[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6546887,"mediaKeyId","3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1","parentId",3424227,"title","City sustainability office details \"Cool the City\" tree‑canopy effort and new authority to set canopy requirements","audioSeconds",468,"startMs",5321000,"endMs",5789000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1&start=5321&end=5789","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1/thumbnail_5321000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546887/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/City-sustainability-office-details-Cool-the-City-treecanopy-effort-and-new-authority-to-set-canopy-requirements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546887-a575736fac1edad47732bafb953de614/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449526&Signature=JAcRomSec9nVCoFD-OMZJnBKwHK~-cr68RvWbj4Qh42QcswedBRHe9h4YxZ7k8yRMYYCiEPQNAfpufRw4tS4szhHT0nwLghoXRVxOAx9bcI4iChKVaKF7TE95DDIvuFkbLi-zUALiAnnEb-vlg~4ZAYazclAEH68ZHM5jEzhtZku2l6eSXzBEU0tgwpRP1Phsbpg8sHVX5YIJHU-2W1gfRxjdL4~qjt~XdieJBpTfFTKJjcUf5-4xK37fq6M7rd7sG7UjO6vnWZ1OatGKOBEvzIx14-2bxRj2axJzS5r3AS6DzlCzXMflSEmINiY-Z5uJ6~iGo0~kcv-T2mOcT9niA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Laura Thomas, Director of Sustainability, and Tara Wharton, Sustainability Manager, briefed the Land Use Committee on Richmond’s urban tree‑canopy initiative aimed at reducing extreme‑heat risk and improving stormwater outcomes.

Wharton summarized a data‑driven approach that combines the newly completed Richmond Resilience Assessment and a draft Richmond Cool Book, the city’s first urban‑heat mitigation strategy. She said the assessment maps where climate vulnerabilities and social vulnerabilities converge and that \"a majority of census tracts in the city are categorized as highly vulnerable to extreme heat,\" driven by limited canopy and extensive impervious surfaces.

The city has secured a five‑year USDA urban and community forestry grant for the Cool the City partnership that staff said will fund planting by multiple partners: Parks will plant 750 trees, community‑based organizations will plant more than 1,000 trees across priority neighborhoods, and the program will distribute over 1,500 trees to residents. Wharton said the initiative also includes plans for a food forest, neighborhood orchards and several Miyawaki (tiny) forests.

Wharton also told the committee that grant administrators have instructed staff to avoid certain terminology in written materials (for example, \"climate change,\" \"climate justice,\" \"equity\" and \"race\") but that reimbursements and program work continue. She said the city has been reimbursed for dollars spent to date.

Thomas and Wharton noted the passage of HB 2630 in March 2025, which expands authority across Virginia for localities to adopt tree‑canopy requirements and to establish a tree‑canopy fund for developers unable to meet on‑site canopy requirements. Wharton said staff will draft an ordinance for the zoning code setting minimum canopy requirements for new development consistent with the state caps and will present the draft for committee feedback before any formal code changes.

Committee members welcomed the work and asked for additional details as the draft ordinance and the Richmond tree plan are developed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Meeting - May 20, 2025, at 3:00 p.m - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sustainability staff described a USDA‑funded Cool the City program to plant thousands of trees in heat‑vulnerable neighborhoods, previewed a draft urban-heat mitigation \"Richmond Cool Book,\" and said state law passed in March 2025 enables local tree‑canopy requirements and a developer tree fund.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6546891,"Public Works details traffic‑calming data and cost barrier to expanding photo‑speed enforcement",0,4072000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1&start=4072&end=4072","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1/thumbnail_4072000.jpg","/articles/6546891/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Public-Works-details-trafficcalming-data-and-cost-barrier-to-expanding-photospeed-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546891-a8e463a3a6720f505e30baaa3d335b74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449526&Signature=aEPYKoe25UYY36FaD3wI1U~o0FFyKFvBGyW5hYzPty~VHUZQO5RfResfEDMzpHCrnpzgWlBTUoauX4bshy92TIMnJtVnC1AhwIYhmJCy3b3Xztglz2JyP2tnjdOTvJZUGR7ejdbiZ5jdnwbY1vJvrzUEpXr0lHyyZuGr9suGxRTfhhfA6ZPXVNtLlQj1v~suwvzRA6ApxD7fi5E-50i2AsxAkr7IsmwDFwZLTk4q2lrzXbH9-gUumjzF57N1oJ5wfOjrk~2v~aHfvTZU8EyrG2iMd0rCJwJDZHCuhY2Z4pHw4YlRHDpiBP7ZFUNAYd4q5jF0jmaEl1muS~XZG3WkLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works, presented the department’s citywide traffic analysis and explained how the city prioritizes speed‑reduction investments. Vincent said staff used 90th‑percentile speed data and a high‑injury network to target locations for traffic calming, and described a portfolio of engineering, education and enforcement measures.

