The City of Richmond is in the process of revising its zoning regulations — a project called "Code Refresh.” The City has now issued a survey seeking feedback on some of its preliminary work, including new zoning categories and permitted uses. It is urgent and essential that every WCA member (and anyone you know) completes the survey.  It will remain available through March 31, 2025.

Important Survey Topics

The survey covers every zoning category — residential detached, residential attached, neighborhood mixed use, commercial, industrial — just to name a few. For the WCA footprint, I encourage you to focus on residential detached and neighborhood mixed use. Here are some issues you may want to comment on:

• For residential detached, the City is proposing that every residential category permit two dwelling units plus an accessory dwelling unit by right. The dwelling unit may be a duplex or two separate houses.
• The plan proposes three categories of residential detached housing — RD-A with a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet, RD-B with a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and RD-C with a minimum lot size of 2,000 square feet. For comparison, under current zoning, the smallest permissible lot size is 6,000 square feet. RD-C would be permissible in a number of areas along major streets (see note below).
• For neighborhood mixed use, the City is proposing four stories by right despite the commitment to three stories in the Westhampton neighborhood node.
• Along major streets (defined by Richmond 300 as Patterson, Grove, Cary, Libblie, Three Chopt, Malvern, Hamilton), the plan would allow greater density (upzoning) — allowing more dense housing (attached and detached, including RD-C) and more commercial use. Intersections of major streets would allow even greater density.

I also encourage you to include in your responses what you appreciate about our current neighborhood and those things you want to be sure are preserved.

Survey Format

The survey will take you 15-20 minutes, possibly longer. You will be presented with information about the plan and then asked questions about that information. This process repeats as you go through different topics, including zoning categories. YOUR FEEDBACK WILL ONLY BE REGISTERED IF YOU COMPLETE THE WHOLE SURVEY AND PUSH SUBMIT. Many of the questions allow open ended responses.  You may skip questions, but you must page through the survey to the end.

The survey can be accessed here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MYVYQCF              

I appreciate your participation. We need to make our voice heard.

Questions? Email contact@westhamptoncitizensassociation.com.