Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall
Agenda — 74 items
- 1 This meeting will be open to in-person participation; however, the public will have the option to provide their comments by teleconference/videoconference via Microsoft Teams. Interested individuals who wish to take advantage of this option, must do so prior to 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955 and selecting option 3.
- 1 Committee Members in Attendance
- 2 Call to Order
- 2 The Honorable Andreas Addison – Chair The Honorable Ellen Robertson – Vice Chair The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert – Committee Member
- 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 3 Others in Attendance
- 4 Public Comment Period
- 4 Bonnie Ashley, Deputy City Attorney Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Adam Poser, Deputy Council Chief of Staff Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
- 5 Approval of Minutes
- 6 April 16, 2024 - Land Use, Housing & Transportation Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 6 Chair Andreas Addison called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m., and presided.
- 7 May 21, 2024 - Land Use, Housing & Transportation Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 8 Presentation(s)
- 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.
- 9 There were no presentations.
- 10 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 10 Brock Hall addressed the committee and stated his concerns regarding parking and accessibility for the disabled community and the structures of buildings within the city.
- 1. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between the City of Richmond, as tenant, and the Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, as landlord, for the purpose of operating a public dog park located at 4401 Forest Hill Avenue. (4th District)
- 11 page break
- 2. To designate the property known as 6951 West Carnation Street as a revitalization area pursuant to Va. Code § 36-55.30:2. (9th District)
- 12 Approval of Minutes
- 13 Board Vacancies
- 13 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of the Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and Tuesday, May 21, 2024 committee meetings, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 14 June 18, 2024 - Board Vacancy Report
- 15 Discussion Item(s)
- 16 Affordable Housing Incentives Update
- 17 June 18, 2024 - Tools for Affordable Housing
- 18 Staff Report
- 19 June 18, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Staff Report
- 19 The following ordinance was considered:
- 21 Daniel Hazlett, Senior Management Analyst for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, provided the committee an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 22 Chair Andreas Addison inquired about the amount covered under the liability insurance.
- 23 Mr. Hazlett stated that the amount covered under the commercial liability insurance is $1 million.
- 24 Chair Addison inquired if there is state law or other guidance to determine the risk and the amount of required liability insurance.
- 25 Mr. Hazlett stated Risk Management provided guidance regarding the minimum coverage for commercial liability insurance.
- 26 Public Hearing
- 27 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 28 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired about the fiscal impact of the city covering the necessary liability insurance.
- 29 Mr. Hazlett stated that funding will be maintained under the Parks and Recreation's operating budget.
- 30 Member Lambert inquired if the dog park will be open to the public.
- 31 Mr. Hazlett stated that the dog park will be open to the public. Mr. Hazlett also stated that dog parks are one of the top five park amenities requested by the public, and that there are currently no dog parks on the city's Southside.
- 32 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-160 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 33 Chair Addison requested additional information from city administration regarding the possibility of insurance coverage for other city parks that allow dogs.
- 34 The following resolution was considered:
- 36 Michelle Brown Peters, Deputy Director for Housing and Community Development, provided the committee an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
- 37 Public Hearing
- 38 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 39 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired whether the proposed legislation will need to be expedited due to possible deadlines with the Virginia Housing Authority.
- 40 Michelle Brown Peters stated the considered legislation will not need to be expedited. Ms. Peters also stated that the Virginia Housing Authority accepted a letter from the Department of Housing and Community Development to notify of the public hearing.
- 41 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired about the area median income (AMI) for a family of four at 60%.
- 42 Michelle Brown Peters stated the AMI for a family of four at 60% AMI is $62,640.
- 43 Vice Chair Robertson inquired if the property will be restricted to 30% of the AMI.
- 44 Ms. Peters stated there will be a 30% AMI restriction.
- 45 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward RES. 2024-R017 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 47 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies for the committee’s consideration.
- 49 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 50 Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward the following board appointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved:
- 51 History and Culture Commission: Janet E. Smith Alicia Pullen Christopher Graham
- 54 Chair Andreas Addison stated that investing in affordable housing as a city and maximizing the results of available incentive programs will help encourage new affordable housing and make the city more appealing.
- 55 Merrick Malone, Interim Director of Housing and Community Development, and Sharon Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Planning and Economic Development, provided the committee with an update regarding affordable housing incentives.
- 57 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 58 Chair Addison asked if the available affordable housing and incentive lists are available for developers to view.
- 59 Merrick Malone stated city administration will continue working on a platform that will allow the public and developers to view current housing and development opportunities.
- 60 Member Ann-Frances Lambert requested further information regarding current housing developments and incentive programs. Ms. Lambert inquired about a $2 million designation.
- 61 Mr. Malone stated that $2 million will go towards single-family developments and home ownership.
- 62 Ms. Lambert inquired about a program in Washington, D.C. that has generated a half-billion dollars.
- 63 Mr. Malone stated that there is a transfer recordation fee tax and stated that 15% of earnings were allocated to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
- 64 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired about the current tax abatement used for affordable housing.
- 65 Mr. Malone stated the tax abatement is usually for affordable housing.
- 66 The committee had further discussion with Mr. Malone regarding affordable housing incentives.
- 68 Council staff provided the committee with the June Land Use, Housing and Transportation staff report.
- 70 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 71 Adjournment
- 72 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:57 p.m.