Council allows gravel for certain park and nonprofit athletic parking, defines 'hard surface' as asphalt or concrete

Suffolk City Council voted 8-0 to amend the city's Unified Development Ordinance to allow gravel or similar surfaces for certain parking areas and to clarify that a "hard surface" parking area means asphalt or concrete.

Kevin Wine, director of planning and community development, explained the proposed amendment (OTA 2025-6) would permit the director to allow gravel in overflow parking, low-traffic storage yards, agricultural uses and — newly added — public parks and athletic fields owned or operated by nonprofit organizations. Wine said the change responds to long-standing requests from organizations such as local athletic associations that use large gravel lots and for whom full hard-surfacing would impose a financial hardship.

The second part of the amendment narrows ambiguity in the UDO by specifying that "hard surface" parking areas are intended to be asphalt or concrete; staff said the clarification will reduce inconsistent interpretation.

Wine noted the city has previously allowed relief in certain nonresidential locations and cited examples where surfacing requirements posed a hardship. He told council the planning commission recommended approval 8-0 at its September meeting.

Council member Wright moved to approve the ordinance; Council member Butler Barlow seconded. The clerk recorded an 8-0 vote in favor.

Staff said the change applies primarily to temporary or overflow parking for parks and nonprofit athletic facilities and does not alter building-code or stormwater requirements that may apply when permanent improvements are made.