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Planning Commission forwards narrow‑lot special exception for 82430 First Street to Board of Zoning Appeals
Summary
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Zoning Appeals consider a special exception allowing a two‑story single‑family home on a sub‑50‑foot frontage lot at 82430 First Street; staff told commissioners the design meets zoning criteria subject to eight conditions.
The Newport News Planning Commission on Aug. 20 voted 8–0 to forward a recommendation of approval to the Board of Zoning Appeals for special exception SE2025‑0011, an application by CBEG Enterprise LLC and owner Gershon Benpar to construct a two‑story single‑family detached dwelling on a nonconforming lot with less than 50 feet of frontage at 82430 First Street.
Planner Okiki told the commission the property is zoned R‑4 and that the proposal meets the ordinance’s criteria for special exceptions on nonconforming lots, including the requirement that the dwelling be two stories, front‑yard setback averaging (not less than 10 feet) and minimum 5‑foot side setbacks. Okiki said staff recommends forwarding the application to the Board of Zoning Appeals with conditions that include submission of building elevations and exterior materials/colors for review by the planning director and a requirement that the first‑floor elevation be brick veneer. Okiki also corrected an earlier statement about the number of conditions, confirming there are eight conditions in the staff report.
Applicant Gershon Benpar, who identified his address as 50013 Chapel Road, Hampton, spoke to design questions from commissioners about exterior materials and garage placement. The proposal calls for brick on the first floor and vinyl siding above, and the plan shows an attached one‑car garage recessed 18 feet from the front. When asked about the angled or recessed garage, Benpar said the architect designed the garage placement to accommodate the narrow lot and to make the garage accessible within lot constraints.
No members of the public opposed the request; one nearby property owner, Donnieel Payne, said he attended to review plans because he owns adjacent property and was directed to the full packet online for house plans and architect information. Commissioners acknowledged that the lot is narrow and said staff would not necessarily recommend developing similar lots, but concurred that the application meets the applicable ordinance criteria.
A commissioner moved to accept the Planning Department recommendation and forward SE2025‑0011 to the Board of Zoning Appeals; after a second the roll‑call vote was 8 in favor, 0 opposed. Chairperson Taylor announced the Board of Zoning Appeals will hear the item on Sept. 16, 2025.
The action before the Planning Commission was a recommendation only; final approval for the special exception will be decided by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
