Southampton Citizens Association

Please note our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 7:15 PM at SRA clubhouse 3201 Chellowe Rd

FYI. Richmond Parks planning:

After many months of engagement, a 90% complete draft of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ master plan, Richmond INSPIRE, has been published for review! This will become the City’s first comprehensive Parks and Recreation plan in 50 years. You can find it here!

https://richmond.konveio.com/richmond-inspire-90-draft-plan

At the link, there are two documents: an executive summary and the full plan. The ~13 page summary provides a good overview of the plan’s goals and focus areas. More information on specific proposed strategies and action items are in the ~300 page plan.

There are a couple ways that you can provide feedback at the link.

You can leave a direct comment, or reply to comments by interacting with the document in the webpage. This likely works best on a computer. These comments are public.
There is a three question survey which you can fill out.

The documents and survey will be available for review and comment through March 6. After that, final revisions will be made and the finished plan will move to City Council.

Why does it matter? Having this plan will help PRCF:

Identify solutions for decades of deferred maintenance
Curate programming to meet the needs and wants of City residents
Make targeted and equitable capital investments
Connect residents to and between parks
Prepare for a climate resilient future
Provide better parks and recreation experiences for Richmonders

Furthermore, Richmond INSPIRE and its guiding principles will help guide PRCF, other City departments, friends groups, civic organizations, nonprofits, volunteers, and residents together as we bring projects aligned with the plan’s vision to fruition together.

So, check it out, leave a comment, and fill out the survey! Be sure to do so by March 6!

Richmond INSPIRE - 90% Draft Plan Share your thoughts on the 300-page draft of Richmond INSPIRE, the City of Richmond’s first citywide parks and recreation vision plan since the 1970s! If you do not have time to review the full plan, we encourage you to review the 13-page Executive Summary, which provides a high-level overview of...

Note we will have a representative from City Planning presenting on code refresh

SOUTHAMPTON CITIZENS ASSOCIATION AGENDA

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
7:15 PM
Southampton Recreation Center

1. New updates from Council Person, Sarah Abubaker.
2. Code Refresh presentation from City Planning Department.
3. Introduction of the Cherokee Rd. committee members.
4. Treasurers report.
5. New business.

FYI

FYI

4th District meeting about Code Refresh. Please bring your manners along with your questions

Date: Thursday, January 8

Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

Location: Huguenot High School Auditorium (7945 Forest Hill Avenue)

Topic: Code Refresh, featuring the following special guest speakers:

Dr. Kevin Vonck, Director of the Planning Department
Marianne Pitts, Deputy Director of the Planning Department
Dr. Scott Morris, Director of the Department of Public Utilities

Dr. Vonck and Ms. Pitts will share the latest updates to the Code Refresh process, particularly focusing on the current second draft (what is proposed and what changed from the first draft) as well as how residents can provide their feedback through February 15. Dr. Morris will be on hand to discuss the infrastructure-related components on Code Refresh.

In order to be most prepared for Thursday's meeting, you can review the

Code Refresh website as well as the second draft interactive zoning map. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from the City leaders spearheading this process, so I certainly encourage you to do some homework and bring all of your questions to Thursday's meeting!

Additionally, there a few housekeeping items I need to share in advance of Thursday's meeting:

There will be no access to the school building until 6 p.m. This is for security reasons as we cannot grant building access until the students have departed for the day. I know many of you like to arrive to meetings early, so please know that you will need to wait either in your car or outside until 6 p.m. (fortunately, it appears we will be having unseasonably warm weather!).

We will be providing very light refreshments (granola bars, trail mix, etc.) and water. While I love to provide a catering spread when possible, we cannot have food in the HHS auditorium, so for this meeting, we will just be providing some light snacks that can be easily consumed in the hallway.

Please park in the main parking lot and enter the building through the main entrance by the bus loop (after 6 p.m.!). We will have signage to direct you to the correct doors and volunteers to help provide access.

While zoning might not be the most exciting topic for the kids, we will have plenty to keep them entertained if you'd like (or need) to bring them! My office will be providing coloring books/materials and special kid-themed snacks (juice boxes, fruit snacks, etc.) and our dear friend Danielle Tarullo, 
Westover Hills Librarian, will also be facilitating a hands-on craft project!

I hope you all are having a prosperous start to 2026 and that I will see many of you on Thursday night!

The SCA Christmas party is Tuesday, December 16, 2025 7:15 at Southampton Recreation Clubhouse, Chellowe Rd.

Please bring something to share and your personal choice of beverage.

Please help support Southampton Elementary PTA next Tuesday, 12-9-25. Note the donation is based off of on-line/ app orders.

Greetings Neighbors!

I hope you’re doing well! As we move into the holiday season, the City of Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement is excited to invite your civic association to join us in bringing a little extra magic to families across our city.

We are hosting the Holiday Magic Toy Drive, and we’d love for your association to take part. This is a wonderful way to support local children and strengthen community connections during a time when it matters most.

