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Norfolk council requires conditional use permits for new or redeveloped commercial spaces over 30,000 sq ft
Summary
City Council adopted an ordinance amending Norfolk's zoning code to require a conditional use permit for development, redevelopment or substantial improvement of structures larger than 30,000 square feet in community or regional commercial districts.
The Norfolk City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance on Jan. 28 to amend sections of the city zoning ordinance so that the development, redevelopment, substantial improvement, or establishment of a use in a vacant single‑tenant commercial space larger than 30,000 square feet in community commercial or regional commercial zoning districts requires a conditional use permit (CUP).
The Planning Commission had recommended approval by a 6–0 vote before the item came to council. City staff introduced the ordinance and council dispensed with the charter requirement for reading ordinances twice and adopted the amendment the same night.
Why this matters: The change gives the city an extra review step for very large commercial projects and vacant single‑tenant spaces, allowing council and planning staff to consider impacts before large developments proceed without discretionary oversight.
The ordinance text (as read into the record) amends specific sections of the Norfolk zoning ordinance—cited in council comments as sections 3.3.0.4 and 3.3.0.5—to require a CUP prior to development or establishment of uses described above. The Planning Commission had recommended approval by a vote of 6–0. The council's roll call in the meeting record showed all council members voting in favor: Clanton, Doyle, Johnson, McGee, Page, Smigiel, Thomas and Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander.
Council did not include additional amendments or carveouts in the meeting discussion; staff indicated the change was intended to provide review authority for large single‑tenant spaces and major redevelopment in community‑ and regional‑commercial zones. The ordinance takes effect on adoption unless the council or city clerk specifies a different effective date in the final ordinance text.
