Applicant revises layout for proposed Halpern Drive convenience store, planning commission recommends approval

City planning staff updated the Norfolk City Council on a conditional use permit application for a convenience store with gasoline sales, off-premise alcohol and smoking products at 7912 Halpern Drive, at the corner of East Little Creek and Halpern Drive. Bobby Tahan, director of city planning, said the applicant flipped the building orientation to move pumps away from the corner and provided building elevations to avoid a blank wall along Halpern Drive. The applicant’s engineer provided a trip generation analysis and estimated that roughly 75% of vehicles accessing the site would use the East Little Creek Road entrance; the site has two full-service curb cuts, one on Halpern Drive and one on East Little Creek Road. Planning Commission voted 7–0 in favor of the proposal, Tahan said. Staff relayed that the Roosevelt Gardens Civic League met and now supports the application. Tahan also said staff negotiated a proposed condition that would restrict the former nearby convenience store site from operating as a competing convenience store or as a grandfathered use; councilmembers acknowledged that restriction as part of the mitigation package. The item is on the council agenda for further consideration; staff will return with any final conditions before a formal vote.