Urban Design Committee
900 E. Broad St., Room 510
Richmond, VA 23219
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Secretary: Alex Dandridge
Email: alex.dandridge@richmondgov.com
Phone: (804) 646-6569
Urban Design Committee
May 5, 2022 UDC Meeting
- Begins at 10am on May 5, 2022 on Microsoft Teams:
- Microsoft Teams Meeting link (or call in, +1 804-316,9457, 377 988 222#
COVID-19 UPDATE
The Planning and Preservation Division in Room 510 is not open to walk-in visits at this time but staff is available to meet, following social distancing protocols. To schedule an appointment, email PDRPlanningAndPreservation@richmondgov.com or by telephone at 804-646-6335. New applications for urban design review can be submitted via email or via Microsoft OneDrive. For information on how to register and use Microsoft OneDrive, click here.
Please refer to the City’s legislative calendar for information on Urban Design Committee meetings: https://richmondva.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
The Urban Design Committee (UDC) is an advisory board to the Planning Commission that reviews development on public property or in the public right-of-way. In their work, the UDC encourages high standards of urban design and an improved community appearance. Additionally, the UDC evaluates and recommends design overlay districts proposed by neighborhood groups.
Regular meetings are scheduled monthly and have published application submission deadlines. Special meetings are scheduled as needed. The regular deadline for filing new applications may be adjusted to accommodate holidays.
To view the agendas and minutes for the Urban Design Committee meetings, please click here.
URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE (UDC)
MEETING SCHEDULE 2022
| UDC Meetings | UDC Application Deadlines | Anticipated Date of Planning Commission Following the UDC Meeting |
| January 6, 2022 | December 16, 2021 | TBD |
| February 10, 2022 | January 13, 2022 | TBD |
| March 10, 2022 | February 17, 2022 | TBD |
| April 7, 2022 | March 17, 2022 | TBD |
| May 5, 2022 | April 14, 2022 | TBD |
| June 9, 2022 | May 12, 2022 | TBD |
| July 7, 2022 | June 16, 2022 | TBD |
| August 4, 2022 | July 14, 2022 | TBD |
| September 8, 2022 | August 11, 2022 | TBD |
| October 6, 2022 | September 15, 2022 | TBD |
| November 10, 2022 | October 13, 2022 | TBD |
| December 8, 2022 | November 17, 2022 | TBD |
| January 5, 2023 | December 15, 2022 | TBD |
The Richmond Urban Design Committee (UDC) is an eleven (11) member advisory committee created by City Council in 1968. Its purpose is to advise the City Planning Commission on the design of City projects. The Urban
Design Committee reviews projects for appropriateness in “location, character, and extent” and for consistency with the City’s Master Plan and forwards recommendations to the City Planning Commission.
The Urban Design Committee also advises the Department of Public Works in regards to private encroachments in the public right-of-way.
Regular meetings are scheduled for the Thursday after the first Monday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the 5th floor
conference room of City Hall. Special meetings are scheduled as needed.
For additional information, please contact Alex Dandridge at 804-646-6569 or at alex.dandridge@richmondgov.com
The UDC is composed of a registered architect, a representative from the field of static arts, a faculty member from the arts division of a local college, a registered engineer, a business representative, a landscape architect, a member of the Planning Commission, a member of the Commission of Architectural Review, and two citizens at large.
The current members are:
| Member Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Andrea Almond, PLA, ASLA | Landscape Architect |
| Mitch Danese | Commission of Architectural Review Member |
| Damon Pearson | Citizen-at-large |
| Max Hepp-Buchanan | Planning Commission Member |
| Andrea Quilici, AIA | Urban Designer |
| Emily Smith | Arts Faculty |
| Jessie Gemmer | Architect |
| Amelia Wehunt | Engineer |
| Charles Woodson | Citizen-at-large |
| Justin Doyle | Community Organization/Business Member |
| Eva Clarke | Arborist/Urban Forestry |
For more information about the members or their terms, contact the Urban Design Committee.
The purpose of the West of the Boulevard Design Guidelines is to prevent new residential construction which is incompatible with the prevailing architectural characteristics found within the West of the Boulevard Historic District.
In developing these guidelines, the characteristics of the contributing members of the West of the Boulevard Historic District were carefully considered. Through a visual survey, 9 prominent building features which most effectively characterize and define the District were identified. The street facade has the greatest impact on the District, therefore, the guidelines only affect the street facades.
The 9 features are:
| Width of Building | Front Setback | Roof Form |
| Building Materials | Fenestration | First Floor Elevation |
| Front Door | Front Porch | Height of Cornice |
More information about the West of the Boulevard Design Overlay District can be found here:
The Urban Design Committee, at the request of the City Administration, is the review agency for all banners proposed to be erected in the public rights-of-way. The purpose of the City's Banner Program is to enhance the visual and aesthetic character of the City. Advertising of for-profit commercial operations, political statements, and personal messages will not be considered as acceptable proposals. Each proposal will be reviewed on its own merit.