Portsmouth staff brief commission on proposed coastal seaplane base at Tidewater Yacht Marina

Portsmouth staff on April 22 briefed the Port and Industrial Commission on a proposed commercial seaplane operation that would dock at Tidewater Yacht and Marina (Dock D) and operate daily run‑service and charters along the mid‑Atlantic coast.

Staff said the operation would not require new waterfront infrastructure and that the operator would hangar the aircraft in Newport News when not operating in Portsmouth. The presentation said the operator—identified in the materials as Sam Riggs—proposes up to five flights per day under the conditional‑use permit the operator has sought; staff said a cap in the zoning text amendment would limit daily operations to five trips. The project packet supplied to the planning commission included an environmental assessment and a public comment process run through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; staff said agencies including the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Federal Aviation Administration weighed in during that review and that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued after public review.

Staff outlined operational safety steps: pilots must be FAA‑certified, planes operate as vessels on the water and must yield to other vessels, and operators will coordinate with the Coast Guard, Navy and nearby airports (Chambers Field, Norfolk Airport) on NOTAMs and daily operations. Staff also described planned community outreach and training for local boating clubs and marina users about seaplane operations.

The presenter noted the operation already has national examples—staff cited daily seaplane operations in Boston, Seattle and Florida—and described the Portsmouth location as a potential Mid‑Atlantic hub. Staff told commissioners the operator is a certified air carrier and could carry cargo as well as passengers, though passenger charters and tourism were described as the primary business model. The presenter said the aircraft in the application seats a small number of passengers (staff described the plane as “small,” and estimated a typical passenger count of up to four, excluding the pilot).

Commissioners asked about leases and whether the operation could relocate; staff said the operator has permission from the marina owner (Suntex/Tidewater Yacht) but that the commission’s role is limited to zoning and local approvals, and that any lease terms are between the operator and the marina owner. Staff said the proposed zoning text amendment for a seaplane base was intended to create clear standards and protect both the city and the operator by preventing low‑standard operators from setting up without the same approvals.

No final action was taken; staff said the item would proceed through the city’s planning and zoning processes and, if approved by planning commission and city council, would be subject to the operator’s continued compliance with FAA and maritime safety rules.