighborhood association….

Mayor Avula,

I have to tell you, I have to let you know- this Code Refresh process is so horrible. I strongly object to the rezoning proposed for the Oregon Hill Historic District which would greatly damage the affordable housing and historic fabric of the neighborhood. But I am also mindful of other neighborhoods in this City that have no clue as to how this runaway train will hit them in the future.

Years ago, I went to Richmond300 meeting and pleaded for my neighborhood in person. Richmond300 was passed despite my neighborhood’s protest and a promised amendment. I have emailed comments repeatedly and told they don’t count. I went to a Westover Hills Code Refresh meeting at some pizzeria and added the little post-it notes in person, but I am told they do not really count. I went online to put some notes on the digital map, but it was not easy at all. I have worked in corporate IT and I found this website cumbersome, confusing, and distressing. I can’t imagine my more elderly and impaired neighbors even attempting to take part in this. Even the Sept. 28 ‘deadline’ is not clear to anyone. This is so stacked against us.

And believe me, Richmond residents are seeing how other parts of the City, the wealthier neighborhoods, are not being threatened or impacted by ‘Code Refresh’. The economic discrimination is OBVIOUS and NAUSEATING.

Despite the discouragement, I am emailing you, planners, and other people these recommendations, and I again ask that these be counted, considered, but also documented and made part of official records.
• All properties within the Oregon Hill Historic District that are currently zoned R-7 must be zoned RA-A.
• Maximum Lot Coverage in RA-A: The maximum lot-coverage ratio in the RA-A district shall be reduced to fifty-five percent (55%), matching the existing standard under R-7 zoning.
• The Oregon Hill Historic District, including the Jacob House boundary, shall be excluded in its entirety from the VCU circle of influence map. I REPEAT: • The Oregon Hill Historic District south of West Cary Street must be removed from the “VCU Node” circle, consistent with the Richmond 300 Master Plan.
• Parsons House Condominiums (Parsons Street Parcel): The zoning classification for the Parsons House condominium property shall be revised from RX-4 to RA-A.
• Field to the west of St. Andrew’s School: The zoning classification for the open field parcel north of the school shall be revised from RX-6 to RA-A.
• Cary Street Corridor: The zoning classification for properties fronting Cary Street shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-4 to MX-3.
• Residences North of the Alley Near Cary Street: The zoning classification for the existing R-7 residential lots north of the alley between Cary Street and Green Alley shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-6 to RA-A.
• Citywide duplex: Duplexes should be permitted citywide, as they are in RA-A.
• Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan: While not a function of the map, the Planning Commission should adopt and implement without delay the draft Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan
• All of the properties on the 100 block of South Pine, 100 block of South Laurel and 100 block of South Cherry Street, including 104, 106 and 106-1/2 S. Pine Street; 103, 105 and 109 S.
Laurel Street; and 117, 119, 121 and 123 S. Cherry Street must be zoned RA-A.
• All properties that are currently zoned B-3 within the Oregon Hill Historic District must be zoned MX-3, and MX-3 must be revised to have a 35 foot maximum height limit. These
properties include all of the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of West Cary Street which must be zoned MX-3.
• The RA-A zoning proposed for much of the Oregon Hill Historic District must not allow business use “by right”. Retail, dining uses and alcohol sales must NOT be allowed “by right” in RA-A zoning.
• The the maximum lot coverage must be no greater than 55% in the RA-A zoning, and the maximum height limit must be 35 feet.
• The two-story Parsons Row condominiums at 605 Spring Street must be zoned RA-A.
• The St. Andrews athletic field at 316 Linden Street must be zoned RA-A.
• MX-3 must be revised to have a 35 foot maximum height limit. All properties that are currently zoned B-1 within the Oregon Hill Historic District must be zoned with MX-3 with a maximum height limit no greater than 35 feet, consistent with the adjacent RA-A properties.
• Any rezoning must recognize the importance of, and encourage the use of, the Special Use Permit process which has served the neighborhood well.
• The affordable workforce housing in Oregon Hill must not be displaced by zoning that allows greater density.

