Richmond Municipal Code Art. 15.04.406 General to Large Sites

The purpose of this Article is to generate a walkable environment through the establishment of new blocks and thoroughfares and to provide a set of civic space types and their associated standards to use within the transect zones.

The standards established in this Article shall apply to all proposed development within the transect zones exceeding two acres in total area and under common ownership as follows in Table 15.04.406.010.A (Applicability of Standards), and shall be considered in combination with the standards found within Article 15.04.402 (Transect Zones), Article 15.04.403 (Building Types), and Article 15.04.404 (Frontage Types).

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

Design Sites may be used as an alternative to subdivision for large lots to demonstrate how the lot could be divided into multiple smaller lots that are not required to be recorded as new parcels. Each design site must satisfy dimensional standards, as well as all other standards in the appropriate Transect Zone; see Article 15.04.402 (Transect Zones). Standards may not be satisfied for one Design Site on adjacent Design Sites. The diagram in this Section illustrates how a large site could be divided using Design Sites.

[Figure: Example of Multiple Design Sites on an Existing Parcel]

Example of Multiple Design Sites on an Existing Parcel

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

A. Thoroughfares. Thoroughfares define the public streets that refine pedestrian sheds into walkable environments. Care should be taken in the layout and sizing of thoroughfares, as wide thoroughfares and a lack of connectivity reduce the pedestrian friendliness of the area.

1. Design.

a. Thoroughfares that pass from one transect zone to another shall adjust their cross section design to match the character of the transect zone. For example, while a thoroughfare within an urban transect zone with retail shops may have wide sidewalks with trees in tree grates, it may transition to a narrower sidewalk with a planting strip within a less urban transect zone with various residential building types.

b. The thoroughfare network shall be mapped on a regulating plan and shall indicate the layout of thoroughfares and the block network according to standards in Subsection 15.04.406.030.B.

c. Thoroughfares shall terminate on/connect to other thoroughfares. Thoroughfares shall not terminate on alleys and lanes.

2. External Connectivity.

a. The arrangement of thoroughfares in a development shall provide for the alignment and continuation of existing or proposed thoroughfares into adjoining lands in those cases in which the adjoining lands are undeveloped and intended for future development or in which the adjoining lands are developed and include opportunities for such connections.

b. Thoroughfare rights-of-way shall be extended to or along adjoining property boundaries such that a thoroughfare connection or stub shall be provided for development:

(1) Consistent with the minimum block length as defined in Subsection 15.04.406.030.B;

(2) Consistent with required connections indicated in Figure 15.04.406.030.A.

[Figure]

3. Dead-End Streets and Cul-de-Sacs. Dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs shall not be included in plans. Cul-de-sacs may be approved by the Director to accommodate a site specific environmental feature requiring protection and/or preservation only. Cul-de-sacs approved by the Director shall meet the following standards:

a. Permanent dead-end streets shall be no longer than 300 feet and shall be provided with a cul-de-sac;

b. Temporary dead-end streets shall be provided with a temporary turnaround area which shall be designed considering traffic usage, maintenance, and removal;

c. Cul-de-sacs shall have a minimum right-of-way radius of 50 feet and a paved circular area with a minimum radius of 40 feet;

d. Cul-de-sacs shall contain a central planted median; and

e. Whenever cul-de-sac thoroughfares are created, at least one pedestrian access easement shall be provided, to the extent practicable, between each cul-de-sac head or street turnaround and the sidewalk system of the closest adjacent street or pedestrian pathway. The access easement shall be direct with a minimum width of 12 feet.

B. Block Size.

1. Individual block faces and the total block perimeter shall follow the standards established in Table 15.04.406.030.A (Block Size) below. If a block contains multiple transect zones, the most intense transect zone shall be used to establish the standards for block size.

2. Blocks should be a minimum width, such that two tiers of developable lots are provided.

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

A. The standards established in this Article provide the transect zones with a diverse palette of parks and other publicly accessible civic spaces, publicly or privately owned, that are essential components of walkable urban environments.

B. There are multiple civic space types defined in Table 15.04.406.040.A (Civic Space Type Standards). Two of the civic space types, Playgrounds and Community Gardens, may be incorporated into any of the other types or may stand alone.

C. In Table 15.04.406.040.A (Civic Space Type Standards), the illustration and description of each civic space type are illustrative in nature and not regulatory.

D. The service area, size, frontage and disposition of elements standards of each civic space type are regulatory.

1. Service Area. Describes how the civic space relates to the City as a whole and the area that will be served by the civic space.

2. Size. The overall range of allowed sizes of the civic space.

3. Frontage. The relationship along property lines of a civic space to adjacent buildings or lots.

a. The front of the lots attached to or across a thoroughfare from a civic space should face on to the civic space to the maximum extent possible.

b. Building. Lots that are attached to or across a thoroughfare from a civic space listed as having a "Building" frontage shall have the front of the lot facing on to the civic space for a minimum of three quarters of the civic space perimeter.

c. Independent. Lots that are attached to or across a thoroughfare from a civic space listed as having an "Independent" frontage may have the front, side street, or rear of the lot facing on to the civic space.

[Figure]

4. Disposition of Elements. The placement of objects within the civic space.

a. Natural. Civic spaces with natural character are designed in a natural manner with no formal arrangement of elements.

b. Formal. Civic spaces with a formal character have a more rigid layout that follows geometric forms and has trees and other elements arranged in formal patterns.

c. Informal. Civic spaces with an informal character have a mix of formal and natural characteristics.

