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Commission recommends rezoning for Bridge Road car‑dealership site; applicant projects positive fiscal impact
Summary
The commission voted 7-0 to recommend rezoning a roughly 7.8‑acre front portion of a 15‑acre assemblage on Bridge (Bridal) Road to B‑2 to allow two car dealerships, with applicant proffers to leave forested wetlands undisturbed and to submit a joint permit to impact up to two acres of wetlands.
The Suffolk City Planning Commission voted 7-0 at its April meeting to recommend approval of rezoning request RZN2024012 to change several parcels from OI (Office/Institutional) to B‑2 (General Commercial) conditional zoning for development of two car dealerships at Lynn Drive near Bridge (Bridal) Road.
Staff planner Gonzalo Borges described the request as rezoning an assemblage of parcels, noting the application proposes two dealership buildings — one planned at about 30,000 square feet and the other at about 25,000 square feet — with vehicle display and service areas. Borges said the applicant submitted a wetlands delineation showing forested wetlands at the rear of the property and that the applicant intends to file a joint permit to impact up to two acres of wetlands while retaining a substantial portion of the forested wetlands for conservation and screening.
Why it matters: The site lies in the Northern Growth Area within a mixed‑use core land‑use designation in Suffolk 2045 and is adjacent to existing automotive uses; staff concluded B‑2 would be compatible with surrounding commercial uses and recommended approval with proffers.
Lisa Murphy, the applicant’s zoning attorney, told the commission the rezoning would focus development on the front 7.8 acres of a roughly 15‑acre assemblage and leave the forested wetlands at the rear largely undisturbed. Murphy said the applicant — identified in public comments as Southern Auto Group — intends to relocate two dealerships and estimated construction would begin in June 2026 and take about four to six months. Murphy also cited a fiscal‑impact study and said the project’s "annual projected cash flow to the city of approximately $250,000" and a five‑year projection totaling roughly $790,000.
Staff noted the site is within the Special Corridor Overlay District for Bridge Road and that proffers include maintaining the southern portion of the property in its natural state and compliance with the submitted conceptual site plan. The applicant’s conceptual plan shows access from Lynn Drive (a service road parallel to Bridge Road) and proposes a wet‑pond toward the wetland area for stormwater management; traffic consultants provided an impact study, and staff said public utilities are adequate for the proposed development.
The commission moved to recommend approval; the motion passed 7-0 and will be forwarded to City Council for final action on May 21.