I am sharing previous news posts in regard to Richmond300 and Code Refresh, with the hope that these will also be considered and documented.

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/ohna-deadline-to-comment-on-re-zoning-code-refresh-is-sept-28/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/comment-of-the-oregon-hill-home-improvement-council-on-proposed-rezoning/

I particularly point to this link directly underneath this sentence, as it gives a small glimpse of the huge corruption and subterfuge we have faced. The amount of time and energy that we have invested in battling VCU, City, developers in order to keep our historic community intact deserves more appreciation and recognition.
https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/some-historical-perspective-on-the-current-zoning/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/10/wric-reports-richmond-residents-demand-greater-community-voice-in-citys-code-refresh/

REFORM! REFORM! REFORM!:
https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/07/newspaper-coverage-and-ltes-bring-strong-calls-for-government-reform/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/07/04/max-lot-coverage-in-new-ra-a-zoning-threatens-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/03/28/neighborhood-threatened-by-re-zoning-comments-due-this-weekend/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/03/16/is-oregon-hill-under-attack/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/01/28/review-of-planning-review/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/10/25/community-hospital-saved/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/08/13/richmond300-code-refresh-meetings-this-week/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/02/28/editorial-save-community-hospital/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/03/29/neighborhood-association-opposes-demolition/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/03/09/top-down-planning-changes-threaten-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/02/09/bza-boogaloo-its-way-past-time-for-poole-and-pinnock-to-take-a-hike/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/12/12/meeting-on-city-initiated-zoning-changes-tomorrow-evening/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/08/11/please-send-an-email-letter-for-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/06/28/victory-city-council-passes-amendment-resolution-unanimously/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/06/24/richmond300-amendment-for-oregon-hill-at-city-council/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/12/16/the-wayne-commission/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/12/15/city-council-votes-against-neighborhood-to-pass-richmond300-plan/

https://www.styleweekly.com/opinion-let-us-succeed/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/11/15/land-use-committee-meets-tuesday/

https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/nov/05/oregon-hill-neighborhood-open-speculation-destruct/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/10/05/planning-director-punked/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/30/mayor-wants-to-take-away-parkland-for-affordable-housing/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/26/olingers-storefront-canard/

https://www.styleweekly.com/guest-commentary-runaway-train/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/31/will-richmond300-and-city-planning-commission-ever-listen-to-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/17/city-planners-scheme-a-last-minute-end-run-around-citizens/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/12/city-planners-determined-to-ignore-and-destroy-oregon-hill-community/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/06/05/richmond-300-plan-would-irreparably-damage-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/11/15/presentation-to-richmond-300/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/29/richmond-300-continues-to-ignore-city-residents/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/16/taylor-lynch-williamson-and-da-silva-submit-pledges-to-the-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/16/ohna-letter-to-city-council-and-richmond300-committee/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/11/12/single-family-to-be-removed/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/10/15/ohna-letter-to-richmond300-planners/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/05/14/demolition-of-historic-buildings-on-w-cary/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/03/17/ohna-press-release-with-letter-in-regard-to-w-cary-development/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/03/16/public-demonstration-planned-for-sunday-afternoon/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/17/revisiting-a-history-of-assessments-on-small-house/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2012/05/02/ohna-letter-for-349-s-laurel/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2010/10/09/two-years-later-still-waiting-for-positive-step-by-vcu/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2009/11/29/editorial-filling-in-the-gaps-in-historic-urban-neighborhoods/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/10/24/ohna-president-asks-vcu-to-take-positive-step-for-true-community-partnership/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/10/belvidere-plans/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/10/1990-park-plans/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/06/what-might-have-been-or-what-could-be/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/07/19/rezoning-meetinggreen-drinks-at-built-gallery/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/06/25/re-zoning-and-the-disappointing-marty-jewell/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/04/30/last-house-on-100-block-of-s-belvidere-demolished/

