Norfolk Planning Commission recommends approval of multiple development and use permits, including Lululeand recreation center

The Norfolk Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council approval of a slate of development and conditional-use requests at its public hearing, including a conditional rezoning and conditional-use permits to allow the Lululeand Adventure Park indoor recreation center at the former Kmart site on North Military Highway.

Staff told the Commission the project would allow reuse of roughly 59,000 square feet in two parcels (6101 and 6205 North Military Highway) and would require a conditional use permit to authorize a commercial recreation center and the reuse of a tenant space vacant for more than two years. Applicant representatives described the concept as a child-oriented recreation facility with trampolines, play equipment and an arcade; staff recommended approval subject to proffered conditions.

Hawaii Ling, who said she was representing Lululeand, told commissioners, “Our goal is here to, create a safe and fun family experience for the community here, and we will be creating a 100 jobs opportunities for the local,” and estimated the project would generate about $480,000 in tax revenue. Jackie Rochelle, speaking for neighborhood civic leagues and the 5 Points Task Force, urged approval, saying, “This is a facility that is gonna provide healthy recreational facilities under supervision for a gamut of ages, including the most critical, which is from the tweens all the way up to adults.” The Commission moved to recommend approval and voted unanimously to forward the recommendation to City Council.

Other actions at the meeting included recommendations to forward approval or to approve with required waivers and conditions for several projects across the city:

Votes at a glance: The Commission recommended approval to Council on the Lululeand conditional rezoning and CUPs; recommended approval of a Norfolk and Western Historic Overlay rezoning and a conditional-use permit to convert the former Yukon Lumberyard to 42 apartments; recommended approval of a conditional-use permit allowing an Enterprise Leasing support facility (not open to the public) at Lance Road; recommended approval of conditional-use permits for Selden Market to allow on-premise alcohol and live entertainment in common areas; recommended approval of a conditional-use permit for Staybridge Suites Norfolk Airport to enable on-premise alcohol sales; and approved a development certificate with a waiver for an expansion at the MacArthur Memorial campus. Several minor ARB consent items (a shed replacement at West Point Cemetery, a blade sign at 424 West 21st Street and a materials change for a community stage on Berkeley Avenue) were also advanced.

On the Yukon Lumberyard site, staff described a proposal to add the Norfolk and Western Historic Overlay and to allow multifamily residential use, retaining historic features such as a sawdust exhaust tower and some garage doors and pursuing tax credits; staff recommended approval and the Commission voted to recommend approval to Council. Tyler Rose, an attorney representing an applicant on a different item, asked commissioners for their recommendation, saying, “we would respectfully request your recommendation of approval today.”

On the Enterprise Leasing item, staff said the site would provide routine maintenance (oil changes, minor repairs) and short-term storage for fleet vehicles, operate 6 a.m.–8 p.m., and would not be open to the public; staff recommended approval subject to conditions and possible site-plan review. On Selden Market, applicant Carrie Ann Weinberg said the CUP formalized existing programming and that the market had operated under a special exception for years: “We are basically just trying to do exactly what we've been doing for the last, 8 and a half years at Selden Market.”

Brooks Johnson, speaking for the Staybridge Suites applicant, described the proposed in-lobby alcohol service as a hotel amenity and brand requirement: “This is primarily for the convenience of the guests.” Commissioners approved the recommendation to council or the development certificate in each case by recorded vote and the meeting adjourned.

What comes next: The Commission’s recommendations will be transmitted to City Council for final action where Council review is required. Public notices and staff reports were noted as being available online at www.norfolk.gov/planning.

(Reporting based on the Norfolk Planning Commission public hearing transcript; recommendations listed above are the Commission’s votes to forward matters to City Council or to approve development certificates where noted.)