Planning Commission

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 September 5, 2023 Meeting

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

UP-23-12 (Downtown) – Tawana Frater, with Gentle Touch Learning Center LLC, requests a Use Permit to operate a Child Day Center on the approximately 1.75 acres located at 670 Lincoln Street in the Downtown Special District (SD) zoning district. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for mixed-use employment. The property is owned by The Runnymede Corporation and is further described as Tax Map 33, Parcel 79. Deferred from the July 17, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting 

UP-23-10 (Commercial District 2) – Dr. Angela D. Reddix requests a Use Permit to operate an event space/banquet hall and an entertainment establishment on the approximately 0.26-acre parcel located at 340 High Street in the Downtown D1 T-5 zoning sub-district and the Downtown Design District overlay. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for mixed-use downtown type land uses. The property is owned by OMD Enterprise LLC (Angela D. Reddix, Manager) and is further described as Tax Map 6, Parcel 91.

UP-23-16 (Carney Farm) – Cellco Partnership, on behalf of Verizon Wireless, requests a Use Permit to construct and operate a 125-foot monopole telecommunications tower with a 4-foot lightning rod, together with related communications equipment, on an 800-square-foot fenced portion of the 6.5-acre parcel 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 Richard Brubaker et al Trustees and is identified as Tax Map 759, Parcel 1. 

UP-23-17 (Collinswood) Miguel Roldan requests a Use Permit to operate an entertainment establishment as part of a restaurant on a portion of the 2884 Airline Boulevard parcel designated as 2860 Airline Boulevard. The parcel is located in the General Mixed-Use (GMU) zoning district. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for mixed-use corridor. The property is owned by Michael Zarpas and is further described as Tax Map 577, Parcel 20.

UP-23-18 (Commercial District 4) – George Williams requests a Use Permit to operate an entertainment establishment on the approximately 9.48-acre parcel located at 4010 Victory Boulevard in Suite 4012 C of the Victory Crossing Shopping Center in the General Mixed-Use (GMU) zoning district. The Future Land Use Map of the Build One Portsmouth Comprehensive Plan designates this property for commercial-type land uses. The property is owned by Victory Crossing Marketplace LLC (Christopher Lee) and is further described as Tax Map 526, Parcel 2.2.

Members of the public may provide comments on specific agenda items by sending an email to [email protected] prior to the hearing date.

Members of the public wishing to speak on items during the meeting are asked to pre-register by email at [email protected] or by calling 757-393-8836 prior to the meeting.


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 Chairman
  • Rev. Keith Curry
  • Anthony Hinds
  • Miriam Jackson Jiggetts
  • Occasio Gee
  • Shonda Taylor

Past Planning Commission Meeting Videos

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