…. I could also bring up the sordid history of the developer Salomonsky, City government, FBI, and Oregon Hill residents, but let’s truncate there for now.
The stink is already apparent and overwhelming.
In the end, I am not surprised by this disaster. It’s not about “racial justice”, density, or affordable housing. Pretenses of ‘working with the community’ are laughable. It’s glaring to any citizen paying attention that this whole thing, Richmond300/Code Refresh, is a scam, a plot designed to prey on longterm residents for the benefit of unscrupulous developers. When you combine this con job with other factors, including rising utility rates and the RRHA debacle, it has become very clear that the City of Richmond is at war with its less wealthy residents, wanting to eradicate and replace us.

I completely agree with neighbors and other City residents that the “Code Refresh” initiative needs to be scrapped and Rodney Poole and director Vonck replaced with competent people, determined to do what’s best for our community, and not just developers.

Sincerely,
Scott Burger

Three quick addendums:

As I mentioned, the wealthier areas of Richmond are unscathed by the rezoning and are shown (appropriately) in white (without color) in the proposed zoning map.

And speaking of Salomonsky, remember that Rodney Poole even appointed Salomonsky’s business partner, Brian White, to the Zoning Advisory Council.

Lastly, notice that on the proposed zoning map that planners are proposing 90′ tall buildings on Dominion’s property on Tredegar Street and the Venture Richmond (really DPW’s) canal property. In other words, the public can say goodbye to the public views of the historic riverfront, according to this proposed zoning map.

OHNA: Deadline to Comment on Re-Zoning (“Code Refresh”) is Sept 28

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The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association released the following statement early this morning and encouraged neighbors to submit comments:

The deadline to provide comments on the proposed re-zoning of Richmond is Sept. 28 at 11:59 pm.
Many neighbors have concerns about the process the city is using to re-zone Richmond’s neighborhoods (including the number of
developers on the city’s Zoning Advisory Council); and, that the recommendations seem to benefit developers over residents, especially in
neighborhoods that are already dense and have lower-cost housing, while there does not seem to be a push for densifying other
neighborhoods.
Another concern about the process: most recently, a previously unpublicized document came to light, indicating that the zoning
designation for Oregon Hill (RA-A) would allow (for example) alcohol sales by right–both on and off premises. This list of “use
permissions” has never been discussed at most of the public forums presented by the zoning staff (see graphic):

Other concerns:

The maximum lot coverage area in RA-A would be expanded to 85%, reducing trees and greenspace needed to offset the urban heat-island effect.

Additionally, building heights in some parts of the neighborhood could be as high as 90 feet, with 4-story buildings allowed in Parson’s Row, the soccer field behind St Andrews School, and parts of the 100 blocks of Cherry, Laurel, and Pine (brown areas) and 6-story buildings on W. Cary (dark orange areas). See graphic:

Further, the format for submitting comments is to add them to an “Interactive map” — which is difficult to view or enter comments, especially using a phone (the device the majority of people use to access the internet).
Access the interactive map: https://app.atlas.co/shared/I8Qyj4dPdVO11HYQAGTm
Draft zoning plan: https://www.rva.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/Richmond_Zoning-Districts-June2025-DRAFT.pdf
At its July meeting, the OHNA membership approved the following official comments. You may use these to help draft your own comments, if you wish.
• Maximum Lot Coverage in RA-A: The maximum lot-coverage ratio in the RA-A district shall be reduced to fifty-five percent (55%), matching the existing standard under R-7 zoning.
• VCU Circle of Influence: The Oregon Hill Historic District, including the Jacob House boundary, shall be excluded in its entirety from the VCU circle of influence map.
• Parsons House Condominiums (Parsons Street Parcel): The zoning classification for the Parsons House condominium property shall be revised from RX-4 to RA-A.
• Field to the west of St. Andrew’s School: The zoning classification for the open field parcel north of the school shall be revised from RX-6 to RA-A.
• Cary Street Corridor: The zoning classification for properties fronting Cary Street shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-4 to MX-3.
• Residences North of the Alley Near Cary Street: The zoning classification for the existing R-7 residential lots north of the alley between Cary Street and Green Alley shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-6 to RA-A.
• Citywide duplex: Duplexes should be permitted citywide, as they are in RA-A.
• Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan: While not a function of the map, the Planning Commission should adopt and implement without delay the draft Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan

