Newport News council approves zoning, property conveyances and $660,000 for signals; multiple ordinances pass unanimously

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Newport News City Council on Sept. 23 adopted ordinances and resolutions covering zoning, property conveyances, utility easements and a streets-and-bridges appropriation, voting unanimously on items considered during the meeting.

Council approved a conditional use permit to allow a small motor-vehicle repair facility on a 2.51-acre property at 15412 Wark Boulevard; an additional-use permit for Emmanuel Baptist Church to operate a community facility on a 9.7-acre parcel at 69 Saunders Road; two zoning-text amendments to define and regulate vape shops (including adding vape shops as a permitted use in the C-2 General Commercial district); updates to platting and site-review timelines to comply with recent changes from the Virginia General Assembly; multiple conveyances of city-owned real property to private developers; a utility-easement deed with Dominion Energy; and a second amendment to a Verizon lease for 200 square feet on Richneck Road in York County. The council also approved a $660,000 appropriation from FY2026 bond authorization for signal and pedestrian upgrades at Brierfield Road and Marshall Avenue.

Why it matters: The measures change zoning rules, authorize property transfers and clear funding for a transportation project near Heritage High School. The vape-shop regulations add new local operating limits and definitions; the timeline changes align city review procedures with state law; and the property conveyances and easement clear the way for private development and utility work on city-owned parcels.

Most significant votes

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