RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Two separate housing developments — one in Southside Richmond and the other in the Fan District — are moving forward after receiving approvals from the Richmond Planning Commission this week. The decisions came despite vocal opposition from nearby residents who raised concerns about traffic, parking and neighborhood character.
In both cases, developers scaled back their original plans in response to community pressure. Still, some residents say the changes didn’t go far enough.
Jahnke Road project shrinks but draws pushback
At 7100 Jahnke Road, the commission voted 6–1 to approve a special-use permit for a new apartment building on a half-acre parcel currently home to a vacant commercial structure. The developer initially proposed a mixed-use development that included a store and short-term rental units. However, after sustained objections from neighbors, the plan was revised to eliminate commercial use altogether.
The updated proposal calls for a three-story apartment building with 17 residential units—16 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit—along with 29 parking spaces, a vegetative buffer, trees and a new sidewalk…