Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall
Agenda — 96 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 April 16, 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 Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 3 Others in Attendance
- 4 Public Comment Period
- 4 Bonnie Ashley, Deputy City Attorney Kimberly Morris, Assistant City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
- 5 Approval of Minutes
- 6 There were no minutes to be approved.
- 6 Chair Andreas Addison called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.,and presided.
- 7 Presentation(s)
- 8 Land Use, Housing and Transportation Diamond District Presentation
- 8 Assistant City Clerk Kimberly Morris 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 None
- 10 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 10 There were no public comment speakers.
- 1. To install one speed table in the 1600 block of Monteiro Street and one speed table in the 1800 block of Monteiro Street. (6th District)
- 11 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
- 13 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to continue ORD. 2024-066 to the May 21, 2024 Land Use Housing and Transportation Committee Meeting, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 13 Page Break
- 14 DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- 2. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute appropriate documents releasing The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust and its successors in interest from any obligation to fulfill certain deed conditions and contractual requirements to redevelop the property known as 2615 Q Street for the purpose of allowing the Land Trust to sell such property to the owners of abutting parcels and utilize the proceeds from such sale to facilitate the development of affordable housing by The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust in the city of Richmond. (7th District)
- 15 The following ordinance was considered:
- 3. 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 300 Franklin, LLC, as landlord, for the purpose of leasing a portion of the property located at 300 East Franklin Street, consisting of 113,319± square feet, for office space and associated parking for the use of the City’s Department of Social Services. (6th District)
- 17 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- 17 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson stated she has received information from city administration regarding the proposed ordinance. Vice Chair Robertson also stated the ordinance will likely be withdrawn.
- 4. To amend Ord. No. 2023-088, adopted Mar. 27, 2023, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to submit a HOME - ARP Allocation Plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the receipt of Home Investment Partnerships - American Rescue Plan (HOME - ARP) Program funds in the amount of $5,840,854.00, to authorize the Chief Administrative to submit an amended HOME - ARP Allocation Plan.
- 19 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION & COMMUNITY FACILITIES
- 19 The following ordinance was considered:
- 5. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept a donation of construction services valued at approximately $600,000.00 from Capital Trees and, in connection therewith, to execute a Right-of-Entry Agreement between the City of Richmond and Capital Trees, all for the purpose of facilitating the construction of erosion and sediment control, park trails and fixture installation, planting, and landscaping for Hotchkiss Field Community Center located at 701 East Brookland Park Boulevard in the city of Richmond. (6th District)
- 21 Board Vacancies
- 21 Matt Welch, Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Economic Development, provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 22 April 16, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Board Vacancy Report
- 22 Member Ann Frances-Lambert inquired about the use of the split parcel.
- 23 Discussion Item(s)
- 23 Mr. Welch stated be believed it would be used as yard space by the two neighbors, and that the proceeds from the sale of the property would be used to build affordable housing.
- 24 There were no discussion items.
- 24 Eric Mai, Director of Acquisitions for Maggie Walker Land Trust, stated the neighbors would split the parcel and utilize the space for yard extensions, and that the purchase of the home would be used as a subsidy for another home in the city.
- 25 Staff Report
- 25 Chair Andreas Addison stated zoning rewrites should correct issues with rebuilding homes on empty lots.
- 26 LUHT April 2024 Staff Report
- 26 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson stated she would like to know the value of the property and the amount of the delinquent tax that caused the initial sale of the property. Ms. Robertson also inquired about the condition and value of the property at the time of the tax sale.
- 27 Mr. Welch stated he believed the property had a tax liability between two and three thousand dollars when the city acquired it.
- 28 Ms. Robertson stated her concern about the assessed value of the property and asked if the transfer of land through tax sale is inequitable. Ms. Robertson also inquired about the purchase amount the adjacent property owners will pay for the parcels.
- 29 Mr. Mai stated $10,000.00 was the proposed sale price for each of the split parcels.
- 30 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to continue ORD. 2024-097 to May 21, 2024 Land Use Housing, and Transportation Committee Meeting, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 31 The following ordinance was considered:
- 33 Shunda Giles, Director of Social Services, provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 34 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired about the lease amount and future plans for the new location.
- 35 Ms. Giles responded the city would be reimbursed 84.5% of the cost of the lease and the plan is to permanently stay at the new location.
- 36 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired about the lease term and move in date.
- 37 Ms. Giles responded the move is scheduled for Fall of 2025.
