The city of Richmond released the highly anticipated second draft of its code refresh, the first comprehensive overhaul of the city’s zoning laws since the 1970s.

The city is continuing to collect feedback on the plan, and will stage three open houses on Wednesday and Thursday, in addition to collecting comments online both on the zoning map and the zoning ordinances.

The first draft of the refresh was controversial: While it won praise from affordable housing groups, it also drew concern from some neighborhood groups worried that too much density will alter the city’s character.

The second draft includes a host of changes. Most notably, the city has removed a provision that allowed the construction of two housing units on any residential property along with the accessory dwelling unit already allowed by City Council in 2023. 

In the new plan, an additional unit is allowed only if the original house is preserved.

The Richmonder will continue to have full coverage of the code refresh in the coming days.