SUP Application | Last Revised September 7, 2018 | CITY OF RICHMOND 1
Application for SPECIAL USE PERMIT
Department of Planning and Development Review
Land Use Administration Division
900 E. Broad Street, Room 511
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 646-6304
http://www.richmondgov.com/
Application is hereby submitted for: (check one)
special use permit, new
special use permit, plan amendment
special use permit, text only amendment
Project Name/Location
Property Address:________________________________________________Date:
Tax Map #: Fee:
Total area of a ected site in acres:
(See page 6 for fee schedule, please make check payable to the City of Richmond”)
Zoning
Current Zoning:
Existing Use:
Proposed Use
(Please include a detailed description of the proposed use in the required applicant’s report)
Existing Use:
Is this property subject to any previous land use cases?
Yes No
If Yes, please list the Ordinance Number:
Applicant/Contact Person: _____________________________________________________________
Company:
Mailing Address:
City: ____________________________________________ State: ________ Zip Code:
Telephone: _(_______)_____________________________ Fax: _(_______)______________________
Email:
Property Owner:
If Business Entity, name and title of authorized signee:
(The person or persons executing or attesting the execution of this Application on behalf of the Company certifi es that he or
she has or have been duly authorized and empowered to so execute or attest.)
Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________
City: ___________________________________________ State: ________ Zip Code: _____________
Telephone: _(_______)_____________________________ Fax: _(_______)______________________
Email:
Property Owner Signature:
The names, addresses, telephone numbers and signatures of all owners of the property are required. Please attach additional
sheets as needed. If a legal representative signs for a property owner, please attach an executed power of attorney. Faxed or
photocopied signatures will not be accepted.
NOTE: Please attach the required plans, checklist, and a check for the application fee (see Filing Procedures for special use permits)
2 CITY OF RICHMOND | SUP Application | Last Revised September 7, 2018
In instances where it has been determined that underlying zoning regulations cannot be met, a special use permit
may be granted by City Council to provide relief from zoning regulations.
Special use permit applications are reviewed for compliance with the City's Master Plan to ensure the proposal is
compatible with the surrounding area and that it is an appropriate use for the site. Specifi cally, applications are
reviewed to ensure that the City Charter conditions for granting special use permits have been met. The City
Charter requires that prior to City Council approval; it must be shown that the proposed special use will not:
1. be detrimental to the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the community involved;
2. create congestion in streets, roads, alleys and other public ways and places in the area involved;
3. create hazards from fi re, panic or other dangers;
4. tend to cause overcrowding of land and an undue concentration of population;
5. adversely a ect or interfere with public or private schools, parks, playgrounds, water supplies, sewage
disposal, transportation or other public requirements, conveniences and improvements; or
6. interfere with adequate light and air.
Applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-application conference with the Division of Land Use Administration
sta to review related Master Plan, land use and other issues that may be involved prior to making application.
Please call (804) 646-6304 to schedule an appointment with the sta . Sta will review submitted applications to
ensure all required materials and information are provided. If the application is not acceptable, the required
information must be provided prior to formal sta review.
Applicants should also discuss the proposed special use permit with area civic associations, property owners,
residents, and the area Council Representative prior to submitting an application. Letters from the associations
and property owners stating their position in regards to the request should be submitted with the application.
The Division of Land Use Administration circulates the special use permit application materials to appropriate City
agencies as determined necessary. City agencies reviewing the proposal may include: Public Works, Building
Permits & Inspections, Public Utilities, Water Resources, Zoning Administration, and Fire and Emergency Services.
The Division of Land Use Administration will coordinate responses by City agencies. Written comments will be
provided generally within 30 days of the application submittal date.
After review by these agencies and by the Division of Land Use Administration, the sta will confer with the
applicant regarding suggested conditions to be included in the ordinance and any suggested changes to the plans.
If the property is located in a City Old and Historic District and the request involves exterior alterations, additions
or new construction, the plans should also be reviewed by the Commission of Architectural Review prior to an
ordinance being introduced in City Council. Once the plans are in fi nal form, an ordinance is drafted and the plans
are attached to and are made a part of the ordinance. The sta will forward a copy of the ordinance to the
applicant for review and approval.
