Richmond Municipal Code § 15.04.301.010 Purpose and Applicability

Overlay districts are zoning districts established by the City to carry out specific purposes. They are governed by a set of regulations, that address specific subjects, such as creek protection and historic districts, or impose requirements for neighborhood conservation plans that may be applicable in a variety of geographic areas within the City. Overlay districts may be initially established by adding a specific section to the 300 Series, Overlay District Regulations, without being actually delineate on the Zoning Map. At a later time, when an opportunity arises to carry out the intended purposes for one or more sites that meet the criteria for designation, the City Council may adopt an ordinance amending the Zoning Map to delineate the boundaries of the overlay district. The provisions of the overlay district then will be combined with the provisions of the base zoning district for that site or sites to which the overlay district applies and the more restrictive provisions will govern.

The Planning Commission and the City Council may initiate an amendment to the zoning ordinance to establish an overlay district pursuant to the procedures established in Article 15.04.814 (Amendments to the Zoning Map and Text).

The Planning Commission may recommend and the City Council may adopt ordinances enacting overlay district provisions pursuant to the requirements and criteria of Article 15.04.814 after duly noticed public hearings.