Council approves multiple CUPs, code changes, VDOT grants and appropriations; one abstention on Costco item

Newport News City Council on June 10 approved a series of land‑use permits, ordinances, contract authorizations and appropriations that the city manager recommended, with most measures passing by unanimous roll call and one item recorded with an abstention.

Key actions taken included approval of multiple conditional use permits (CUPs), adoption of an amendment to city code chapter 40 relating to tax exemptions for surviving spouses of line‑of‑duty deaths, authorization of temporary and permanent easement acquisitions for right‑of‑way projects, execution of agreements with state and regional transportation agencies and appropriations of grant funds for intersection and sidewalk projects.

Major items and recorded outcomes

- Conditional use permit extension: Council adopted an ordinance amending ordinance number 7910 (Tac23) to grant a 12‑month extension of conditional use permit Tac2023‑0005 for CNU12396 Warwick LLC and Griffith Associates to construct an automobile gasoline supply station at 12396 and 12394 Warwick Boulevard. Motion carried, 6–0.

- Bay Custom Auto CUP: Council granted a CUP (Tac2025‑0002) to R. M. Wheeland Properties LLC and Bay Custom Auto to allow a body paint shop at 11408 Jefferson Avenue (C‑2 General Commercial). Applicant representatives described plans for a new building and site revitalization. Motion carried, 6–0.

- Costco / Ferguson Enterprises CUP: Council adopted a CUP (CharlieUniform‑2025‑0003) to Ferguson Enterprises and Costco Warehouse Corporation to allow a gas and supply station on a 20.23‑acre portion of property along Jefferson Avenue; Vice Mayor Bethany abstained from the roll call due to a disclosed personal interest (employed by Ferguson Enterprises). Motion carried with one abstention (5 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain).

- City code amendment (Chapter 40): Council adopted an ordinance amending City Code chapter 40 (including section 40‑7.07) to align with state law by recognizing deaths by suicide as qualifying line‑of‑duty deaths for surviving‑spouse tax exemption purposes. Motion carried, 6–0.

- Choice Neighborhood / 1014 Jefferson Ave.: Council authorized the city manager to execute documents necessary to make offers to acquire portions of property at 1014 Jefferson Avenue by voluntary sale or condemnation in support of the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (Ivy Avenue Road project). Motion to drop the ordinance and related actions carried, 6–0.

- Warwick Boulevard and Yorktown Road easements: Council authorized the city manager to execute documents to acquire temporary and permanent easements for the Warwick Boulevard and Yorktown Road intersection improvement projects. Motion carried, 6–0; ordinance subsequently adopted, 6–0.

- Telecommunication license (Lehi 3): Council approved a nonexclusive, revocable license agreement with Lehi 3 Communications of Virginia Inc. to use city rights of way for telecommunications; the resolution carried, 6–0.

- VDOT / HRTAC transportation agreements and appropriations: Council approved (1) a project administration agreement with VDOT for two HRTAC‑funded traffic management projects supporting the Hampton Roads Express Lanes and (2) an appropriation of $760,000 in FY2025 HRTAC funds for those construction‑phase traffic management projects. The $760,000 includes $52,500 for portable CCTV cameras and changeable message signs and $707,500 to upgrade vehicle detection at signalized intersections. Both measures were approved, 6–0.

- VDOT grant appropriations for intersection and pedestrian improvements: Council appropriated $2,263,462 in FY2025 VDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program grant funds for three intersection and pedestrian safety projects (Warwick Boulevard/Harpersville Road mast arms and ADA work; Rock Landing Drive/Omni Boulevard signal and turn lane; Jefferson Avenue sidewalks from Industrial Park Drive to Shields Road) and appropriated $2,395,752 in FY2025 VDOT revenue‑sharing funds plus an equal local match for a total of $4,791,504 for six projects. Motion to approve both appropriations carried, 6–0.

- Employment contract addenda: Council adopted addenda to employment agreements for the city manager (Addendum No. 2), the city attorney (Addendum No. 2) and the city clerk (Addendum No. 2). Motions carried, roll calls recorded as 6–0 for each.

Several consent agenda items (minutes and an ordinance setting number of days for board service) were approved as part of the consent agenda. Council also approved minutes and standard administrative measures listed on the consent agenda by unanimous vote.

Most motions were moved and seconded by council but the transcript records roll‑call tallies rather than named mover/second for each item. Where a council member disclosed a conflict, that disclosure was placed on file with the clerk (Vice Mayor Bethany regarding Ferguson Enterprises).