Newport News City Council approves conditional-use permits, right-of-way acquisitions and multiple transportation appropriations

The Newport News City Council on June 10, 2025, voted to approve multiple land-use and transportation measures, renew a telecommunications license and appropriate state and regional grant funds for road and safety projects.

Key actions approved include conditional use permits (CUPs) or related ordinances for proposed commercial uses at multiple sites; authority for the city manager to acquire property and easements for the Choice Neighborhood Initiative and for intersection improvements; a five-year renewal of a telecommunications license with Level 3 Communications of Virginia, Inc.; two Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) agreements tied to Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HR TAC) funding; and appropriations totaling several million dollars to fund traffic management and safety projects.

The council unanimously adopted or approved most items with recorded tallies in the meeting record. Notable votes and outcomes:

- Conditional use permit extension for a gasoline station at 12396 and 12394 Warwick Boulevard (CUP CNU2023-0005): ordinance adoption carried, recorded as 6–0.

- Conditional use permit for a body paint shop at 11408 Jefferson Avenue (CUP TAC2025-0002; applicant: RM Whelan Properties LLC / Bay Custom Auto): ordinance adoption carried (vote recorded as 7–0 in the minutes).

- Conditional use permit for a gasoline supply station on a portion of property at 12500/12490/12470 Jefferson Avenue (applicants: Ferguson Enterprises and Costco Warehouse Corporation): council accepted public comment, and the ordinance passed with 5 yes votes and 1 abstention; Vice Mayor Bethany disclosed a personal interest and said she would abstain because she is an employee of Ferguson Enterprises and her signed declaration is on file with the clerk.

- Ordinance authorizing the city manager to make offers to acquire by voluntary sale or condemnation portions of property at 1014 Jefferson Avenue in support of the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (Ivy Avenue Road project): adopted, vote recorded as 6–0.

- Ordinance authorizing the city manager to make offers to acquire temporary and permanent easements for the Warwick Boulevard and Yorktown Road intersection improvement projects: adopted, vote recorded as 6–0.

- Resolution renewing a temporary, nonexclusive, revocable license agreement with Level 3 Communications of Virginia, Inc. for use of the city rights-of-way for telecommunications, extending the prior agreement through Aug. 31, 2030: approved 6–0.

- Two HR TAC / VDOT items: a standard project administration agreement to allow the city manager to execute documents for two HR TAC-funded traffic-management projects (approval recorded 6–0), and an appropriation of $760,000 in FY2025 HR TAC funds for the two construction-phase traffic management projects (approval recorded 6–0).

- Appropriations of VDOT grant funds: the council approved an appropriation of $2,263,462 in FY2025 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for three intersection safety projects, and $2,395,752 in FY2025 VDOT revenue-sharing funds with a matching local contribution of an equal amount (total $4,791,504) for six projects; the roll calls recorded both actions as carried 6–0.

- Consent agenda items (minutes of May 13 work session and regular meeting, and an ordinance setting number of days sufficient for completion of the September–November term of the Board Review of Real Estate Assessments): approved 6–0.

- Three employment contract addenda: the council approved addenda to the employment contracts of the city manager (Alan K. Archer), the city attorney (Robert E. Pilo) and the city clerk (Mabel Washington Jenkins, formerly Mabel V. Washington); each motion carried 6–0 as recorded.

Councilwoman Vick explicitly recorded an abstention on the Costco-related item, saying, “I'm going to abstain due to a personal interest in the transaction as I am an employee of Ferguson Enterprises. My signed written declaration is on file with the clerk.” That disclosure appears in the meeting minutes and was read into the record before the vote.

City staff presentations were brief on most items; application representatives who spoke at public hearing included Tim Trent for Bay Custom Auto (11408 Jefferson Avenue) and Lindsey Carney for the Costco-related application. City Manager Alan K. Archer presented several g- and h-section items recommending approval of code updates, grant agreements and appropriations.

Implementation notes: the Choice Neighborhood Initiative acquisition authority and easement authorizations enable staff to pursue voluntary purchase offers or condemnation where necessary for the Ivy Avenue Road and Warwick/Yorktown intersection projects. The HR TAC and VDOT appropriations fund portable CCTV, changeable-message signs and upgraded vehicle detection at intersections in support of express-lanes construction and other safety projects.