The ordinance is then reviewed by the City Attorney’s o ce and the City Administration. Once their review is
complete, the ordinance is introduced to City Council and a public hearing is scheduled, usually thirty days after
introduction. During this thirty-day period, public notice of the hearing is posted on the site and in a daily
newspaper. Notices are also mailed to the owners of all properties within 150 feet of the subject property. One
week prior to the City Council public hearing, the Planning Commission, after receiving a report from the
Department of Planning and Development Review, considers the proposed special use permit and forwards a
recommendation to City Council. The Planning Commission welcomes information submitted prior to the meeting
and may ask questions of proponents and opponents during the course of its deliberation on the ordinance. Six
a rmative votes of City Council are required to adopt a special use ordinance. Please note that there is a fee of
$250 for each continuance caused by the applicant.
If the special use ordinance is adopted by City Council, the applicant has a specifi ed time period in which to apply
for a building permit to implement the special use permit. Building permit plans must be substantially in
accordance with the adopted special use permit plans, otherwise a building permit will not be issued. In general,
the approval process for special use permits takes between 120 to 180 days. However, depending on the
complexity of the proposed special use permit, more or less time may be required. The City Planning Commission
considers approval of special use permits at its regular meetings on the fi rst and third Monday of each month.
Incomplete submissions or major modifi cations to the plan during the review process may cause delays in the
schedule.
Review & Approval process for
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
Legislative Land Use Application Process
Pre-Application
Applicant
Meetings
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7
Applicantion
Received
Application &
Letters Routing
Comment Letter
Meeting with
Applicant
Applicantion
Resubmission
Resubmission
Routing
Additional
Information
Step 11 Step 10 Step 9 Step 8
City Council
Planning
Commision
Ordinance
Introduction
Ordinance and
O&R
Post-Approval
Applicant
Optional meetings
with appicant to
discuss project
programming,
design, and due
diligence.
With 2 working
days the application
is routed to other
reviewing agencies.
Letter notifying
civic associations
within 1,000 feet
and letter to the
applicant with civic
association contact
information are
sent.
When required, fi nal
plans submitted
for review to meet
terms of approval.
Work commences.
Typically, the CPC
recommendation
is forwarded to the
next council
meeting one week
later. City Council
takes action.
Approximately 3
weeks later, the
application is heard
by City Planning
Commission. The
CPC makes a
recommendation to
City Council.
If not additional
information is
required, sta
prepares and
submits the
ordinance and O&R
request to the CAO.
Approximately 45
days later, the
ordinance is
introduced at City
Council. Civic
associations are
notifi ed of City
Planning
Commission hearing
date.
With 30 days of
receipt, a comment
letter is sent to the
applicant requesting
additional
information or
clarifi cation.
If necessary, a
meeting with the
applicant occurs
to discuss requests
made in the
comment letter.
The application
resubmission is
routed for review by
agencies within 2
working days.
The applicant is
notifi ed within 15
days if additional
information is
required. If more
information is
required, the
process returns to
Step 5. If the
application is
complete, the
process continues
to Step 8.
The application with
additional
information is
resubmitted within
60 days of the
comment letter.
The applicant can
request additional
time if necessary,
otherwise the
application is
withdrawn and a
refund of the fees is
given.
4 CITY OF RICHMOND | SUP Application | Last Revised September 7, 2018
FILING
Special use permit applications are fi led with the:
Department of Planning and Development Review
Land Use Administration Division, Room 511
City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
Telephone (804) 646-6304
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The application for a special use permit must include the following, each part of which is explained
below. Application must be submitted in an electronic format (PDF).
1. Application form, including a completed checklist;
2. Application fee;
3. Applicant’s report;
4. Electronic PDF plans; and
5. Survey plat.
Application Form: All the owners of the property must sign the application form. If a legal
representative signs for a property owner, a copy of an executed power of attorney is required.
Application Fee: The appropriate fee must accompany the application. Checks should be
made payable to the “City of Richmond”. The fees are determined from the attached fee
schedule.
Applicant’s Report: A written report must be submitted describing the proposed use. For
non-residential development, the description should include the anticipated number of
employees, hours of operation, and an estimate of the amount of vehicular tra c thwill be
generated by the use. The report should point out the specifi c features of the special use that
will ensure that it will be compatible with the surrounding area, and that it is an appropriate
use for the site. In addition, the City Charter specifi es certain conditions that must be met
before City Council can approve a special use permit. It must be shown that the proposed
special use will not:
be detrimental to the safety, health, morals and general welfare of the community
involved;
tend to create congestion in streets, roads, alleys and other public ways and places in
the area involved;
create hazards from fi re, panic or other dangers;
tend to cause overcrowding of land and an undue concentration of population;
adversely a ect or interfere with public or private schools, parks, playgrounds, water
supplies, sewage disposal, transportation or other public requirements, conveniences
and improvements; or
interfere with adequate light and air.
