Richmond planners rolled out a revised version of the city’s Code Refresh zoning map on Nov. 18, pulling back on several proposals from the first version — including limits on height, density and where additional units can be built — as they try to balance neighborhood concerns with a growing demand for housing amid a shortage.
While the proposal still moves toward allowing more “middle housing,” such as duplexes and small, multifamily buildings in areas traditionally limited to single-family homes, several elements of upzoning that fueled excitement and criticism in the first draft have been narrowed.
One of the most notable changes is a shift in how additional units can be added to existing homes. The first draft permitted two units plus an accessory dwelling unit — like a detached in-law suite, a converted garage or a separate basement apartment — on almost any residential lot in the city…