Planning commission endorses Soulful Vegan Events market and banquet plan with parking conditions

The Norfolk Planning Commission recommended approval July 15 of conditional use permits allowing Soulful Vegan Events LLC to operate a flea market (indoor and outdoor) and a banquet hall at 1200 East Little Creek Road.

Planning staff said the site is zoned CC (commercial), conforms to the city's Plan Norfolk 2030 land-use designation for the parcel, and provides 27 parking spaces — more than the 18 spaces staff calculated as required, because the banquet hall's demand and the adjacent retail tenant's demand cannot occur simultaneously. Staff recommended several conditions, including a restriction that the banquet hall not operate at the same time as the outdoor flea market to reduce parking conflicts. Staff also proposed a two-year expiration for the banquet hall conditional use permit.

Applicant Shrianna Kelty said the flea market, branded “Black on Black Market,” is a pop-up market for Black-owned businesses and that the banquet hall would support community events. Kelty told commissioners that vendors have coordinated parking with neighboring businesses and that market staff now direct vehicles on-site; she said cones have been used in the past but staff was advised not to place obstructions in the public right-of-way.

Staff clarified that placing cones or other obstructions in the public right-of-way is not permitted and that staff will forward parking concerns to the Department of Transportation if the commission approves the requests. The applicant said a retail business next door takes the first three spaces on Saturdays and that vendors and staff coordinate to avoid conflict.

The commission voted to recommend approval of the conditional use permits subject to the conditions in the staff report, including the nonconcurrent use requirement and the no-alcohol/no-live-entertainment restriction at the banquet hall. One commissioner voted no; the majority supported forwarding the recommendation to council.