- 38 Chair Andreas Addison stated opportunities to access the GRTC Pulse will be helpful for citizens who wish to utilize the new location.
- 39 Public Hearing
- 40 Keyva Tucker, Family Services Specialist III, Department of Social Services, spoke in support and stated parking and employees being in one location will be a great benefit to the department.
- 41 Robert Sutherlin, Building and Operations Manager, Department of Social Services, spoke in support and stated a new location would benefit everyone overall because of the extensive repairs that are needed currently at the 900 E Marshall Street building.
- 42 Rick Waugh, Program and Operations Supervisor, Department of Social Services, spoke in support and stated moving into a new facility will encourage a welcoming atmosphere.
- 43 LaWanda Hunter, Program and Operations Supervisor, Department of Social Services, spoke in support and stated a new location will provide a welcoming atmosphere for children who have experienced trauma.
- 44 Nishone Foote-Moore, Program and Operations Supervisor, Department of Social Services, spoke in support and stated a new location will be welcoming to other localities that come for training.
- 45 Robert Moody, Technology Manager, Department of Social Services, spoke in support and stated being in a new location may help local businesses and will allow clients and staff to be in a safe environment.
- 46 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired if the department will remain in the Franklin Street location permanently or return to the city center location upon its completion.
- 47 Ms. Giles stated the department plans to remain in the building on Franklin Street and she expects more employees to work in the building instead of teleworking due to the new location.
- 48 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson thanked Ms. Giles and congratulated her on the Department of Social Services' accomplishments. Ms. Robertson also inquired about the number of staff that will be occupying the Franklin Street location and employee caseloads.
- 49 Ms. Giles stated she made adjustments to the recruiting process to accommodate employee caseloads. Caseloads started at 3,500 and since the adjustments caseloads have decreased to 2,560.
- 50 Chair Addison inquired as to the budget allocation for the Department of Social Services now that the new location will be centralized.
- 51 Traci DeShazor, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services, provided information regarding how the Department of Social Services will still maintain a presence for citizens on the Southside.
- 52 City administration had continued discussion with the committee regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 53 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-107 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 54 The following ordinance was considered:
- 56 Sherrill Hampton, Director of Housing and Community Development, provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 57 Amanda Wrinkle, Senior Project Development Manager with Housing and Community Development, provided information regarding the Amended HOME-ARP Allocation Plan.
- 58 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 59 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired about the four qualifying populations that are eligible for assistance from the HOME-ARP Program. Member Lambert also asked about access to the Housing Resource Center.
- 60 Ms. Wrinkle provided the four qualifiers that are eligible for HOME-ARP Program assistance.
- 61 Ms. Hampton provided information on the eligibility as it pertains to the Housing Resource Center. Ms. Hampton also provided information regarding the city's relationship with the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCOC).
- 62 City administration had continued discussion with the committee regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 63 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-105 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 64 The following ordinance was considered:
- 66 Nissa Richardson, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Capital Projects, provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 67 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-106 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 69 Sharon Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Planning and Economic Development, provided the committee with a presentation that addressed the Diamond District Project with focus on Land Use, Housing and Transportation.
- 71 A copy of the material provided has been filed
- 72 Member Ann-Frances Lambert stated her appreciation for the presentation, and she thanked Ms. Ebert for clarification about the relocation of parcels and affordable housing development.
- 73 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson thanked Ms. Ebert for providing clarification on plans for the demolition of the current stadium and other phases of future development.
- 74 Chair Andreas Addison thanked Ms. Ebert for the presentation, and he noted his support for recent design changes.
- 76 Pamela Nichols,Council Management Analyst, reviewed board applications for consideration by the committee.
- 78 Chair Andreas Addison moved to continue consideration of applications to the City Planning Commission, and the History and Culture Commission, to the May 22, 2024, Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee meeting, and to forward the following board appointment and reappointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved:
- 79 City Planning Commission: Burchell Pinnock (reappointment)
- 80 Commission of Architectural Review Andrew Moore (reappointment) Catherine Easterling Erik Bootsman Beth Rutledge
- 81 Safe and Healthy Streets Commission John Hamilton
- 82 Urban Design Commission Jessie Gemmer (reappointment) Damon Pearson (reappointment) Amelia Wehunt (reappointment)
- 85 Page break
- 87 Council staff provided the committee with the April staff report.
- 89 Adjournment
- 90 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m.