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Planning commission unanimously backs South Central Jefferson Avenue area plan, sends it to council
Summary
The City of Newport News Planning Commission recommended adoption of the South Central Jefferson Avenue area plan (PLN-2026-0002), citing community input, multimodal goals and pilot projects; commissioners voted 6–0 to forward the plan to City Council for final action Aug. 11.
The City of Newport News Planning Commission on July 15 recommended adoption of the South Central Jefferson Avenue area plan, forwarding PLN-2026-0002 to City Council for a hearing on Aug. 11.
Planner Regina Jensen told the commission the plan grew from a community process that produced about 30 citizen advisory committee members and extensive public outreach. Jensen said the plan’s vision emphasizes “mutually beneficial economic growth, safe mobility for all users, vibrant, beautiful, and inviting spaces, and socialization and community togetherness.”
Jensen described multimodal recommendations designed to improve pedestrian and transit safety without immediate construction. One popular ‘‘no-build’’ concept would restripe Jefferson Avenue to create a right-turn/bus lane intended to increase buffers between vehicles and sidewalks and reduce rear-end collisions. “We tallied this, and it was just for the right of way over $625,000,” Jensen said, referring to an estimate for acquiring 10–20 feet of right of way from roughly 90 property owners; she noted the figure covers right-of-way purchase only and that some owners might not be willing to sell.
The plan pairs those long-term concepts with near-term implementable actions. Jensen cited progress already under way: a Parks & Recreation pilot family event Aug. 8, Newport News Public Schools’ sidewalk-gap list provided to engineering as a priority, and neighborhood services workshops to help residents form associations.
Commissioners asked about timelines, feasibility studies, and available funding incentives. Jensen said portions of the plan intersect existing tools—opportunity-zone and tourism-zone incentives and small-business facade/grant programs—and recommended feasibility studies for major right-of-way changes. Commissioners also emphasized the limits of city influence over private development decisions.
After closing the public hearing with no speakers, the commission voted 6–0 to recommend adoption to City Council. The case will be considered by council on Aug. 11, 2026.
The commission’s recommendation advances a plan that staff said balances community preferences with implementation steps and possible studies to verify feasibility and funding pathways.
