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City manager announces new building system, updates on Crawford Street roundabout and Waterview traffic calming
Summary
Portsmouth's city manager told council the city's new building permit system is now live, the Crawford Street roundabout work has begun, and traffic-calming measures for the Waterview community are set to start next week. Councilmembers raised separate road-hazard concerns on Cedar Lane.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Portsmouth City Council heard several operations and infrastructure updates on June 10 as City Manager Carter reported progress on a new building permit system and multiple traffic projects.
Carter told the council the city ‘‘successfully launched that new building system’’ after earlier attempts to implement it had sputtered. He later updated the council on the Crawford Street roundabout, saying vegetation removal has begun and the project is progressing toward a scheduled September milestone. Carter also said traffic-calming work for the Waterview community has started and is expected to begin the following week.
During the report-back segment, Councilman Hugo asked the manager to take a closer look at a manhole problem on Cedar Lane, specifically locations near the entrance to Greenfield Farms and at least two others in the southbound lanes that remain hazards. Hugo said he would identify the exact locations and send them to the city manager so the city could complete remediation and ‘‘get Cedar Lane off the books.’’
Councilman Dodson thanked city staff for advancing the Waterview traffic-calming project and asked about the protocol for requesting traffic studies in adjacent neighborhoods; the councilman said West Haven and nearby civic leagues had requested studies. Carter said staff would meet after the meeting to outline the proper protocol for requests.
Why it matters: The building permit system affects permitting workflow across departments and for residents and businesses. The roundabout and traffic-calming projects are local infrastructure investments with direct effects on travel safety and neighborhood quality.
What to watch for: Carter noted a September timeline milestone for the roundabout and said staff will pursue the traffic-calming schedule for Waterview next week. Councilmembers requested follow-up on Cedar Lane hazards and formal guidance on traffic-study requests.