\"95% means that 9,500 of them are driving at and or near the speed limit,\" Vincent said to illustrate how a small share of speeding drivers accounts for the majority of unsafe behavior on many corridors and to explain why engineering and targeted enforcement must be paired. He described treatment tools the city is using, including speed tables and lane‑reduction projects and listed active multimodal, streetscape, bridge and complete‑streets projects totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in planned or active work.

Staff also briefed the committee on the photo‑speed monitoring contract and financing. Presenters said a $5,000,000 contract currently covers up to 26 cameras in 13 school zones and that adding high‑risk intersection segments (HRIS) would require a separate procurement. Staff provided illustrative estimates showing an eight‑to‑nine‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar annual cost example to expand HRIS coverage at six additional school locations and said that, under current state law as interpreted by staff, HRIS citation revenue would not be remitted to the city (i.e., may flow to the state), making expansion unsustainable without legislative change or dedicated local subsidy.

Council members asked whether cameras must operate 24 hours a day; staff said state code allows 24‑hour operation but the department provided example costs based on more limited hours used in school‑zone enforcement. The committee later voted to strike the resolution that had requested study/installation of additional cameras; staff said they will return with procurement options and a plan to recover or recapture revenue if council wishes to pursue expansion.

Vincent directed members to the department’s neighborhood traffic management program materials and said the department plans to publish more of the data (including Urban SDK speed/volume analytics) on the city website later this summer.","Public Works presented speed and crash analytics, described a high‑injury network and said expanding camera enforcement beyond the 26 school‑zone cameras on the current contract would require separate procurement and significant up‑front funds; the committee struck a related resolution after the briefing.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6546898,"Housing department outlines gap financing, preservation and plans for a revolving loan fund",653,2467000,3120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1&start=2467&end=3120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1/thumbnail_2467000.jpg","/articles/6546898/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Housing-department-outlines-gap-financing-preservation-and-plans-for-a-revolving-loan-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546898-ee94d451df8afde895b0b333e0d6b08b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449526&Signature=m3pmtxKc2iO8rPwfdDxwd9z7g8pRV82Irldwl6GHHOe6DJycSabttOSbRoBrXmcxYWgU-fNpIhQE~hv01kujKBy2ElZ6KmvJeDfieiTv72Io3-353hCLNLeimBadIyZBr46T1uRWkvkhjTAzTITRDhZOJ-9rOY7qwbPP4YDEzvmD8TAB3LZ8tLr5~aIfQZiXE-0mft38dh4Rbqy7MhhVCM76tS3GmMM7BbKruI6Ruisq7FCskV98HQWR5M9PBfrASbMz-dubvl~JKhcf9jCRc63p4bfvU3GHhVf4vp2VyS~BfT~QqtkwuevlhK4t5QaCMcNcSBGkl6vDr6hgJhqqoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Merrick Malone, Director of Housing and Community Development, told the Land Use Committee that Richmond’s housing programs rely on \"intentional\" public subsidy to create affordability and that the city has used performance grants, tax‑exempt bond programs and federal entitlement funds to leverage private capital.

\"I always tell people that affordable housing, there's no such thing as a an affordable brick or a market rate brick,\" Malone said, explaining that the city’s contribution fills financing gaps needed to make lower‑income projects viable. Malone described a portfolio of tools including performance grants that the city says have generated a pipeline of projects with roughly 390 units at 0–50% AMI and 2,424 units at 50–80% AMI in development pipelines described to the committee.

Malone described preservation activity funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and federal entitlement funds, including a Healthy Homes program that provided repairs averaging $26,000–$30,000 per household to enable long‑time homeowners to remain in place. He noted ARPA deadlines require obligated funds to be completed by late 2026 and emphasized the need to identify replacement funding after ARPA.

The department is piloting and planning a $10 million tax‑exempt bond program for equitable affordable rental housing and is exploring a revolving loan fund model similar to those in other jurisdictions to provide opportunistic gap financing for projects that cannot otherwise be financed through tax credit allocations and private lending. Malone told members the city has recently issued a $13 million NOFA and received requests that exceed available funds, indicating demand outstrips supply.

