Planning Commission

City offices are now open to the public.

Electronic/digital submission of applications and other materials is encouraged whenever feasible. Consult the Staff Directory or the specific subject page for staff contact information.

Mailed items can be sent to:

CITY OF PORTSMOUTH
PLANNING DEPARTMENT ATTN: (STAFF MEMBER NAME)
801 CRAWFORD STREET
PORTSMOUTH, VA 23704

Credit card payments can now be accepted over the phone. Please call the Planning Department at 757-393-8836 for more information. Please note that a signed credit card authorization form is required to be submitted before a credit card payment can be processed.

Applicants are encouraged to contact staff via email or phone.

Staff Directory

Planning Commission Meeting

1:30 PM

1st Tuesday of each month 

Meetings are held in the City Council Chamber on the 6th Floor of the Portsmouth City Hall Building at 801 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia.

Planning Commission 2023 Meeting Schedule and Deadlines

Note: Applications and all supporting materials must be received eight (8) weeks prior to the meeting.

Agendas & Minutes

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Agenda Items for the April Meeting

Agenda materials will be posted 5-7 days prior to the meeting.

ITEM DEFERRED FROM JANUARY 2023 MEETING:

S-22-01 (MERRIMAC POINT) – Riley R. Cyr, Attorney at Law, on behalf of Jeffrey and Colleen Stanek requests the closure of the grassy, dead end portion of Williamson Road to be evenly divided and maintained by the adjoining property owners. The closure area is adjacent to the applicant’s home at 96 Williamson Road and abuts 100 Monitor Road. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates the property for Single Family Residential, Low to Medium Density. The property is right-of-way owned by the City of Portsmouth. The applicant has withdrawn their application. 

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:

UP-23-02 (WESTHAVEN)  Nicole Clay, with Deep Creek Academy, requests a Use Permit to operate a child day center on approximately 6.5 acres located at 4710 High Street West in the General Residential (GR) zoning district. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for Institutional/Public use. The property is owned by Fred Riley and other Trustees and is further described as Tax Map 759, Parcel 1.

UP-23-03 (WEST NORFOLK)  James Stevens, with PortRail Crane Service, requests a Use Permit to operate a shipping container storage yard on approximately 1.4 combined acres located at 3301 Mariner Avenue, 3300 West Norfolk Road, 3324 West Norfolk Road, and 3303 Broadway Street in the Light Industrial (IL) zoning district. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for Light Industrial use. The property is owned by Roger and Glena Woodington and is further described as Tax Map 702, Parcel 3, 4, 6 and 17.

Z-23-02 (Woodbine) – Scott Campbell, AIA, of VIA Design Architects, requests to rezone approximately 4.92 acres at 5311, 5315, 5319 High Street, and 3107 Honeysuckle Lane from General Residential (GR) to Multi-Family Urban Residential (UR-M) in order to develop a three-story 42-unit senior living multi-family dwelling development. The applicant is concurrently requesting a Use Permit for a multi-family dwelling (UP-23-04). The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for Single-Family Residential – Low/Medium Density. The properties are owned by Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority (PRHA) and are further described as Tax Map 812, Parcels 1, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.

UP-23-04 (Woodbine) – Scott Campbell, AIA, of VIA Design Architects, requests a Use Permit for a three-story, 42-unit senior living multi-family dwelling on approximately 4.92 acres at 5311, 5315, 5319 High Street, and 3107 Honeysuckle Lane with a proposed density of 8.5 dwelling units per acre. The property is currently zoned General Residential, GR. The applicant is concurrently requesting a Rezoning of the property to Multi-Family Urban Residential, UR-M (Z-23-02). The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for Single-Family Residential – Low/Medium Density. The properties are owned by Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority (PRHA) and are further described as Tax Map 812, Parcels 1, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.

UP-23-05 (Uptown) – Alvin Keels, of D&K Builders, requests an amendment to the existing UP-21-09 Use Permit for a 52-unit townhouse development on approximately 4.1 acres of land located at 1107 and 1021 High Street in the Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NMU) zoning district with a proposed density of 12.65 dwelling units per acre. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this area as a Mixed-Use Corridor. The properties are owned by the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority and are identified as Tax Map 63, Parcel 3 and Parcel 4

Mission Statement

The Commission’s primary responsibility is to make recommendations to the City Council on matters related to comprehensive and current planning and land use development

Planning Commission Members

  •  Sherri Thaxton, Chair
  •  Donna Coleman. Vice Chair
  •  Primas Paige
  •  Danielle Barnes
  •  Rev. Keith Curry
  •  Anthony Hinds
  • Miriam Jackson Jiggetts

Past Planning Commission Meeting Videos

Video recordings of Planning Commission meetings can be viewed on YouTube here.