Planning Commission approves honorary designation Jerome L. Williams Way for one block of Rapidan Street

The Portsmouth Planning Commission voted 5-0 Wednesday to approve an honorary street-name designation for a one-block portion of Rapidan Street between Hancock Avenue and Greenwood Drive, to be designated Jerome L. Williams Way.

Staff recommended the modification after reviewing the applicant’s request to recognize Bishop Jerome L. Williams, pastor of New Testament Church Ministries, and said the city’s policy disallows designations that use a religious title. “We are recommending approval of Jerome L. Williams Way,” senior planner Valerie Malzone said during the commission’s public hearing.

The change is honorary only and does not alter official addresses or the green street-name signs; staff said the city will install a brown double-face sign with white lettering above the existing Rapidan Street sign. Malzone said the subject portion of Rapidan Street is about 400 linear feet long, serves the church and parking lot, and two single-family residences.

Applicant representatives Elder Samuel Laurie and Elder Valerie Laurie told commissioners the designation recognizes Williams’s long local activity, including an early-childhood program and community service work. “Bishop Williams became the pastor of New Testament Church in 02/2001 and has been a significant leader of the church and local community,” Elder Samuel Laurie said, describing the pastor’s congregation growth and outreach programs.

During discussion some commissioners raised concerns about precedent and the policy restriction on religious references. One commissioner asked whether removing the title “Bishop” was sufficient to meet the policy’s prohibition on religious affiliation; city attorney Miller and staff replied that the policy’s purpose is to avoid using designations that are presented as religious titles and that the honorific would be omitted. Commissioners also asked about notification to nearby civic groups; Malzone said the application included the required property-owner petition signed by both adjacent property owners and that notices were mailed to the civic league PO box listed on the organization’s website.

Staff said no public comments had been received before the hearing. The commission’s approval sends the item to city council for final review under the city’s honorary street-name process.

Votes at a glance

HSND-24-01 — Honorary street name designation (Rapidan Street between Hancock Ave and Greenwood Dr). Motion to approve: passed 5-0.

Why it matters: The city adopted an honorary street-name policy in July 2024 to recognize individuals while minimizing impacts on emergency services and postal addressing; the designation preserves official addresses and places a commemorative sign above the existing street sign.

What’s next: Staff will arrange fabrication and installation of the commemorative sign and present the commission’s recommendation to Portsmouth City Council for any subsequent steps.