Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Norfolk public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in development with medium priority
Multi-family housing requests across the city
Several projects — the City's own at 930 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Claxton and Glenn at 2600 Granby Street, and Gilbane Development at 711 and 755 Church Street — ask permission for buildings with more than 24 apartments, mostly in mixed-use formats.
Communication tower at 301 S. Newtown Road
The Towers LLC wants to build a self-support monopole cell tower on Newtown Road, with a conditional use permit and Development Certificate. The proposal appears in both the consent agenda and the Architectural Review Board review.
Lambert's Point Pedestrian Bridge
The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation presented the proposed pedestrian bridge, after holding four community meetings. Neighbors' early feedback centers on trees and landscaping, parking and land use, and long-term design and maintenance.
Surplus school properties redevelopment
As new schools come online, the city is deciding what to do with old ones — Norview Elementary returns to the city this fall, Madison School is in negotiation with a developer, and the old Maury building likely heads to historic redevelopment.
Proposed four-story mixed-use development at 427 W 35th Street
A new four-story mixed-use building is being floated in the 35th Street Pedestrian Commercial Overlay, replacing a non-contributing building in the Park Place Historic District. The board is shaping the design before a formal Development Certificate submission.
1615 Colonial Avenue shared driveway dispute
The Ghent project recommended for approval earlier this summer is now a lightning rod. The applicant wants two conditions dropped — fixing the crumbling shared driveway and not blocking neighbors' access — and staff says both should stay. Emails are flooding in from the applicant, owners, and residents.
East Street Garage proposal
A team picked through a competitive bid process presented early plans for a new city-owned parking garage, seeking board feedback on materials and tree preservation before a formal review.
Ocean View apartment expansion
A rezoning lets a popular brewery build a parking lot near Pretty Lake, with one commissioner abstaining over a business tie.
MacArthur Memorial Archive Addition
The Memorial is expanding its 1964 archive building to properly house 140,000 at-risk artifacts and add classroom space — it's now the nation's second most-visited presidential library. Groundbreaking is planned for September.
Granby Street townhouse development (former DePaul site)
Stanley Martin Homes wants to build 68 townhouse-style condos on the vacant former DePaul medical office parcel. Councilman Smigiel is worried about density, school capacity with Granby Elementary closing, and traffic near the new bike lanes.