Mayor Danny Avula announced Wednesday the addition of four new members to the city’s Zoning Advisory Council, expanding the panel from 17 to 21 members in response to resident calls for broader representation in planning decisions.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the expansion Tuesday to address gaps in geographic representation and strengthen community input on Richmond’s housing crisis. Council districts 4 and 7 currently have no representation on the advisory council, while districts 2, 8 and 9 each have only one member. 

“People want to know that their voices matter,” Avula said. “The feedback from residents was really important, so the team and I set about adding new representation.” 

The Zoning Advisory Council is a nondecision-making subcommittee of the city Planning Commission composed of Richmond residents who help guide updates to the city’s zoning ordinance. 

The Planning Commission consists of nine appointed members responsible for adopting the city’s master plan and other duties. A list of council members and a meeting schedule are available on the city’s website.