Join the OHNA Events Committee!
First meeting: Sept 30 at 7pm. Join via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85446651429?pwd6sNQYxrtgmgNf75wvhsQ6kNOpI6ZUk.1=

Get Involved! Join an OHNA committee:
Or become an officer: https://forms.gle/YvKkpBAn4bCPYF11A
Indicate your interest in joining an OHNA committee, or serving as an OHNA officer.

—
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86
See events and more: https://ohnarva.org/

Comment of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council on proposed rezoning

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From letter, sent this afternoon:

Dear Richmond City Council members, Richmond Planning Department staff, and the Zoning Advisory Council,
Thank you for the opportunity for the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council (OHHIC) to comment on the proposed city rezoning of the Oregon Hill Historic District. Please find the attached 13 page detailed comment in response to the “Code Refresh” proposals.
As detailed in the attached 13 page comment, we strongly object to the shockingly inappropriate zoning proposals in the Code Refresh draft that would allow 90’, 75’ and 55’ tall buildings “By Right” for blocks of the two-story Oregon Hill Historic District. We strongly object to the Code Refresh proposals to allow “By Right” business use, including “By Right” alcohol sales (on or off premises), in any house in Oregon Hill and to allow a maximum lot coverage of 80% wth no required back yards. We strongly object to including a portion of Oregon Hill under the VCU Node, even after we successfully stopped the VCU encroachment into Oregon Hill in 1990.
We are very concerned that these and other outrageous rezoning proposals threaten to undo all of the progress that OHHIC has made in the last 30 years in combining the twin goals of providing affordable work-force housing while preserving the historic homes of Oregon Hill.
The “Code-Refresh” proposals are so lacking in respect for the Oregon Hill Historic District that we urge our elected City Council members to name a new Zoning Advisory Council or Zoning Advisory Board to advise City Council on equitable rezoning for our city. There is little representation from the preservation community, environmental advocates or neighborhood leadership on the current Zoning Advisory Council, which was appointed by the unelected chair of the Planning Commission.
Please respect the input from OHHIC, which has successfully worked for over 30 years to improve the affordable housing and historic resources of the Oregon Hill Historic District. We are undergoing a renaissance of young families with children moving to the relatively affordable homes of neighborhood. Please do not undermine our successful efforts with ill-advised, and inappropriate zoning. Please make the zoning changes recommended for Oregon Hill Historic District as detailed in OHHIC’s attached 13 page document.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Charles Pool
For the Board of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council

https://www.oregonhill.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Oregon-Hill-Home-Improvement-Council-comment-on-proposed-rezoning-of-the-Oregon-Hill-Historic-District.pdf

“…. some historical perspective on the current zoning”

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Cherry Street neighbor Todd Woodson has written a short post for social media…

