Shaia v. City of Richmond

By Judge Melvin R. Hughes, Jr.

In this case, the owners of real property and the owners of a sign located on the property appeal a denial of their application for a variance by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

The property consists of two acres on the tip of Mayo Island which is surrounded on three sides by the James River. The tract in question is devoted exclusively to a billboard sign which has been found by this court in a similar appeal in 2000 to be in violation of height restrictions. After that 2000 ruling, the appellants have sought a variance to permit the use of the property with…