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Council OKs seaplane use in zoning code and authorizes seaplane base at Crawford Parkway; operator outlines safety and limits
Summary
Portsmouth adopted a zoning-text amendment to authorize seaplane bases and granted a use permit for a seaplane base at 10 Crawford Parkway to an FAA Part 135-certified operator, with conditions and federal coordination noted in the record.
Portsmouth City Council on Tuesday adopted a citywide ordinance to add “seaplane base” as an authorized use and approved a use permit to allow Coastal Seaplanes to operate a seaplane base at 10 Crawford Parkway, both by unanimous 7-0 votes.
The ordinance amends Chapter 40.2 of the city code to add a seaplane‑base definition and include the use in the applicable zoning districts and parking standards; the planning commission recommended approval. The use permit, UP2403, authorizes Coastal Seaplanes owner Sam Riggs to operate from a docking area in the Federal Channel outside the Tidewater Yacht Marina, and it was approved with conditions recommended by staff and federal agencies.
Sam Riggs told council his company is FAA‑authorized as a Part 135 air carrier and operates amphibious aircraft under commercial safety standards. He said operations from the Elizabeth River will be visual‑flight‑rules (VFR) only, daytime only, and that current aircraft carry three passengers (the owner occupies the fourth seat). He said the company plans to add larger aircraft in the future. Riggs said takeoffs and landings will occur in the Federal Channel outside the harbor and not within Crawford Bay, and he described noise abatement and safety plans; he cited a peak noise measurement near Harbor Tower Apartments at about 89 decibels for 5–10 seconds during a pass.
Record discussion included coordination with federal entities: Riggs said Coastal Seaplanes holds federal approvals and has engaged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard; council members referenced outreach to the U.S. Navy and to Hampton Roads Transit. Riggs also said the Army Corps’ conditions include no overnight aircraft storage and a 5‑flights‑per‑day limit on the Elizabeth River for the company; staff noted federal preemption considerations under the Airline Deregulation Act.
Council members and public commenters, including Tony Goodwin and planning commissioners, expressed support for the project’s potential economic and waterfront activation benefits while asking for clear conditions and interagency coordination. City staff and the applicant said they will continue coordination with the Navy, Coast Guard and Army Corps and will bring recommended permit conditions into the record as required by the use‑permit process.
Both the zoning text amendment and the use permit were recorded as adopted 7-0. The approved permit includes the conditions described at the hearing and references compliance with Army Corps and other federal agency requirements; the applicant agreed to operational limitations and ongoing communication with federal and regional partners.
