Norfolk council approves leases, rezones and budget items in routine meeting; short‑term rental item continued

The Norfolk City Council on Tuesday adopted a series of ordinances and budget amendments, approving leases, rezoning requests and appropriations while continuing one short‑term rental item for further outreach.

Council accepted a single bid from NCCC Rehab LLC and moved forward with an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a 10‑year lease of city‑owned property commonly known as Chrysler Hall and Scope. Council also approved a related deed of sublease and a cooperation agreement with the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority to support renovation of the site. "NCCC Rehab LLC has accepted all of the terms and conditions of the proposed 10‑year lease," city staff told the council; the council then voted to proceed to a public hearing and adopted the ordinance.

The council approved several rezoning matters on the consent agenda, including a rezoning and conditional use permit for Riptide Car Wash at 908 East Little Creek Road and 7923 Glade Road, a rezoning for property owned by the ODU Real Estate Foundation at Hampton Boulevard, and rezonings for properties at Tidewater Drive and Colley Avenue. The Planning Commission recommended approval on each matter.

Council also adopted multiple FY2027 appropriations: a $143,110.54 allocation from opioid litigation settlement funds to add two peer recovery specialist positions; several allocations from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for crisis and related funding; $1,973,600 in local stormwater capital funds for the Chesapeake Boulevard pedestrian improvement project; and a $25,000 federal grant (with an $8,333 local match) from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to strengthen crime control programs. The council opened a public hearing and authorized the issuance and sale of up to $60 million in water revenue bonds.

A consent agenda item (C6), a conditional use permit to authorize a short‑term rental at 1432 Norcova Avenue, was pulled amid council concerns that the applicant had not sufficiently engaged the immediate community. Mayor and council members agreed to continue that item to the council’s next meeting on Aug. 25 to allow for additional outreach.

All votes reported during the meeting were recorded by roll call as “Aye” for adopted items; in each instance the council dispensed with the charter requirement for reading the ordinance twice and adopted with the effective date. No ordinance was defeated at this meeting.

What’s next: C6 will return to the council agenda on Aug. 25; renovation and lease activities for Chrysler Hall/Scope proceed under the adopted agreements and authorizations.