How You Can Participate:

Choose a child or age group you'd like to support through the Holiday Magic Toy Drive.
Host a wish list drive within your association to collect brand-new toys or books that are fun, safe, and age-appropriate.
Drop off donations at City Hall anytime between Nov. 17 and Dec. 5 during our scheduled donation hours (8–10 a.m., 12–2 p.m., or 4–5 p.m.). Simply check in with Security, and they’ll direct you to the drop-off spot.
Help keep the season bright by sharing the Toy Drive and Holiday Magic Open House with your neighbors and community networks.
Let’s work together to make sure every child in Richmond feels the magic of the season. Your support truly makes a difference.

Please check out our post on the Community Foundation’s website and feel free to share it with other neighbors: CFengage | Holiday Magic Begins With Us, Richmond!

And don’t forget — we hope to see you at the Holiday Magic Open House on Sunday, Dec. 7!

Thank you in advance for helping us spread joy this holiday season.

SOUTHAMPTON CITIZENS ASSOCIATION AGENDA

Tuesday, November 18, 2025
7:15 PM
Southampton Recreation Center

1. Treasurer’s report. Motion to donate to the Southampton school soccer program.
2. New committee for following progress of the Cherokee Rd. improvement project. Introduction of committee members.
3. Update from Council Person, Sarah Abubaker. Cherokee Rd survey results. Zoning Refresh status. New updates.
4. Snapshot of year-to-date real estate activity in our neighborhood.
5. Plan for holiday party at our Dec. meeting.
6. New business

Send a message to learn more

Please note our monthly meeting will be Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025, 7:15 PM at SRA clubhouse 3201 Chellowe Rd

Send a message to learn more

Just received this from someone in Granite. The lots in question are the empty lots across from the entrance to Willow Oaks, butting up against the Parkway. The meeting is 11-14-25. If you care to voice any concerns please do so.

Note I removed the contact and last name of the person who sent the email. If anyone desires to reach out directly, please contact us and we will share privately

Dear Southampton Citizens Association,

My name is Cameron ______ My husband, toddler and I have lived in the Granite neighborhood, just off Forest Hill Avenue, for 11 years. I’m reaching out to share information about a Special Use Permit (SUP) that has been filed to construct a 26-unit, for-rent apartment complex on a one-acre parcel in our neighborhood (6101, 6109, 6117 Forest Hill Ave).

The property in question is currently divided into three one-third–acre lots, each zoned by right for single-family homes. This zoning is consistent with the City of Richmond’s Master Plan and with the established, owner-occupied, single-family character of both Granite and Southampton.

The proposed 26-unit development would bring high-density rental housing into the exceptionally quiet neighborhood of Granite. Our primary concerns include:

The density of 26 units on one acre, which far exceeds the neighborhood’s scale.
The for-rent nature of the project, which contrasts with the surrounding owner-occupied homes.
The likely increase in traffic, noise, and lighting, which would affect not just Granite but also the broader community along Forest Hill and nearby streets.
Granite is a small neighborhood of less than 150 single family homes, and while many of our residents are submitting comments, we recognize that our collective voice is limited in size. We’re reaching out to Southampton Citizens Association because your neighborhood’s leadership and civic involvement carry greater weight within the City’s planning discussions.

We would be so grateful if you could share this information with your members and encourage anyone concerned about maintaining the character and stability of our shared area to send comments to:

Madison Wilson – City of Richmond Planning Department
Email: [email protected]
Deadline: Thursday, November 14th
Subject line: Feedback on SUP-174312-2025

Even a brief email expressing opposition to the density and the for-rent nature of this proposal can help ensure the City hears from residents who value maintaining the integrity of our established single-family neighborhoods. I have also attached an awareness flyer, if you have any interest in sharing it with your members (via email, Facebook Group, etc)

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. We truly appreciate Southampton's community spirit and leadership, and we hope you’ll join us in voicing concern about this development.

ATTENTION NEIGHBORS
A 26-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX IS
PROPOSED NEXT DOOR
Dear Neighbors,
A Special Use Permit (SUP) has been filed with the City of
Richmond to build a 26-unit, for-rent apartment complex on
the three, one-third acre parcels at the corner of Glyndon Lane
and Forest Hill Avenue. This space is currently zoned by right
for three single-family homes. A Special Use Permit is required
to develop apartments. This would be a big change for our
neighborhood!
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Email Madison Wilson ([email protected]) with the City
of Richmond’s Planning Department by Thursday, November
14th to share your feedback and vision for our neighborhood.
Email subject line: Feedback on SUP-174312-2025
This flyer was printed by neighborhood members (not anyone
associated with the development) for community awareness.
Whether the permit is approved, denied, or requires
amendments hinges on community feedback. Please take a
moment to share your voice before November 14th

Send a message to learn more

SOUTHAMPTON CITIZENS ASSOCIATION AGENDA

Tuesday, October 21, 2025
7:15 PM
Southampton Recreation Center

1. Treasurer’s report.
2. Presentation by the Shepherd’s Center of Richmond. www.TSCOR.org.
3. Update from Council. Timmy Siverd, Liaison for the Honorable Sarah Abubaker will be in attendance. Zoning Refresh, road closure updates (Forest Hill utility work is complete) and Cherokee Rd survey results.
4. Elections for Board Members.
5. New business.

Send a message to learn more