UDC approves conceptual design for Richmond Police Equestrian Center with outreach and tree-preservation conditions

The Urban Design Committee voted to approve a conceptual location, character and extent review for the Richmond Police Equestrian Center planned at 3910 Crestview Road, subject to staff recommendations and additional conditions requested by committee members.

The proposed facility converts a roughly 7-acre, city-owned parcel in the East End into a mounted unit facility with a barn (indoor arena and approximately eight stalls), pasture and cleared turnout areas, a two-level office/locker building, an outdoor training ring and parking/trailer facilities. Presenters said the project relocates the mounted unit from a current, flood-prone facility in Henrico County into the city and separates the barn and office into two structures.

Architect David Sears (Moseley Architects) and project team lead Chris (Daniels) described the project as an agricultural-style design composed of pole-barn structures (some funded and assembled by a third party organization described as Friends of the Mounted). The team told the committee that detailed color schemes, lighting and finish decisions will be provided at a later technical review after the conceptual approval stage.

Committee discussion focused on several recurring issues: community outreach, stormwater and runoff given proximity to Gillies Creek and mapped 100/500-year floodplains, handling of horse waste and wash-water (urine and manure), fence and access design, meadow and pasture siting to reduce loss of mature tree canopy, public visibility and civic presence at the street-facing office building, and access control (gates and future automation). Deputy Chief Cindy Carter (Richmond Police Department) told the committee the mounted unit currently keeps horses in County facilities and that the city has struggled to find suitable land; the proposed site had been vetted for soils and siting constraints.

Committee members asked the applicant to re-canvass nearby neighbors (several members noted it has been several years since earlier outreach), produce street-level renderings showing how the office building engages the public right-of-way, provide details on stormwater capture and pretreatment for horse-wash water, and explore alternative pasture placement to preserve tree canopy. Several members also requested that fencing visible from the street avoid chain-link and that the project explore composting or other beneficial uses for manure.

The committee amended the applicant’s motion to add community outreach and requests to explore building placement that reduces tree-canopy loss; it also asked for final renderings showing how the facility engages the public right-of-way. The committee voted to approve the conceptual application with those conditions and the staff recommendations, which included dark-sky‑sensitive lighting, permeable paving alternatives, ADA-compliant pedestrian connections, details on on-site fencing types, and opportunities for public art and interpretive signage.