This afternoon, at 4:22 pm, Matthew J. Ebinger, PDR, with the City sent out an email announcing last minute changes to the agenda for the Planning Commission’s Monday meeting:

“Good Afternoon:
The agenda has been updated to reflect several continuances.”

If anyone looks, the July 20 agenda for the planning commission now includes revisions to the City’s B-3 zoning that would change the height limit to 7 stories and dwelling units of any kind!

Oregon Hill’s entire Cary Street Corridor from Cherry to Belvidere then back to Cumberland will be affected. This means developers can put up dedicated student apartment buildings up to seven stories on this corridor with no first floor business provision. It also makes a parking deck a principle use.

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association has been trying to stop this sort of thoughtless development for over a decade. It’s been thwarted by treachery again and again.

It is outrageous that the City Planning department pulls this sort of shameful trickery last minute in the middle of a pandemic.

This is a perfect example why Richmond residents have ZERO reason to trust our City government. This sort of deceptive behavior would not be allowed in another locality.