Regarding the disastrous “Code Refresh” and it’s harmful affect on Oregon Hill, let me give you some historical perspective on the current zoning and how it was achieved in 2002.
Before we were appropriately rezoned to R7, the majority of Oregon Hill was zoned R63, a moderate density zoning. The year was 2002. I was serving as president of the newly formed Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association and also as representative on the Near West Neighborhood Teams coalition- a wonderful, solid group of diverse community representatives, supported by the City. Our City’s excellent planning department, led by Director Mark Strickler, had put in countless hours working out an appropriate rezoning classification known as R7 for Oregon Hill. R7 was perfect because it encouraged the preservation of our historic single family homes while shunning large high rise apartment complexes. This was important because at the time, the overlook area was owned by Ethyl Corporation (now New Market- upon whose land now stands the Allianz Amphitheater). Ethyl had bought up all of the historic housing (listed on both Federal and State Registers of Historic Places) in the southern part of Oregon Hill and summarily demolished the homes in order to realize their grand investment opportunity. The problem is that the pending R7 zoning preserved single family and so jeopardized Ethyl’s scheme to allow a developer out of Texas to put up HUGE student apartment complexes, which would ruin the aesthetic of the neighborhood and overstress the infrastructure. The community solidly backed the R7 rezoning but for some unknown reason, that rezoning had stalled out as the student high rise plans were on the table. At the time, there was not a strong mayor system- we had a City Manager named Calvin Jamison, who had formerly been Human Resources Director for… ETHYL CORPORATION! At a neighborhood teams meeting, I questioned Jamison, in front of Near West community members as to what was holding up our rezoning and he responded he didn’t know of anything holding it back. The wonderful City planning department (at the time) was frustrated because they had put in so much work on a seriously good plan (R7) for Oregon Hill and it was going nowhere. I was at City hall a lot back then- trying to unblock the progress for our neighborhood. A young planner (who shall remain nameless) took me aside to a secluded area and told me to FOIA the minutes of a meeting with Calvin Jamison and his former employers on such and such a date. This planning hero had taken the minutes himself. Now, I had never heard of FOIA, which stands for the Virginia Freedom of Information Act but I did as he told me. Those minutes spelled it all out: the City Manager was holding up the rezoning until his pals could get their high rises built. A neighbor and lawyer David Gammino and I marched into a City Council meeting and called Jamison on his actions. City Council’s collective jaw dropped (at the time, there was much corruption in the City and two City Council members had been sent to prison for taking bribes from developers). Amazingly, our R7 soon came up for a vote and we were successful! A great developer named Steve Middleton stepped in and built the overlook as can be seen today- pretty much matching the rest of Oregon Hill!
Fast forward to today, when the City’s incompetent Planning Department led by DEVELOPER RODNEY POOLE, who has led the planning commission for over two decades, is trying to take away our R7 zoning to incentivize DEVELOPERS to come in, demolish historic, reasonably affordable and dense housing stock to build high rise student housing. History repeats itself.
I ask my dear community members to support our quest to keep our neighborhood intact and historic. The “Code Refresh” initiative needs to be completely scrapped and Poole and director Vonck replaced with competent people, determined to do what’s best for our community.
Thanks, Todd.

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meets Tuesday Evening

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association is meeting this Tuesday at 7:00 pm.

From email announcement:

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 23 Sept 2025
PINE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
(enter from Albemarle St)

Zoom option for those who can’t attend in person (Editor’s note: redacted, email ohnarva@gmail.com for this information)

Welcome

Approval of Minutes (Scott Racette)

Community and local Officials: Del. Carr, RPD/VCU Police, VCU liaison, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Councilmember Lynch, RVA neighborhood liaison, etc

Committee reports: Zoning, FoOHP, RvaPB, Bylaws, Traffic safety

Announcements: Join committees; upcoming events;

Updates and Continued Business:

Amphitheater discussion
Zoning discussion: What are the concerns? How to add comments? (Bryan Green or Charles Pool)

New Business:
Apply to put historical plaque in Pleasants Park (John Bolecek)
FOOHP: Approve Community Garden application & insurance (Phaedra Hise)

—
Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Valerie L’Herrou, President
Bryan Clark Green, Co-Vice President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice President
Susan Hill, Co-Vice President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
David Shannon, Co-Vice President
Scott Racette, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer
JOIN OHNA: https://forms.gle/joCpHqcPrShu8qf86
See events and more: https://ohnarva.org/

WRIC Reports “Richmond residents demand greater community voice in city’s ‘Code Refresh’”

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Local television station WRIC covered last night’s “Code Refresh” meeting:

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, during a public meeting Tuesday night, Mayor Danny Avula and city Councilmembers Katherine Jordan and Stephanie Lynch met with residents from the 2nd and 5th districts to discuss the upcoming rezoning project, which could reshape how businesses operate, where homes are built and how neighborhoods develop across Richmond.

