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Council approves Peanut Crossing Phase 2 resolution; public comment urges deeper affordable-housing strategy
Summary
Council approved a resolution formatted for the Virginia Housing Development Authority supporting Peanut Crossing Phase 2 commitments to income-restricted units; a public commenter urged Suffolk to pursue deeper affordability measures targeted at households below 60% AMI.
Suffolk City Council unanimously approved a resolution to support Phase 2 of the Peanut Crossing development, replacing an earlier resolution with one that conforms to the Virginia Housing Development Authority format. The resolution notes the developer's commitment to set aside units at or below specified area median income levels.
Dina Tremere, assistant director of economic development, was identified as a staff presence for questions. Council member Williams moved approval; Council member Wright seconded. The clerk recorded an 8-0 vote.
During non-agenda public comment earlier in the meeting, William Webb, identifying himself as representing SELF, criticized prior resolutions and the developer's proposed income set-asides as insufficient to create true affordability. Webb said the AMI (area median income) used for the development is calculated for the entire Hampton Roads region and noted Suffolk's household median income of $81,154 (per the city's 2026 budget) is about $9,000 below the regional AMI of $90,300. Webb argued that raising income thresholds can push rents higher and favors higher-income tenants rather than households at or below 60% AMI, which he described as typically earning $35,000 to $55,000.
Webb proposed several local policy options: create a Suffolk affordable housing performance grant (modeled on Richmond's program) to reimburse incremental property-tax growth for projects that keep units affordable, support community land trusts and adaptive reuse, revise development guidelines to encourage affordable units in large developments, and consider waivers of connection fees for projects that commit to long-term affordability. He urged council to pursue policies that ensure workers — teachers, hospital staff and others — can afford to live in Suffolk.
Council did not amend the Peanut Crossing resolution at the meeting; instead it approved the version formatted for VHDA consideration.
