Owner asks council to allow two short‑term rentals at 810 W. Ocean View; neighbors, civic league raised parking concerns

Kevin Sterling, owner of Solaris LLC, told the Norfolk City Council he is seeking permission for two short‑term rental units at 810 West Ocean View Avenue out of a 14‑unit property he has owned since November 2021.

The request follows an earlier, broader application for all 14 units that Sterling said drew strong opposition from the Willoughby Civic League. Sterling said he reduced the request to two units and reconfigured on‑site parking, shrinking the lot from 22 informal spaces to 20 code‑compliant spaces and adding maneuverability and landscaping.

The issue matters to nearby residents and civic groups because opponents raised concentration of short‑term rentals and parking congestion as concerns. Council members noting the Civic League letter asked that Sterling be given an opportunity to present his revised plans to the civic body before the council acts.

Sterling told the council he originally bought the property as an operating short‑term rental and then reconsidered, first seeking permits for all 14 units and later scaling back to two. "I bought the property in November 2021... I asked to initially submit a permit to ask for 14 all 14 for short term rental and met with the Civic League back in February of '24," Sterling said. He said the Civic League flagged parking and concentration of short‑term rentals as the main objections.

Sterling described specific parking changes he proposed: re‑angling spaces, moving a trash container, improving drive‑aisle width and adding landscaping. He said the redesign reduced the site from 22 informal spaces to about 20 code‑compliant spaces, including an ADA space, and added turning areas so vehicles would not need to back onto Ocean View Avenue.

Councilman Smigiel pressed whether Sterling had returned to the Civic League with the revised plan after scaling down to two units. Planning staff told the council the Civic League's written opposition addressed the applicant's original proposal and that the civic group declined to hold a new online vote after Sterling sent revised parking plans. Councilman Smigiel asked that, as a fairness matter, the applicant be allowed to present the new plan to the Willoughby Civic League before the council votes.

Councilman Thomas asked what else had changed besides the number of units; Sterling said the principal changes were the reduced number of short‑term rental units and the parking reconfiguration. Sterling characterized the revised plan as intended to address the Civic League's concerns and said he had been told the civic group might place him on an upcoming agenda in May, June or September.

The planning commission voted 4–1 in favor of the revised request. Council members indicated at the public comment stage that the matter would most likely be continued for further coordination with the Civic League; no final council vote on the 810 West Ocean View application is recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

If the council continues the matter, staff and the applicant will have additional time to present revised parking plans to the Willoughby Civic League and to return with any further edits or conditions.