Planning Commission: approvals, design recommendations and text-initiations — votes at a glance

The Norfolk Planning Commission on Aug. 28 handled a mix of design-review approvals, conditional-use permit recommendations, and zoning text-initiations. Below are the key outcomes and brief context for each item the commission considered.

Votes at a glance

- Architectural Review / design approvals - Fire Station No. 1 parking modification (450 Saint Paul’s Boulevard): ARB recommended approval (5–0); commission moved to recommend approval. Proposal adds 14 parking spaces (8 inside a secured area and 6 for HRT); fenced expansion to match existing materials. - 345 Granby Street (Grilled Cheese Bistro) on-street eatery: ARB recommended approval (5–0) with conditions requiring the structure be painted black and removal of noncompliant electrical; commission recommended approval as presented. - Richard A. Tucker Memorial Library / community stage (2350 Berkeley Avenue): ARB recommended approval (9–0); design review approved — proposed 2,000 sq. ft. open-air stage with 600 sq. ft. thrust stage; materials and screening by trees described in staff presentation. - Shops at Saltov (7911 Shore Drive): ARB approved design; commission recommended approval of associated CUPs for a large-scale drive-through facility as presented.

- Conditional use permits / other approvals (selected) - Consent agenda: two CUPs on the consent agenda (narrow lot contracting and Valerie Teller for a short-term rental) — commission recommended approval as presented. - 9615 Seventh Bay Street (Matthew Skornovacchi) — short-term/vacation rental (4-bedroom): staff reported the home historically operated under an administrative homestay permit (2021) and a CUP (2023). The applicant is moving out of the home; the commission modified the staff condition to extend the permit expiration from two years to five years and recommended approval with the other staff conditions (decibel monitoring and required insurance increase noted in the file). Roll call was affirmative. - 1153 West Ocean View Avenue (Tower 7 Holdings LLC) — restaurant with on/off-premise alcohol: staff recommended approval; the Willoughby Civic League supported the application; commission recommended approval and will forward to council. - 1118 (Robert Dietz) — restaurant with alcohol (Willoughby area): staff recommended approval; the commission recommended approval and will forward to council. - 7912 Halprin Drive — 7‑Eleven relocation and redevelopment (new convenience store with accessory fuel canopy and multiple accessory uses): developer presented plan to relocate an existing store into a modernized footprint within Roosevelt Gardens shopping center. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions; commission recommended approval and asked the developer to follow up with the civic league. The developer agreed to remove the nonconforming status of the existing site and to market the old parcel for a different use.

- Initiations and zoning-text actions - Initiation to repeal Plan Norfolk 2030 and begin adoption of Norfolk 2050 (comprehensive plan): commission voted to initiate the adoption process; staff will hold a public hearing in October before forwarding a recommendation to council. - Initiation to require CUP for self-storage where currently permitted by right: commission voted to initiate a text-amendment study to require CUP review for self-storage in applicable districts to allow site-specific analysis. - Initiation to review commercial form standards that require a 20-foot minimum first-floor façade height (or multi-story) in some character districts: the commission voted not to initiate that text amendment at this time. - Initiation to update the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) overlay to align with recent state law changes: commission voted to initiate the text amendment.

What commissioners and staff said

Planning staff repeatedly noted that approvals typically include conditions tailored to the site, and the ARB has a role in design waivers. For short-term rentals staff highlighted the property’s history of permitted use as a homestay and the risk-based conditions (noise monitoring and insurance). For redevelopment projects (7‑Eleven, Shops at Saltov, and the Shore Drive retail building) staff emphasized site-plan review and compliance with development standards before building permits are issued.

Next steps

Most approvals are recommendations to Norfolk City Council; council consideration will be required for CUPs. Design approvals and ARB recommendations will proceed through the city site-plan and permitting process. Text amendments and the Norfolk 2050 adoption will proceed through an initiation, public hearing(s), and council votes.

For readers: items with immediate council transmittal (CUPs) and initiated text amendments will appear on upcoming public agendas and on the planning department website.