Planning commission forwards request for 490-sq-ft carport to Board of Zoning Appeals

The Newport News Planning Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 19, 2025 to recommend that the Board of Zoning Appeals approve special exception SE20250015, advancing the applicant’s request for an additional 490-square-foot metal carport to a Dec. 16 hearing before the BZA.

Planning staff presented the application, saying the property — identified in the staff report as 11 Walden Grove (the transcript also refers to "Walnut Grove") — is a 2.17-acre parcel zoned R-3 single-family dwelling. Planner Saul summarized the project and applicable standards, citing the Code of Virginia (Section 15.2-2210 as read into the record) and the city’s zoning ordinance language used in the staff report (transcript references to Section 45-9-03(c) and Section 45-3-24(e)(1)). Saul reported the principal residence has a ground-floor area of 1,652 square feet; existing accessory structures on the parcel total 1,689 square feet (a 515-square-foot wood garage, a 912-square-foot metal garage, and a 262-square-foot frame shed). The proposed 490-square-foot carport would raise combined accessory area to 2,180 square feet, which staff calculated as 528 square feet greater than the principal residence.

Saul recommended forwarding the request to the Board of Zoning Appeals with conditions shown on the submitted survey and conceptual site plan and noted that a building permit from Code Compliance will be required prior to installation. As staff summarized, "The request to construct an additional 490 square foot metal carport... is compatible with the characteristics of the surrounding properties and is not expected to have a detrimental impact on the neighborhood." (Planner Saul)

Applicant Chad McNish spoke for the record and clarified the nature of the structure: "I'm Chad McNish of 111 Oak Grove. I'm the applicant today." McNish described the proposed feature as an open carport covering the driveway in front of the existing two-car garage and did not offer additional testimony beyond that clarification.

After closing the public hearing, a commissioner moved to recommend approval to the Board of Zoning Appeals (case recorded as SE-2025-0015) and a second was recorded. The clerk conducted a roll call; the motion carried unanimously with the chair declaring it "6 to 0." The chair announced the BZA will hear the case on Dec. 16, 2025.

The commission also received an executive secretary report from Sheila McAllister noting two special exceptions approved by the BZA on Nov. 18 for lots with less than 50 feet of frontage, a Dec. 3 conditional use permit hearing for a family day home at 192 Colony Road (up to 12 children), and a Dec. 17 special-exception hearing for a transitional buffer reduction at 12 Whittier Avenue. McAllister also reminded commissioners of the Nov. 29 City Center tree-lighting event.

Next steps: SE20250015 will be heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Dec. 16, 2025. If the BZA grants the special exception, the applicant must obtain required building permits from Code Compliance and comply with any conditions the BZA imposes.