Council to consider land for new park by Richmond Highway, new gas station on Jahnke Road, gun buyback event

The agenda for tonight’s City Council meeting has a number of items specific to this side of the river:

• ORD. 2024-258 To close, to public use and travel, an alley in the block bounded by Hull Street, East 20th Street, Decatur Street and East 21st Street, consisting of 1,320± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions.

  WHAT IT MEANS: This is a vacant block that technically has an alley running through it. They want to join the land together to build a four-story 90-unit affordable apartment building.

• ORD. 2024-261 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 4236 Shirley Road and 4240 Shirley Road for the purpose of two single-family detached dwellings, with driveway access to the street exceeding nine feet in width, upon certain terms and conditions. (4th District)
   
• ORD. 2024-269 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Capital Region Land Conservancy Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and Capital Region Land Conservancy, Inc. for the purpose of providing a grant to Capital Region Land Conservancy, Inc. for the acquisition and transfer of real property to the City of Richmond.

  WHAT IT MEANS: The city wants to buy the land for a city park, economic development projects, and extend Walmsley Boulevard to Commerce Road

• ORD. 2024-270 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and New Life Deliverance Tabernacle for the purpose of funding a voluntary gun buyback event in the city of Richmond.
   
• ORD. 2024-281 To authorize the special use of the property known as 7001 Jahnke Road for the purpose of motor fuels dispensing and a mixed-use building, upon certain terms and conditions. (9th District)

  WHAT IT MEANS: They want to renovate the existing building to be 4 apartments, a commercial space, and a gas station

• ORD. 2024-282 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1321 Porter Street for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling containing up to four dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions. (6th District)
   
• ORD. 2024-266 To provide for the granting by the City of Richmond to the person, firm or corporation to be ascertained in the manner prescribed by law of a non-exclusive easement over, under, through, upon, and across certain portions of the property known as Lewis G. Larus Park located at 3900 Beechmont Road for the laying, construction, operation, and maintenance of underground conduits and cables and all equipment, accessories, and appurtenances necessary to provide electrical service for the property known as Lewis G. Larus Park located at 3900 Beechmont Road, in accordance with a certain Right of Way Agreement. (4th District)
   
• There are also a handful of dueling property tax options that have been carried for a while