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Newport News council approves zoning changes, trail funding and bond appropriations in unanimous votes
Summary
At its Sept. 9 meeting the Newport News City Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a nightclub, two zoning text amendments, multiple state and federal grant applications for transportation projects including portions of the Birthplace of America Trail, and bond appropriations for street lighting and building repairs.
The Newport News City Council on Sept. 9 approved a slate of ordinances, grant applications and appropriations, unanimously carrying each item 7-0.
Council adopted an ordinance granting conditional use permit CU20250005 to Volvo Center Associates LLC and Latasha Vinny (Tailored Smoke) to allow a Type-2 nightclub to operate in a 4,000-square-foot suite at 639 Pilothouse Drive. No members of the public spoke on the item; Councilman Neal told colleagues he had visited the establishment and found it professional. The motion to close the public hearing and adopt the ordinance passed 7-0.
The council also adopted two zoning text amendments. The first (identified in the agenda as ZT202500003) adds language enacted by the Virginia General Assembly to Chapter 45, Article 32, clarifying procedures for appeals of alleged administrative errors to the boards of zoning appeals; the second (ZT202500002) amends Chapter 45, Article 35, to expand civil penalties for repeat or serious zoning violations. Both ordinances were adopted following public hearings with no speakers and passed 7-0.
On transportation funding, City Manager Manning told council the city is submitting three Virginia Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives set-aside grant applications that would support segments of the Veil 757/Birthplace of America Trail and pedestrian improvements along Warwick Boulevard and Marshall Avenue. He also presented and council endorsed applications for VDOT's revenue sharing program seeking $10,000,000 in state funds with a $10,000,000 local match for 11 transportation projects. Manning summarized the trail effort as a multi-jurisdictional undertaking to connect Peninsula communities to the existing Capital Trail: "the trail ... is a new project which has been undertaken actually several years ago to connect the Virginia Greater Peninsula with the existing capital trail," he said. Council approved the grant authorizations and endorsements 7-0.
The council approved a Federal Lands Access Program agreement and appropriated $1,100,000 in FY2026 FLAP grant funds for the Veil 757/Birthplace of America Trail multiuse path project. In addition, two bond-authorized appropriations were approved: $500,000 from FY2026 bonds (streets and bridges) for transportation safety improvements including LED street-light upgrades, and $6,000,000 from FY2026 bonds (public buildings) for major renovations and repairs (roofing, HVAC, structural and life-safety, ADA upgrades). All motions for these items passed by unanimous vote.
The consent agenda (F-1 through F-6) passed 7-0 and included minutes of Aug. 12, 2025, a resolution approving participation in an opioid-related settlement and directing the city attorney to execute necessary documents, and an appropriation of $106,586.57 from the Herbert Neisser bequest to the Main Street Library, among other routine items.
What happens next: several of the grant approvals require execution of project agreements and advancing design or permit activities; the FLAP funds and revenue-sharing proposals will move forward as the city completes required documentation and match commitments.