While city leaders emphasized the importance of the initiative, many residents voiced concern about the makeup of the Zoning Advisory Council — the group responsible for shaping zoning decisions under the new plan.

Click here to read more.

Newspaper Coverage And ‘LTE’s’ Bring Strong Calls For Government Reform

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While local television stations bandied ongoing amphitheater concerns and new signs (more on those at a later time), Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Samuel Parker examined the details in regard to another City Hall threat against the neighborhood- rezoning.

Oregon Hill residents have been contemplating on this matter from the beginning- going back to the original ‘Richmond 300’ meetings on land use and calling foul on the narratives that came forth from them. City Hall brushed off the heartfelt complaints by neighbors and in what has become a horrible pattern, self-congratulated itself and celebrated dubious awards. The City government did the same thing with its water utility even as the water plant failed, something that surprised even longtime critics, exposing the real rot underneath.

Thankfully, in the last week or so, Mr. Parker, in a few in-depth newspaper articles, focused on who City’s Planning Department officials really are and brought significant light to conflicts of interest and tenures that should have ended decades ago.

Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool wrote a well-written and complimentary Letter To The Editor (LTE) in gratitude for Parker’s work and the Times Dispatch newspaper published it this past Saturday morning. Pool’s correspondence also served to underscore the result of Planning Department problems- “an illegitimate process with a bonanza of new zoning proposals by developers, for developers”, that have more to do with profiteering than City’s well-being or affordable housing. Pool also described some of the disastrous impacts of these current proposals on this historic neighborhood and strongly called for immediate reform.

(By the way, also see the poignant LTE (“Correspondent Of The Day”) from the president of Chesterfield’s NAACP, Nicole Thompson-Martin, on Dominion’s dirty fossil fuel ambitions – “Letter: Clean energy isn’t just cheaper, it’s more equitable”)

Cherry Street neighbor and former president of the neighborhood association Todd Woodson re-posted Pool’s letter on social media and further challenged the City government.

I’ve been civically active in Richmond, Virginia for 25 years because I love our historic City and recognize the amazing progress we can and must make to ensure equity and prosperity in all corners. That said, I have seen it so damn corrupt here in the past that the FBI has had to intervene, sending lawless developers and City Councilors to jail.
If you care about our community, please read this LTE in today’s Times Dispatch. We are on a precipice of destroying much of what’s good and beautiful in Richmond because the developer “foxes are in the henhouse”. Our Department of Planning and Review has acknowledged paying for and using compromised data to implement terrible zoning changes in our historic neighborhood. Oregon Hill was appropriately rezoned to R7 in 2002. R7 maintains the character of this family oriented enclave (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) while at the same time promoting a dense fabric of reasonably affordable housing.
I call on Mayor Avula and City Council to DO THE RIGHT THING! Remove the bad leadership from our Planning Commission and Department , scrap the current Code Refresh abomination and start from scratch with the added voices of environmentalists , social activists, historians and other grassroots community members. If it aint broke dont fix it. The current Code Refresh is simply Urban Renewal 2.0 and only benefits the greedy that are currently wielding power.

Mr. Parker does deserve gratitude and laurels for bringing more attention to longstanding problems with Richmond’s Planning Department, and citizens and residents are both cheering and adamant. Will Mayor Avula and City Council represent the citizens and residents of this city, or will they continue to cowardly adhere to developer money? (And yes, this does include issues with the new corporate amphitheater as well as debate over the future of public housing).