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Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee

January 21, 2025 ·3:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 81 items

  1. 1 Persons requesting to provide comments virtually during the public hearings or public comment period held at this meeting, must call the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955, option 3, by no later than 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
  2. 1 Committee Members and Other Council Members in Attendance
  3. 2 Call to Order
  4. 2 The Honorable Nicole Jones – Chair The Honorable Ellen Robertson – Vice Chair (late arrival) The Honorable Andrew Breton – Member The Honorable Stephanie Lynch – Councilmember (late arrival)
  5. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  6. 3 Staff in Attendance
  7. 4 Public Comment Period
  8. 4 Bonnie Ashley, Deputy City Attorney Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  9. 5 Approval of Minutes
  10. 6 December 17, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2025.010
  11. 6 Chair Nicole Jones called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m., and presided.
  12. 7 Presentation(s)
  13. 8 There were no presentations.
  14. 8 Upon the Chair’s request, Assistant City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad provided information on the appropriate manner in which the Council Chamber is to be evacuated in the event of an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
  15. 9 Paper(s) for Consideration
  16. 9 Councilor Stephanie Lynch joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams at 3:07 p.m.
  17. 10 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
  18. 1. To amend and reordain City Code § 27-132, concerning the use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones and school crossing zones and penalties, for the purpose of adding high-risk intersection segments authorized by Va. Code § 46.2-882.1. ORD. 2024-317 recommended for approval
  19. 11 Monchelle Hicks-Whitaker addressed the committee and proposed to the committee a community centered initiative to address land remediation and the unhoused population. Ms. Hicks-Whitaker stated that Richmond has a growing need to address vacant lands that often remain contaminated, limiting potential uses, impacting the health of nearby communities, and the potential to address homelessness and poverty.
  20. 2. To express support for the study and installation of photo speed monitoring devices in high-risk intersection segments[, including the 600 and 700 blocks of South Belvidere Street and certain other locations,] pursuant to Va. Code § 46.2-882.1 and [through the City of Richmond’s Department of Police “Safety Camera Program” and] to request that the Chief Administrative Officer consider identifying additional locations for the installation of photo speed monitoring devices and increasing the number of photo speed monitoring devices deployed by the City. (As Amended) (5th District) RES. 2024-R041 recommended for continuance
  21. 3. To designate the 900 block of Decatur Street in honor of Reverend Robert A. Winfree. (6th District) ORD. 2025-010 recommended for approval
  22. 13 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of December 17, 2024 and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
  23. 4. To express City Council’s support for the City’s participation in the United States Department of Transportation’s [Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity] Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development funding program for a Mayo Bridge replacement project. (As Amended) RES. 2025-R008 recommended for approval
  24. 15 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
  25. 5. To direct the City Planning Commission, as a part of its required review of the Master Plan in 2025, to prepare, submit to public hearing, and consider an amendment to the Master Plan that identifies the area generally bounded by Riverside Drive, Cowardin Avenue, Hull Street, and West 24th Street as a Neighborhood Node and to request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Department of Planning and Development Review, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Housing and Community Development to collectively work with the City Planning Commission to prepare such amendment to the Master Plan. (5th District) RES. 2025-R007 recommended for approval
  26. 17 Board Vacancies
  27. 18 January 21, 2025 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Board Vacancy Report CD.2025.008
  28. 18 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies and applications for consideration by the committee.
  29. 19 Discussion Item(s)
  30. 20 There were no discussion items.
  31. 20 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  32. 21 Staff Report
  33. 21 Chair Nicole Jones moved to forward the following board reappointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved: Ayes 2, Jones, Breton. Noes None. Vice Chair Ellen Robertson had not yet arrived.
  34. 22 January 21, 2025 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Staff Report CD.2025.015
  35. 22 Board of Building Code Appeals: Justin White (reappointment)
  36. 23 City Planning Commission: Dakia Knight (reappointment)
  37. 25 The following ordinance and resolution were considered:
  38. 28 Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance and resolution.
  39. 29 Public Hearing
  40. 30 There were no speakers from the public; however, Major Ronny Armstead, Richmond Police Department (RPD), addressed the committee concerning the proposed ordinance and resolution. Major Armstead stated his concerns about the staffing necessary to provide additional speed monitoring.
  41. 31 Member Andrew Breton asked if the speed monitoring cameras will eventually pay for themselves and the man power required to monitor them, after the issuance and payment of speeding tickets. Member Breton also asked what the proposed legislation will authorize if adopted.
  42. 32 Major Armstead stated that the revenue generated from traffic violations will depend on the type of traffic violation and whether or not the issued ticket is paid, and that revenue generated will not pay for the hours put in by staff. Major Armstead also provided the committee with additional information regarding the effects of adopting the proposed legislation.
