Suffolk council approves rezoning and indoor-recreation permit for Suffolk Youth Athletic Association site

The Suffolk City Council on Monday approved a rezoning and a companion conditional-use permit to allow an indoor recreation facility on a 2.6-acre portion of the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association property at 432 Kings Fork Road.

The rezoning (RZN 20248) changes the parcel from RR, rural residential, to B-2, general commercial, while the conditional-use permit (CUP 202420) authorizes an indoor amusement/recreation use in an existing storage building. The council voted to approve the rezoning 8-0 after a motion by Council Member Bennett and a second from Council Member Williams; the CUP passed 8-0 on a motion by Council Member Williams and a second by Council Member Johnson.

The votes came after several proponents described the local youth sports organization’s need for year-round training and competition space. "We need an indoor facility," said Jeff Payne, who identified himself as treasurer of the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association. Payne told council the organization serves about 1,300 children across multiple sports and operates largely with volunteers and private support.

Meg Pittenger, assistant director of planning, told council the request covers only the 2.6-acre corner of the larger SYA property. According to Pittenger’s staff report, the existing building was permitted as a storage structure and the applicant proposes to convert it for indoor soccer, field hockey and small meeting space. The applicant submitted proffers limiting the B-2 rezoning so that only the indoor recreation and amusement facility use would be allowed on the rezoned portion; other B-2 uses are proffered out.

Proponents said the site already contains parking and restroom facilities are in a separate building on the SYA campus, so the conversion would not require new building construction or additional parking. At the Planning Commission’s Dec. 17 meeting staff and commissioners recommended approval; the transcript records a Planning Commission recommendation of 7-0 for the rezoning and conditional-use permit.

Supporters who spoke at the public hearing included Karen Arnold, senior referee assignor for the Tidewater Soccer Referee Association, and coach and trainer Tamara Bijer Lobos Flores. "They have a training program that is unbelievable, far superior to the one that the state even provides," Arnold said of SYA’s referee training. Tamara Bijer Lobos Flores said local players are currently forced to travel to other cities in winter, and that a local indoor facility would keep athletes and related spending in Suffolk.

SYA founder and longtime volunteer Harry Cross also spoke in favor, telling council the project would allow the organization to keep children playing in Suffolk during the winter months.

City staff described planned operations as limited to the existing building and said the conditional-use permit would authorize indoor recreation on that 2.6-acre portion only. The staff report and applicant materials state the indoor layout includes bleacher seating and restroom access separate from the building to be converted. The applicants provided letters of support from immediate neighbors and from Lakeland High School’s principal.

With both the rezoning and the CUP approved, the applicant may proceed under the conditions and proffers recorded in the council agenda packet and the city’s Unified Development Ordinance requirements. No opposition speakers were recorded on the rezoning or CUP items in the public hearing segment of the transcript.

Council members who spoke in support cited SYA’s long history in the city and the organization’s volunteer base. Council Member Bennett made the motion to approve the rezoning; Council Member Williams seconded. For the CUP, the motion was made by Council Member Williams and seconded by Council Member Johnson; both items carried 8-0.

The council’s action clears the way for SYA to use the existing facility for indoor practice and events subject to the conditions of the conditional-use permit and the proffers that limit uses on the rezoned acreage.