Planning commission approves South Norfolk design-guidelines amendment and two conditional-use permits on consent

The Chesapeake Planning Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 14 to approve three consent items: a zoning-ordinance text amendment to align the code with recently updated South Norfolk historic design guidelines (PLN TXT-2025-057), a conditional-use permit to allow Bethany Baptist Church to operate a child daycare and instructional services at 2587 Campus Stella Road (PLN-USC-2025-043), and a level-2 home-occupation permit for a physical-therapy business at 2835 Meadowood Drive West (PLN-USC-2025-044).

Staff read the items into the record and recommended approval of each (the text-amendment version dated 12/16/2025 and stipulations for the conditional-use permits were listed in the official agenda). For the design-guidelines amendment, staff said the proposed changes would update Appendix A of the Chesapeake City Code (Zoning) — including article 12 sections listed in the staff report — to align zoning standards with the South Norfolk Historic Design Guidelines.

For the Bethany Baptist Readiness Academy, staff reported no formal comments and recommended approval with stipulations in the agenda packet. Mr. Bostwick read that staff recommended PLN-USC-2025-043 be approved with the listed stipulations.

A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Secretary Malone and seconded by Commissioner Spruill. The commission approved the consent agenda by a recorded vote of 8–0.

Next steps: Items that must go to City Council under the city’s co-advertising rules will be scheduled to council for review; citizens may contact the City Clerk or Planning Department for scheduling details.