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Newport News council rejects rezoning for proposed 120-unit Old Fort Eustis apartments after heated public hearing
Summary
City Council voted 3-4 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed a developer to build about 120 apartments on roughly 6.3 acres on Old Fort Eustis Boulevard after residents raised traffic, drainage and density concerns and the planning commission opposed the application 6-2.
City Council narrowly voted 3-4 on Feb. 25 to deny an ordinance that would have rezoned a 6.297-acre property at 628 and 634 Old Fort Eustis Boulevard from R-4 (single-family) to R-7 (medium-density multifamily), a change proposed by Fort Eustis Investment Partners LLC to allow roughly 120 apartments.
Why it matters: The project touched on broader policy tensions in Newport News over where the city should add housing and how to balance neighborhood concerns about traffic, drainage and character with a stated municipal goal of increasing housing options.
What happened: The planning commission had recommended against the rezoning by a 6-2 vote. At the council meeting, the public hearing drew about 15 speakers representing developers, neighbors and community groups. Supporters, including the developer's attorney Michael Massey and developer Alvin Keels, said the plan aligns with the city's comprehensive land-use guidance and would provide workforce housing…
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