Planning commission backs two special exceptions to allow two-story homes on substandard lots in Newport News

The Newport News Planning Commission voted unanimously Oct. 15 to forward recommendations of approval to the Board of Zoning Appeals for two special exceptions allowing Toby Homes LLC to construct two‑story single‑family detached dwellings on nonconforming lots with less than 50 feet of frontage.

Planning staff presented the applications — listed in the staff report as “SE2025‑0013” and “SE2025‑0014” and associated in the report with properties recorded as “132420 Fifth Street” and “134320 Fourth Street” — and said each parcel contains about 0.0861 acres and is a 37.5‑foot‑wide lot of record. Staff said both proposals meet the ordinance criteria for the exception, and recommended approval subject to nine conditions, including submission of final building elevations to the Department of Planning, brick foundation and first‑floor material, a six‑foot‑deep front porch, a hip roof, and heavy‑gauge siding (minimum 0.44 millimeters). Each plan includes an attached garage recessed 18 feet from the front of the dwelling.

“Today I’m presenting application SE2025‑13 by Toby Homes, the applicant and the owner, to construct a 2‑story single‑family detached…