The zoning changes in Monroe Ward will prohibit surface parking lots as a primary use, reduce parking requirements for new buildings and encourage denser development.

In addition to the zoning changes, the plan specifies that in a 73-block area, any new project that exceeds 1,000 square feet must go through a special review process to make sure it is consistent with the Pulse Corridor Plan’s design guidelines.

“We altered the district to remove some high-traffic and incompatible uses, making it more reflective of where we are now as a city, versus where the city was in the 1970s when the district was created,” city planner Anne Darby said in an email. “Planning staff and the Planning Commission are very confident that this rezoning is what Richmond needs to re-build a great neighborhood in Monroe Ward.”

Second District Councilwoman Kim Gray, who also represents Monroe Ward, said the new review process will be less onerous than it is now for developers who need special-use permits for projects that do not conform to the existing zoning.

She said streamlining the process and reducing parking requirements could help foster growth and reduce project costs by giving developers more certainty that they won’t be delayed by existing review processes.