Council to consider Jahnke project again, affordable housing community on Snead Road, more

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

• ORD. 2024-312 To authorize the special use of the property known as 7100 Jahnke Road for the purpose of a mixed-use building containing up to 14 dwelling units, with off-street parking, upon certain terms and conditions. (4th District)

  WHAT IT MEANS: They would like to build a 3 story building with 14 dwelling units (7 of which would be short term – like AirBNB) and 3,250 square feet of commercial space for “neighborhood-serving commercial uses such as “retail; office; art galleries; barber shops and beauty salons, including manicure, spa, tanning and similar services; and specialty food and beverage stores (including retail bakery); laundromats and laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up; and restaurants and other food and beverage establishments.”

• Ord. No. 2025-022 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1001 Barlen Drive for the purpose of up to two single-family detached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions. (9th District)

  WHAT IT MEANS: A second dwelling unit was built by a previous owner circa 1998 without an approved special use permit nor with a building permit. This makes that unit legal.

• Ord. No. 2025-025 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 5009 Rear Snead Road, 5015 Snead Road, and 5015 Rear Snead Road for the purpose of up to 180 multifamily dwelling units and a clubhouse, upon certain terms and conditions. (9th District)

  WHAT IT MEANS: 3-story multifamily affordable housing. Of note is the first proposed housing development to come through in a while that is opposed by Planning staff – for among other things being “located in an un-walkable, car-dependent area, far from frequent transit, employment centers, and services”.

• ORD 2025-029 To amend Ord. No. 2021-079, adopted Apr. 12, 2021, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $150,000.00 from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation; amended the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities called the Bellemeade Park Outdoor Educational Classroom Facility Special Fund; and appropriated the grant funds received to the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the new Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ Bellemeade Park Outdoor Educational Classroom Facility Special Fund by $150,000.00 for the purpose of funding the design, permitting, and construction of an outdoor classroom at Bellemeade Park located at 1800 Krouse Street in the city of Richmond, to change the permitted use of the grant funds and modify the name of the special fund to which the grant funds are appropriated.

  WHAT IT MEANS: The funds for Bellemeade were specifically to set up the outdoor classroom. Now that this is built, the new version gives them the ability to use the money for the “establishment of additional pollinator meadows, maintenance and improvements to walking trails, expansion of James River Park System programs, drainage work and site improvements to the community garden.”

• ORD. 2025-030 To amend Ord. No. 2024-193, adopted Jul. 22, 2024, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Agreement between the City of Richmond, Swansboro Place, LLC, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of facilitating the construction of an affordable housing development located at 2008 Hull Street, for the purpose of modifying the location of the affordable housing development to include 2021 Decatur Street. (8th District)

  WHAT IT MEANS: Adds 2021 Decatur Street to the housing development

• ORD. 2025-032 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Agreement between the City of Richmond, Refuge Apartments, LP, and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of facilitating the construction of an affordable housing development located at 5015 Snead Road, 5009 Rear Snead Road, and 5015 Rear Snead Road, or a site resulting from any such consolidation of the aforementioned parcels. (9th District)

  WHAT IT MEANS: Gives the developers a tax break to help subsidize this affordable housing community for 30 year, to restrict occupancy and rents to an average income designation of
  60% of AMI.