Committee members asked for a clearer public accounting of city dollars versus total development cost and asked staff to provide a single chart listing units produced, city investment, private leverage and AMI served. Malone agreed to provide the requested breakdown to the committee.","Richmond’s Director of Housing and Community Development told the committee the city has leveraged public funds into larger private investment for affordable housing, highlighted preservation work funded with ARPA and federal entitlement dollars, and said staff are developing alternative financing including a proposed revolving loan fund.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6546901,"Residents press for rental-inspection ordinance, transit shelters and cautious cannabis zoning",134,354000,488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1&start=354&end=488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1/thumbnail_354000.jpg","/articles/6546901/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Residents-press-for-rental-inspection-ordinance-transit-shelters-and-cautious-cannabis-zoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546901-fe97b87380821449f4ed39bd9af7c9bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449526&Signature=cn2uApkiu6D7s~p-lxmTslX~Cy-Bx6~UkPXNgB7Amg1MEJCmyQOCq8IqyMbpbtvEtdP9Itj5X3PsrhNvN6Fro6gzvx1EOe10t-V44m5bE98J6-hMhVFuX9thrp~eCXWqWANpJysOWQa7mSek3YpQVv9xdbrqL~YQlu9GEjPg7y-r0isDl72PFW7t0qp39D6c97-msKsis08I07V~aGs6N~Q7TAA6xNFQ5jxu~g-0gYZbkKNQd-6VL0M5IYXwsCg2GK3SNHWdSn-e-LaNv88Z4u69smFkWbalt52mmMR8SCr-g9XOBSPJIoYZggEwR7b8k~6Nix6spURCG4DpXqUQyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the public-comment period urged the Land Use Committee to prioritize a rental inspection program, asked the city to add furniture and shelter at an identified bus stop, and weighed in on forthcoming local zoning for adult‑use cannabis.

A man identifying himself as a property owner in Richmond’s First District said he supports the rental inspection program and told the committee he had been advised the draft ordinance uses the term \"blighted.\" He said \"we'd like to ask council not to use that language because it's weighted,\" noting that \"Virginia code allows for the use of either blighted or deteriorating.\" The speaker asked the committee to favor greater transparency of code violations so tenants, prospective tenants and landlords can make informed decisions and asked members to support the ordinance at the committee and full-council levels.

Erin Trimmer (identified as a resident) also spoke in favor of a rental-inspection ordinance and raised two substantive points: she urged avoiding the loaded descriptor \"blighted\" and recommended that the city consider charging initial inspection and reinspection fees to help fund and staff the program.

Caroline Toby, a regular bus rider who said she cannot drive, told the committee that GRTC bus stop number 444 lacks a bench or shelter and said that absence made waiting difficult for people with disabilities and seniors. She noted that the missing bench and shelter conflicted with last year’s state and regional direction on bus-stop accommodations and said she continues to support the Richmond Connects plan to provide dignified waiting areas for riders.

Julie O’Brien, policy coordinator for Marijuana Justice, encouraged the city to treat tobacco and hemp differently from adult‑use cannabis in local zoning and to ensure that children and family spaces are separated from marijuana storefronts. O’Brien said projected city revenue from adult‑use cannabis could be \"between 3 to 6% of all licensed Richmond adult use sales\" but added that the final revenue will depend on how the city manages zoning, public health and business supports.

Amori Speed, community organizer with Richmond Housing Justice Collective, presented a petition and testimony gathered by canvassing in six neighborhoods and asked the committee to add the identified properties to the rental-inspection program; Speed read testimony from a Ninth District resident, Benny Gates, in support of the proposed ordinance.

No public commenters registered opposition to the papers on the day of the meeting; clerks recorded that no individuals signed up online to comment.","Public commenters urged the Land Use Committee to move the city’s rental inspection ordinance forward, requested a bench and shelter at a GRTC stop, and urged separation between cannabis storefronts and child‑centered spaces as state legalization approaches.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6546906,"Land Use Committee forwards floodplain ordinance and VDOT grant request; strikes photo-speed resolution",1127,1151000,2278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1&start=1151&end=2278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3424227-f10bfc014e99c18890376ef525fe44e1/thumbnail_1151000.jpg","/articles/6546906/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Land-Use-Committee-forwards-floodplain-ordinance-and-VDOT-grant-request-strikes-photo-speed-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546906-9f8089481d97217545beb8093d775f72/orig.mp4?Expires=1770449526&Signature=lub0YFI4gsjOi-TLmOk5CPP9Awdvr3sqURM6TlqgzFs2aLP4OWtpYZk-sAAASAPz-b7QZZ3VTb12YAA7dYlIN74V-ccbaJsb~DxWLLr0yEGEJVINRsvMh~DShAeD0BzexwduRtLeapF8-j9qv9XZnWseiBKRTOn4iMaKQkTBDA4ImoqrJwPr0Jgu1-q27YqMYkd062AYFMMOEPOqmSiO~z-dRpyY0PbOqbz8hJR3E1AxLx2PGFTKbMwDV8Qt00tQv4yKL5QhcQqAVxkuYsfYsbDNj6kHwRVCohnFKOgvpY2KQIkP6P4hcfsHlOyP6WtaBPxTSdmBKVD~xKVeh1ZXlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richmond City Land Use Committee on an uncontested vote recommended that City Council approve an updated floodplain ordinance aligned with the latest FEMA flood insurance study, and also recommended approval of the city’s VDOT revenue-sharing application totaling $10 million for fiscal years 2027–28.

