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Virginia Zoo seeks mixed‑beverage permission; downtown restaurant requests alcohol and live entertainment with resident concerns about late hours
Summary
The commission previewed conditional‑use permit applications including the Virginia Zoo’s request to add mixed beverages and a downtown restaurant’s request for alcohol sales and live entertainment up to midnight; commissioners flagged potential resident impacts and said they will relay concerns to applicants.
Planning staff previewed several conditional‑use permit requests that would expand alcohol sales and entertainment permissions and flagged resident concerns about late‑night activity in residential adjacencies.
At 3500 Granby Street, the Virginia Zoo asked to add mixed beverages to an existing CUP and to expand live entertainment options (bands, DJs, trivia and similar events) while keeping hours at 8 a.m.–10 p.m. "They have their own security team and the Norfolk Sheriff and police to assist when larger events do occur," staff said, noting coordination for larger events. Staff presented maps showing event pavilion locations and areas where remote bars could be set up during events.
Downtown, a proposed restaurant (the applicant described as relocating from Lynnhaven) asked to convert the former Brick Anchor Brewhouse location and to operate with live bands, DJs and late hours up to midnight daily. Staff said the applicant proposes indoor seating and a dance floor on the first floor and possible entertainment on the second floor; commissioners told staff to raise resident concerns about late music and to consider earlier music‑curfew conditions on weekdays. One commissioner suggested the applicant consider stopping music earlier on weekdays to reduce impacts on upstairs residents.
What happens next: staff will include these items in the public‑hearing packet and notify civic leagues and surrounding property owners as required. No votes or permits were granted at the meeting; applicants will appear before the commission at public hearings where conditions and neighborhood comments will be part of the record.
