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City Council approves permits, property vacations, $1.62 million appropriation and participation in conservation program
Summary
Newport News City Council approved a package of land-use, administrative and budget actions at its Feb. 11 meeting, adopting a conditional-use permit, multiple property vacations tied to a shipyard parking project, a $1,620,863 appropriation for building repairs and vehicles, and a conservation-partnership memorandum of understanding — all by unanimous roll call.
Newport News City Council approved a series of ordinances, a resolution and an appropriation during its Feb. 11 regular session, with all recorded motions passing unanimously.
Council approved a conditional-use permit to allow WM Smith Contracting, Inc. to relocate a contractor’s office to a 1.21-acre parcel at 12618 Warwick Boulevard. Raymond Suttle Jr., an attorney with Kaufman & Canoles representing the applicant, said the company seeks to “relocate to Newport News, build a small contractor's office” and that “we think it's a good reuse of the property and a new business coming to Newport News.” The ordinance adopting the conditional-use permit (agenda item E1) passed by roll call, 7–0.
Council also adopted multiple property-vacation ordinances tied to the Newport News Shipbuilding parking project. One ordinance authorized the vacation of several utility and drainage easements (agenda item E2); another authorized vacating a portion of public right of way in the 300 block of 30 Eighth Street as part of the same parking project (agenda item E3). Both measures passed, 7–0.
On finance, the council approved a resolution appropriating $1,620,863 from the Department of General Services fund balance to finance public building renovation and repair projects and to purchase replacement vehicles for Public Works functions (agenda item H1). The appropriation passed, 7–0.
Council also authorized the Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District to participate in the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program under a memorandum of understanding with the city. The city manager described the program as providing “financial and technical support for stormwater management projects on private properties to address flooding and erosion” and recommended approval. The resolution (agenda item G1) passed, 7–0.
Finally, council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes and two administrative resolutions: (1) a resolution establishing a policy for remote participation in council meetings and (2) a resolution establishing a policy for public participation at council meetings. The consent agenda (items F1–F6) was adopted, 7–0.
Votes at a glance - Remote participation for Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany (special motion allowing him to participate remotely for this meeting): carried, 7–0. - Ordinance (E1): Conditional-use permit for office at 12618 Warwick Boulevard — adopted, 7–0. - Ordinance (E2): Vacation of utility and drainage easements for Newport News Shipbuilding parking project — adopted, 7–0. - Ordinance (E3): Vacation of a portion of public right of way at 30 Eighth Street for Newport News Shipbuilding parking project — adopted, 7–0. - Resolution (G1): Authorize Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District participation in the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (MOU) — adopted, 7–0. - Appropriation (H1): $1,620,863 from Department of General Services fund balance for public building repairs and vehicle replacement — approved, 7–0. - Consent agenda (F1–F6): minutes and two participation policy resolutions — approved, 7–0.
The council’s recorded roll-call format in the transcript shows unanimous support on each item; council members voting in favor included Councilman Ealy, Councilman Marcellus Harris, Mayor Jones, Councilman Long, Councilwoman Vick, Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany and Councilman Coleman.
Background and next steps: Items tied to the Newport News Shipbuilding parking project are part of an ongoing downtown effort to add parking capacity for shipbuilders and naval personnel. The ordinances adopted tonight permit easement and right-of-way vacations necessary for the proposed parking deck. The appropriation funds a set of building repairs and vehicle purchases; staff said the funds come from the Department of General Services fund balance and recommended approval.
No actions on second readings, appeals or litigation were recorded for the adopted ordinances at this meeting. The meeting minutes and adopted resolutions will become part of the municipal record.
