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Norfolk City Council approves dozens of easements and VDOT grants, continues Oculus Rail item to March 25
Summary
At a Norfolk City Council meeting the council approved multiple ordinances granting easements for a natural-gas pipeline, accepted a slate of VDOT and other grants totaling millions for roadway, bike and ADA work, amended the city compensation plan and schedule for work sessions, and continued an encroachment request from Oculus Rail to March 25.
The Norfolk City Council approved a series of ordinances authorizing easements for utility and civic projects and accepting multiple state transportation grants, while voting to continue an encroachment request from Oculus Rail to March 25.
The actions included two easements to Columbia Gas Transmission for a new natural gas pipeline across city property in Suffolk; a right-of-entry for Virginia Beach to restore channel depth at Lake Lawson; and more than a dozen grant acceptances from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for resurfacing, intersection improvements, signal upgrades and corridor studies. The council also approved changes to the FY 2025 compensation ordinance and rescheduled its regular work sessions to begin at 4 p.m.
Why it matters: The grants will fund local transportation and accessibility projects and require matching or local funds in several cases, authorizing staff to execute agreements with state agencies. The Columbia Gas easements clear a path for pipeline construction on city-owned parcels in Suffolk. Continuing the Oculus Rail item delays a decision on installing computer-vision sensors until additional review on March 25.
Among the major approvals were: R1 and R2 granting long-term and temporary construction easements for Columbia Gas Transmission; a string of VDOT grant acceptances (R5, R6, Part 7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16) covering projects including ADA ramps, intersection improvements, resurfacing and a signal-system upgrade; and R17, an ordinance amending the FY 2025 compensation plan. The council also adopted an appropriation to accept a Virginia Department of Energy Management grant for a critical facility generator at Norfolk Public Schools nutrition program services (R4).
Council procedure and votes: For most ordinances the clerk read the item, the council moved to dispense with the Charter requirement for two readings, and members recorded “Aye” in roll call. Where recorded, roll-call “Aye” votes included Mister Clanton, Missus Doyle, Missus Johnson, Mister McGee, Mister Page, Mister Smigiel and Doctor Alexander. The Oculus Rail encroachment item (Part 19) was continued to March 25 on a council vote.
A brief discussion preceded the vote on the South Side Bike Lane project (R14). A council member said he had not been fully briefed on the plan and asked whether the community had been engaged; John Stevenson, director of transportation, replied that concept development and public engagement are about to begin and that staff will provide a project web page and meet with stakeholders. Stevenson said, “This project...was one of the hallmarks of trying to provide additional modes of transportation for the community,” and emphasized that “there’s gonna be a huge public engagement component to this.”
The council also approved requests for temporary right-of-entry for community events (R20, R22) and appointed a member to a city board (R21).
