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Welcome to Zoning 101

Your guide to understanding development news in Richmond, VA

Know your way around a planning commission meeting with our guide. | Photo by @j.will.photography

If you want to be a development detective but find yourself turned around by the terminology in various city releases + news reports, never fear.

Here are some definitions of common terms paired with ongoing development projects and examples you might recognize in the River City.

Mixed-Use

Projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and retail shops on the bottom. Expect to see combinations of housing, retail, parking, commercial, and industrial components.

Think: The upcoming Diamond District development should have plenty of mixed-use spaces.

Rezoning

Changing an area of land from the city’s designated use. Examples of rezoning requests might be developers looking to build a high-rise in a neighborhood with a certain building height restriction, or open a business in an area marked residential.

Think: City Council adopted an ordinance to rezone areas around City Center ahead of its redevelopment.

RICtoday_ConceptualMap_CityCenter_Plan — A conceptual map of what City Center could look like post-redevelopment.

Special Use Permit

Granted to provide relief from regulations when land is being used in a manner not normally compatible with the zoning. Only granted when intended site use is deemed appropriate and compatible with the surrounding area.

Think: The city is considering changing the special use permit requirement for accessory dwelling units (also known as in-law suites).

Enterprise Zones

Areas of the city where building a site earns you incentives, including a break on real estate taxes and money back from costs of relocating, machinery + equipment, and construction permits. The goal is to promote economic development, so only certain commercial and industrial users qualify.

Think: These currently include much of downtown, Scott’s Addition, and City Center (see this map for all enterprise zones).

Click the button below for more common terms + local examples.

5 MORE DEFINITIONS

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Today

John Petrucci | Mon., Oct. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | The National, 708 E Broad St, Richmond | $30.00 - $99.00 | The guitarist will be joined by Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, and special guest Meanstreak.

Tuesday

“Beetlejuice” | Tue., Oct. 18 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W Cary St, Richmond | $8.00 | See the ghost with the most on the big screen.
Common Ground Virginia History Virtual Book Group | Tue., Oct. 18 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond | Free | Register to join the club and discuss “Code Girls” by Liza Mundy.

Wednesday

Lunch Break Science: “RVAir: Community Science Findings” | Wed., Oct. 19 | 12-12:45 p.m. | Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Devin Jefferson, the Community Science Catalyst at the Science Museum, will discuss the RVAir project + its findings.
Steve Lacy | Wed., Oct. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | The National, 708 E. Broad St., Richmond | $27.00 | If you think Geminis deserve rights, this show is for you.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

73º | Partly cloudy | 24% chance of rain

Community

The Greater Scott’s Addition Association is looking for volunteers to collect traffic data near the West Broad Street Green park. You’ll get training on site if you volunteer. The data will be used to determine how a possible park expansion might impact traffic. 🚙
CVWMA is reminding Richmonders what can and can’t be recycled. If you see an OOPS! sticker on your container, that means there are several items inside which cannot be recycled. Check the sticker for what needs to be removed + your items should get picked up next time around. ♻️ (NBC12)

Development

Chesterfield County is breaking ground on a new fire station at 6612 Hickory Rd. this Thurs., Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. The new Matoaca Fire Station No. 8 will replace the previous facility, built in 1962. Bonus: Park at the Shiloh Baptist Church to attend the groundbreaking. 🚒

Holiday

This event is a no-brainer. The Richmond Zombie Walk returns to the streets of Carytown on Sat., Oct. 29. Don your best undead duds and gather at Byrd Park at 1 p.m. to participate, or watch the procession, which will start ~2:30 p.m. 🧟

Shop

Sneed’s Nursery is bringing back its Outdoor Holiday Market on Sun., Dec. 11. Local crafters + artisans can apply now to participate as vendors. Know a good candidate? Tell them to request the application over email. 🌲

Cause

ICYMI, local artist Matt Lively is painting an imaginative mural at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s new Wonder Tower (set to open spring 2023). Richmonders are encouraged to submit additional mural elements for consideration (or simply make a donation to the project). 🎨*

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No bones about it 💀

Meet the twelve-foot skeleton that haunts the Museum District

The exterior of a brick house is decorated with a large skeleton wearing wings and a flower crown, a stack of jack-o-lanterns, and an inflatable ghost.

Skelē’s 2022 Halloween update. | Photo by RICtoday

The Museum District’s resident skeleton, known as Skelē, is a labor of love for Richmonder Justin Bowers. The twelve-foot statue clings to the side of Justin’s home at the corner of Roseneath Road and Kensington Avenue.

Skelē is rocking some festive getup this month. We chatted with Justin back in May about his passion project.

Justin’s been an avid Halloween decorator for several years. After securing his Home Depot skeleton, he challenged himself to learn new skills, like using a welder he had bought.

Preserving the air of mystery around Skelē has also been on Justin’s mind.

“I try to do all my stuff at night when folks aren’t out seeing me do it, so it’s kind of a surprise the next day,” Justin said. “And also so if I fall off the ladder, no one sees me fall.”

Read our full convo with Justin by pressing the button below.

SAY BONE-JOUR

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Robin.

Editor’s pick: We all love the library. In last week’s RPL story, we asked readers if they have a library card. 75% said yes. 16% said no, but that they were planning on getting one. 📚

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We’ve got need-to-know info about Richmond International Airport.

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Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Katie Potter, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Rachel Sklenar | Advertise with us.

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