The committee advanced three ordinances to council: Ordinance 2025-104 (floodplain ordinance), Ordinance 2025-105 (designating the 300 block of N. 32nd Street in honor of Reverend Dr. Edward Daniel McCreary Jr.) and Ordinance 2025-106 (designating the 2100 block of Edwards Avenue in honor of Harold Thomas). The committee also approved forwarding Resolution 2025-R18, the city’s application supporting $10 million in VDOT revenue-sharing funds. By separate vote the committee struck Resolution 2024-R041, which had expressed support for study and installation of photo-speed monitoring devices.

Janae Prevostoy, engineering services, Water Resources Division, Department of Public Utilities, told the committee that the updated FEMA Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) use more sophisticated hydrologic and hydraulic models and improved terrain data and that, by law, adoption of a local ordinance reflecting the updated maps is required for continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Prevostoy said, \"Flooding is the number 1 natural disaster in The United States,\" and warned that failure to adopt the ordinance could jeopardize NFIP coverage for Richmond property owners.

Kara (Department of Public Works) presented the VDOT revenue-sharing request and said Richmond applied for the maximum allowable share across two fiscal years: $5 million in FY27 and $5 million in FY28. The submission identifies four projects with funding gaps, including Jefferson Avenue and Brooklyn Park Boulevard phase 2; the resolution asks council to proceed with the pre-application to meet the state deadline.

On the photo speed monitoring resolution, staff presented a cost analysis showing that adding high-risk intersection segment (HRIS) enforcement beyond the existing 26 school-zone cameras would require a separate procurement and substantial up-front funds. Staff estimated roughly $864,000 per year for an illustrative six-school expansion and said, as currently structured by state law, citation revenue for HRIS does not return to the city. Councilmembers moved and approved a motion to strike the resolution after the cost and contract limits were discussed.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 2025-104 (floodplain update): motion forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve. Recorded roll-call: Brunson — Aye; Vice Chair Robertson — (roll not read); Chair Jones — Aye; motion approved by the committee.
- Ordinance 2025-105 (N. 32nd Street designation): forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve; committee vote recorded in favor.
- Ordinance 2025-106 (Edwards Avenue designation): forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve; committee vote recorded in favor.
- Resolution 2024-R041 (photo-speed monitoring study/installation): motion to strike the resolution carried by committee vote; the paper was removed from the committee’s docket.
- Resolution 2025-R18 (VDOT revenue-sharing application, $10 million): forwarded to full council with recommendation to approve.

The committee held public hearings for the papers and reported no in‑chamber public testimony in opposition on the ordinance and resolution items that went to vote. The committee did not adopt any ordinance or appropriation itself; it forwarded recommendations to the full council for final action.

The committee’s actions will appear on a future council docket for final votes; staff told members that certain actions (notably the floodplain ordinance) must be adopted before FEMA maps become effective to preserve NFIP eligibility.","The Richmond City Land Use Committee voted to forward an updated floodplain ordinance and a $10 million VDOT revenue-sharing application to full council with recommendations to approve; it also forwarded two street-designation ordinances and voted to strike a resolution urging study/deployment of photo speed monitoring devices.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City sustainability office details "Cool the City" tree‑canopy effort and new authority to set canopy requirements

Public Works details traffic‑calming data and cost barrier to expanding photo‑speed enforcement

Housing department outlines gap financing, preservation and plans for a revolving loan fund

Residents press for rental-inspection ordinance, transit shelters and cautious cannabis zoning

Land Use Committee forwards floodplain ordinance and VDOT grant request; strikes photo-speed resolution