PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Mission Statement and Services Provided

The Department of Planning’s mission is to perform and provide support for programs and activities related to the physical development and the use of land within City limits. These activities include, but are not limited to, the development of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and the on-going implementation of that plan, as well as reviewing and permitting land uses through rezonings, use permits, site plan review, subdivisions, and certificates of compliance.

The department is divided into four primary divisions: Current Planning, Zoning Administration, Transportation Planning, and Housing. Comprehensive Planning for the City is performed by the Department as well. The department provides staff support to a number of City Council and Circuit Court appointed boards and commissions including the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, the Downtown Design Committee, the Wetlands Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Craney Island Study Commission. Staff also provides support to the Urban Design Committee, Craney Island Study Commission, Cradock Advisory Group, Truxton Advisory Group, and numerous other Boards and Commissions.

By local, State and Federal law the following services are required:

Processing applications for Use Permits and Rezonings,

Processing applications for the subdivision of land,

Processing applications for Code Amendments,

Processing applications for construction projects in Historic Preservation areas,

Processing applications for construction projects in the Downtown Districts,

Site Plan and Landscape review,

Administering the VDOT required 527 TIS Program,

Enforcement of Zoning Ordinance regulations,

Enforcement of Chesapeake Bay Protection Area regulations,

Enforcement of Virginia Wetlands regulations,

Enforcement of Historic Preservation District regulations,

Enforcement of the Downtown Design District regulations, and

Maintaining and updating the City of Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan.

The Department’s Mission is also to effectively administer the Community Development Block Grant Program and to develop the 5-year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for addressing Housing needs within the City. The Community Planning & Development Program (CDBG, HOME) includes oversight of sub-recipients, approval of all HUD programmatic and financial related budget expenditures, preparation of HUD reports, acting as City liaison to HUD, and participating and supporting city-wide agencies as it relates to Community Development.

Finally, the department represents the City at the regional and state level on issues such as Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and transportation planning through the Hampton Roads District Commission.