E. Typical Facilities. A list of the typical facilities found within the civic space. This list is not intended to be a complete list of facilities allowed nor is it intended that every civic space would contain each of the facilities listed. Facilities larger than the indicated gross square footage (gsf) require review and approval by the Director and Parks Director.

F. The civic spaces specified in Table 15.04.406.040.A (Civic Space Type Standards) are allowed By Right or By Review in the designated transect zones. Civic Space allowed By Review are allowed if approved by the Director and Parks Director.

G. Civic spaces shall not be fenced or enclosed and shall have at least one edge open to a street or right-of-way. Edges not abutting a street or right-of-way shall be defined by building frontage consistent with the standard for "BTL Defined by a Building, Front" in applicable zones in 15.04.402 (Transect Zones).

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

A. A mix of building types introduces variety into the character of neighborhoods. Blocks shall provide a diversity of residential and mixed-use building types in a manner that fulfills the intent of each transect zone as described in Article 15.04.402 (Transect Zones) and the following formulas below. In the event that blocks are composed of more than one transect zone, the minimum mixing requirement of the most intense transect zone shall apply across the block.

B. T4 Neighborhood. Blocks within the T4N Transect Zones are intended to provide a mix of detached house, duplex and multi-unit types. See Section 15.04.402.020 (T4 Neighborhood) for the allowed building types in T4N.

1. Blocks within the T4N Transect Zones shall provide a minimum of two distinct building types per block.

2. No more than 50 percent of the residential units on a block shall be located within Detached House, Cottage, or Duplex building types.

C. T4 Main Street, T5 Neighborhood, and T5 Main Street. Blocks within the T4MS, T5N, or T5MS Transect Zone are intended to provide the greatest diversity of building types. See Section 15.04.402.030 (T4 Main Street), Section 15.04.402.040 (T5 Neighborhood) and Section 15.04.402.050 (T5 Main Street) for the allowed building types in T4MS, T5N, and T5MS.

1. Blocks within the T4MS, T5N, or T5MS Transect Zones shall provide a minimum of three distinct building types per block.

2. No more than 50% of the residential units on a block shall be located within Detached House, Cottage, or Duplex building types.

D. T5 Core. Blocks within the T5C Transect Zone are intended to be composed of attached building types and shall have no minimum mixing requirement. See Section 15.04.402.060 (T5 Core) for the allowed building types in T5C.

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

A. Street design of narrow streets and compact intersections requires designers to pay close attention to the operational needs of transit, fire and rescue, waste collection and delivery trucks. For this reason, early coordination with transit, fire and rescue, waste collection and other stakeholder groups is essential.

B. More regular encroachment of turning vehicles into opposing lanes will occur at compact intersections. Therefore, frequency of access, traffic volumes and the speeds on intersecting streets at those intersections shall be considered when designing intersections. For fire and rescue, determination of the importance of that street for community access should be determined, e.g. primary or secondary access.

C. The designer should use turning templates or software to evaluate intersections to ensure that adequate operation of vehicles can occur. Location of on-street parking around intersections should be evaluated during this analysis to identify potential conflicts between turning vehicles and on-street parking. Bike lanes and on-street parking will increase the effective curb return radius, when curb extensions are not employed, by providing more room for the wheel tracking of turning vehicles.

D. Roundabouts should be considered as an alternative to traffic signals. Roundabouts can provide reduced vehicle speeds, reduced conflict points, separation of vehicle-vehicle conflict points from vehicle-pedestrian conflict points, and provide a two-step crossing for pedestrians. At multi-lane roundabouts, benefits for bicyclists and pedestrians are greatly diminished due to multiple-threat scenarios and bicycle weaving and additional considerations are necessary, including installing a traffic signal or pedestrian hybrid beacons at crosswalks." Roundabouts: An Informational Guide (FHWA) continues to provide the current best practice guidance on roundabout design, including bicycle and pedestrian accommodation.

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

A. Directional Curb Ramps. Perpendicular corner curb ramps with a separate ramp installed in each direction shall be used where feasible instead of single, diagonal corner ramps.

B. Crosswalks. Crosswalks shall be designed per the Crosswalk Policy in the Pedestrian Plan.

C. Medians. Medians, where provided, shall provide a median refuge at the intersection designed per the standards in the diagram below.

[Figure]

D. Mid-block crossings, where provided, shall have mid-block curb extensions per the standards in the diagram below.

[Figure]

E. On thoroughfares with medians, provided mid-block crossings between the median and curbs shall be offset from one another per the diagram below.

[Figure]

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

A. Bicycle Master Plan and Pedestrian Plan.

1. Thoroughfares shall be designed to support the goals, policies, and recommendations within the Bicycle Master Plan and Pedestrian Plan.

2. The Bicycle Network. Bicycle facilities shall be located per the proposed bicycle network in the Bicycle Master Plan.

3. Should a conflict arise between the standards in this Article and the Bicycle Master Plan or Pedestrian Plan, the standards in this Article shall take precedence unless the Director determines otherwise.

B. WCCTAC Transit Wayfinding Plan. Bicycle and pedestrian wayfinding shall be implemented per the WCCTAC Wayfinding Signage Program.

C. Predefined thoroughfare assemblies found in Section 15.04.406.100 (Thoroughfare Assemblies) are allowed By Right.

D. Thoroughfares that do not meet the standards in items A, B or C above are not allowed in any transect zones.

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)

A. This Section provides thoroughfare assemblies that have been approved by the City for use in transect zones.

B. The tables in this Section are added into the City of Richmond Standard Plans.

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

[Figure]

(Ord. No. 04-23 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 4-18-2023)