Dear Richmond City Council members, Richmond Planning Department staff, and the Zoning Advisory Council,
Thank you for the opportunity for the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council (OHHIC) to comment on the DRAFT 2 of the proposed city rezoning of the Oregon Hill Historic District.
Please find the attached 23-page detailed comment in response to the "Code Refresh" proposals.
As detailed in the attached 23-page comment, we strongly object to the appalling zoning proposals in the Code Refresh Draft 2 that would impose inappropriate MX-5 and RM-A zoning within the Oregon Hill Historic District of two-story homes. We strongly object to the Code Refresh proposals to allow “By Right” maximum lot coverages of 60%, 70% and even 80% with no required back yards and allow building heights as high as 75 feet on some blocks.
We are very concerned that these and other inappropriate rezoning proposals threaten to undo all of the progress that OHHIC has made in the last 30 years in combining the twin goals of providing affordable work-force housing while preserving the historic homes of Oregon Hill.
The “Code-Refresh” proposals are so lacking in respect for the Oregon Hill Historic District that we urge our elected City Council members to name a new Zoning Advisory Commission, as authorized by Section 4.02 of the City Charter, to advise City Council on equitable rezoning for our city. There is little representation from the preservation community, environmental advocates or neighborhood leadership on the current Zoning Advisory Council, which was appointed by the unelected chair of the Planning Commission.
Please respect the input from OHHIC, which has successfully worked for over 30 years to improve the affordable housing and historic resources of the Oregon Hill Historic District. OHHIC has renovated 20 affordable homes and has built 16 compatible infill affordable homes in Oregon Hill. We are undergoing a renaissance of young families with children moving to the relatively affordable homes of neighborhood. Please do not undermine our successful efforts with ill-advised and inappropriate zoning.
Please make the zoning changes recommended for Oregon Hill Historic District as detailed in OHHIC's attached 23-page comment.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Charles Pool
For the Board of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council