  43. 33 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson arrived at 3:20 p.m., and was seated.
  44. 34 Councilor Stephanie Lynch provided additional background information regarding the purpose of the ordinance and resolution.
  45. 35 Chair Nicole Jones asked if the funding requested in the proposed legislation will help support the work that has already been implemented based on the data that was previously collected and analyzed.
  46. 36 Bobby Vincent, Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW), provided the committee with additional information regarding the proposed ordinance and resolution. Mr. Vincent stated that DPW has collected data and identified areas within and outside of the high injury network where accidents have occurred. Mr. Vincent also stated that DPW transportation engineers will be able to work with RPD to identify specific locations for speed camera installations.
  47. 37 Member Breton asked if the study will help identify more finalized locations for the speed cameras. Mr. Breton requested an analysis of funding needed for staffing of the speed cameras.
  48. 38 Mr. Vincent stated the analysis will help to determine the most dangerous intersections.
  49. 39 Member Breton stated that he supports recommending the proposed ordinance and resolution to Council for approval.
  50. 40 Major Armstead stated more staff will be needed to maintain and monitor additional speed cameras. Major Armstead also stated that the traffic tickets issued and paid are currently able to cover the cost of the active speed cameras, with adjustments needed based on increased costs.
  51. 41 Vice Chair Robertson requested city administration to provide the committee with additional data to determine more areas within the high injury network that will benefit from more traffic calming measures, prior to expressing support for speed camera installation at certain intersections.
  52. 42 Mr. Vincent stated that he can provide the committee with the additional data requested during the March 18, 2025 Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee meeting.
  53. 43 Councilor Stephanie Lynch and city administration further discussed the proposed ordinance and resolution with the committee.
  54. 44 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-317 to Council with the recommendation to approve, and to continue RES. 2024-R041 to the March 18, 2025 Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee meeting which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  55. 45 The following ordinance was considered:
  56. 47 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  57. 48 Public Hearing
  58. 49 Janet Woodka, President of Manchester Alliance, addressed the committee regarding the proposed ordinance. Ms. Woodka stated that Manchester Alliance is in full support of the proposed ordinance and she also discussed the impact that Reverend Robert A. Winfree has made within the Manchester community.
  59. 50 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2025-010 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  60. 51 The following resolution was considered:
  61. 53 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  62. 54 Member Andrew Breton asked if the funding application deadline will benefit from Council's approval of the proposed resolution. Member Breton also asked if the funding application will include more project details.
  63. 55 M Khara stated that the approval of the proposed resolution will help assist with the funding application deadline by keeping the timeline moving to prevent application delays. M Khara provided the committee with additional project details, such as the number and width of bridge lanes.
  64. 56 Public Hearing
  65. 57 Janet Woodka, President of Manchester Alliance and Vice President of Friends of the James River Park, addressed the committee regarding the proposed resolution. Ms. Woodka stated the James River community and other communities nearby have expressed full support of the proposed resolution and efforts to calm traffic.
  66. 58 Brantley Tyndall, Sports Backers Director of Bike Walk RVA, spoke in support of the proposed resolution and efforts to calm traffic through lane reduction.
  67. 59 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson thanked staff and city administration regarding the proposed resolution, and she addressed the projects potential impact on surrounding communities.
  68. 60 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward RES. 2025-R008 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  69. 61 The following resolution was considered:
  70. 63 Councilor Stephanie Lynch provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  71. 64 Public Hearing
  72. 65 There were no public hearing speakers.
  73. 66 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson asked if there is a plan in place to support the amendment request. Vice Chair Robertson also asked if the work was already in place to declare certain neighborhoods as neighborhood nodes.
  74. 67 Kevin Vonck, Director of the Department of Planning and Development Review (PDR), stated that the Master Plan was adopted in December 2020, and it states that the Master Plan shall be updated every five years. Mr. Vonck also stated that updates made to the Master Plan include focusing on neighborhood nodes that may have been overlooked, along with areas subject to development within the five years. Mr. Vonck provided the committee with additional information regarding the proposed resolution.
  75. 68 Member Andrew Breton asked if the proposed resolution indicates the process PDR will take to update the current Master Plan. Member Breton also asked if the proposed resolution is needed to make the neccessary changes to the Master Plan.
  76. 69 Mr. Vonck stated that PDR will work towards a full engagement plan with the public and other city departments to update the Master Plan, and the department welcomes suggestions from Council.
  77. 70 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward RES. 2025-R007 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  78. 74 Council staff provided the committee with the January Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee staff report.
  79. 76 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  80. 77 Adjurnment
  81. 78 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:22 p.m.