The report must indicate the reasons why the applicant feels these conditions will be met (e.g.,
features of the plan, characteristics of the proposed use or surrounding area). Please note that
the above materials will be forwarded to the City Planning Commission and City Council
along with the special use permit ordinance.
Filing Procedures for
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
1.
2.
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
SUP Application | Last Revised September 7, 2018 | CITY OF RICHMOND 5
FILING
Plans: Plans are required to provide su cient detail to permit the sta to make a
determination of the compatibility of the proposed project with surrounding development.
Plans must be properly scaled and include a scale bar. Depending on the request, plans may
include the following:
Site Plan
Elevation Plans
Floor Plans
Landscape Plans
Signage Plan & Details
Lighting Plan & Details
In some cases not all plans would be relevant to the request and may not be required. If there
is a question about the level of detail required, please contact Land Use Administration Sta .
Electronic Plans (PDF) are required with the initial application and any subsequent
resubmissions. Electronic plans may be submitted on a disk or via email at:
DCDLanduseadmin@richmondgov.com.
Survey Plat: A PDF of a survey plat showing the property and including metes and bounds is
required. The plat should show existing physical features of the property, including:
North arrow, scale, property address, the distance to nearest public street, preparer of
plat, date, revision dates, area of site;
Existing structures, buildings, paved areas, fences, streets, alleys, easements, and limits
of the 100 year fl ood plain, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area limits, wetlands, and
streams.
Filing Procedures for
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
4.
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
a.
b.
6 CITY OF RICHMOND | SUP Application | Last Revised September 7, 2018
COMMUNITY UNIT PLAN
Preliminary $3,000 + $100/acre
Extension of Preliminary Approval $1,500
Final $1,500 + $100/acre
Amendment $1,500 + $100/acre
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
Initial $1,500 + $100/acre
Amendment $1,000 + $100/acre
PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT
Floor area & Land disturbed 5,000 square feet $500 + $100/acre
Floor area & Land disturbed 5,001 & 50,000 square feet $1,000 + $100/acre
Floor area & Land disturbed 50,001 square feet $1,500 + $100/acre
REZONING/CONDITIONAL REZONING $1,500 + $100/acre
Each continuance caused by the applicant $250
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
Use Initial Amendment
Day Nursery $300 $200
Single- or two-family detached or attached dwelling $300 $200
Outdoor dining $300 $200
Mobile food business $300 $200
Sign $300 $200
Multi-family dwelling (3 to ten units) $1,800 $1,200
Commercial or industrial equal to or less than 5,000 sq ft $1,800 $1,200
Multi-family dwelling (more than 10 units) $2,400 $1,800
Commercial or industrial more than 5,000 sq ft $2,400 $1,800
Each continuance caused by the applicant $250
SUBDIVISION
Preliminary Plat $500 + $15/lot
Extension of Preliminary Plat Approval $150
Final Plat $500 + $15/lot
Subdivision Confi rmation Letter $100
Continuance* $50
Plat of Correction $100
A full refund of the application fee is permitted if the application is withdrawn prior to the second
submittal of plans. Once a second submittal of plans is made, fees are not refundable.
For Community Unit Plans (CUP), the fi rst 10 acres are included in the base price.
For Conditional Use Permits, Plans of Development, and Rezonings, the fi rst acre is included in the base price.
For all applications with an additional price per acre, fractions of an acre are rounded up to the nearest whole number. Do not prorate the
fee per fraction of acre.
• Example: A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a 0.76 acre property would owe $1,500 (base fee only). A CUP for a 2.3 acre
property would owe $1,700 ($1,500 base fee + 2*100 (for the 1.3 acres over the fi rst acre))
* No charge for the 1st continuance requested by the applicant or for any continuance requested by the Planning Commission. The
second or subsequent continuance request by the applicant costs $50.
Fees went into e ect upon adoption of Ordinance No. 2018-209 by City Council on September 10, 2018.
(As of 9_7_2018) (FEE SHEDULE)
Department of Planning and Development Review
Land Use Administration Division
900 E. Broad Street, Room 511
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 646-6304
http://www.richmondgov.com/