Planning commission backs two special-exception requests for infill homes in Southeast Newport News

The Newport News Planning Commission on Oct. 15 recommended approval of two special-exception applications that would allow two-story single-family homes on substandard, 37.5-foot-wide lots in the city's Southeast neighborhood. Planning staff presented both applications — filed by Toby Homes LLC — and recommended each be forwarded to the Board of Zoning Appeals for final action.

Planner Ms. O'Kee of the Department of Planning told the commission that each property contains 0.0861 acres and is zoned R-4 for single-family dwellings. She said the requests meet the criteria in Section 45-3-204(e)(2) of the zoning ordinance for allowing homes on nonconforming lots with less than 50 feet of frontage, and that staff added nine conditions to each recommended approval, including brick on the foundation and first-floor elevation, a recessed attached garage, a six-foot-deep front porch and heavy-gauge siding with a minimum thickness of 0.44 millimeters.

The two parcels under consideration were described in the staff presentation as located on Fifth Street (case SC25-0013) and Fourth Street (case SC25-0014). Both plans show two-story homes with front porches, double-hung windows and hip rooflines designed to reflect the block's prevailing character; staff…