Council approves kennel permit, grant appropriations and appointments; denies Victory Boulevard storage proposal

Portsmouth City Council approved a series of routine items at its meeting, including use permits, grant appropriations and appointments to boards and commissions, and denied a proposed self‑storage facility at 4054 Victory Boulevard.

Use permits and resolutions: Council approved a use permit (UP‑24‑11) for an outdoor kennel at 3114 Tyronek Road (Port Rover) by a 6‑0 vote. Applicant representative Sherry Capuano described the proposal as a small fenced and turfed area for a few dogs to use during grooming and boarding; she said the facility is not a daycare and that neighbors had been contacted and letters submitted.

Council considered a separate use permit (UP‑24‑12) to develop a self‑storage facility on a 6.3‑acre parcel at 4054 Victory Boulevard. No applicant was present for the public hearing. After the public hearing closed, council denied UP‑24‑12 by a 6‑0 vote; the planning commission had recommended denial.

Grants and appropriations: Council accepted an Edward Brown Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $92,582 from the U.S. Department of Justice for the police department and related programs; the ordinance was adopted 6‑0. Council also accepted a $1,000 donation for the Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services and adopted several social‑services grant appropriations (transcript lists additional DSS grants for auxiliary, foster care, and family preservation funds adopted by vote 6‑0 each; one auxiliary grant amount in the packet was unclear in the transcript and is marked below as not specified). A resolution certifying the city's support for a Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Industrial Access Railroad Track Fund grant application for $750,000 related to port uses on Harper Avenue was adopted 6‑0.

Boards and commissions: Council approved a slate of appointments and reappointments across multiple city boards and commissions, including reappointments to the Historic Preservation Commission and Museum and Fine Arts Commission and new appointments to the Planning Commission, Library Board and several authorities. The slate was adopted by a recorded vote of 6‑0.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the meeting record): - UP‑24‑11 (3114 Tyronek Road, Port Rover) — Approved 6‑0. - UP‑24‑12 (4054 Victory Boulevard, self‑storage) — Denied 6‑0. - Ordinance accepting Edward Brown Memorial JAG — Adopted 6‑0; amount $92,582. - Ordinance accepting donation to Fire Rescue — Adopted 6‑0; amount $1,000. - DSS appropriations (auxiliary/foster/family preservation) — Adopted 6‑0; one auxiliary grant amount not clearly recorded in transcript (marked "not specified in transcript"). - Resolution supporting application for DRPT Industrial Access Railroad Track Fund grant ($750,000) — Adopted 6‑0. - Boards & commissions appointments/reappointments — Adopted 6‑0.