Virginia Beach Planning Commission Public Hearing - September 11, 2025

The Virginia Beach Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 11, 2025, chaired by Holly Quayar. The commission addressed deferrals, a consent agenda of 11 items, and several regular agenda items including conditional use permits, rezoning, and a reservation removal. Speakers from the public and applicant representatives provided testimony. Key votes included approval of a conditional use permit for acoustical sheet metal expansion with conditions, removal of the Southeastern Parkway reservation, and approval of a pickleball court facility, a wedding venue increase to 75 events per year, a dirt bike training camp with modifications, and denial of two items for a Witchduck SGA property.

Consent Calendar

• Four records of minutes from prior meetings were approved.
• Items 1 & 2 (Burton Station rezoning and subdivision variance for 180-unit attainable workforce housing) approved by consent.
• Item 7 (Elmer Properties – modification of conditional use permit for motor vehicle sales) approved.
• Item 11 (SS Newton LLC – conditional use permit for automobile repair garage) approved, with expiration after five years.
• Item 13 (conditional use permit for alternative residential subdivision on agricultural land) approved.
• Item 16 (Michael Bacle – conditional use permit for firewood preparation facility, limited to one year and no off-site materials) approved.
• Item 19 (Belinda Gale Hill – home-based wildlife rehabilitation) approved.
• Item 20 (short-term rental conditional use permit) approved.
• The consent agenda was approved by a recorded vote of 10-0, with noted abstentions on minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 14 (ASC Real Estate LLC): Ollie Alred spoke in opposition, expressing concern that the proposed outdoor storage would disrupt the Southeastern Trail alignment and that without a revised plan showing the trail, the promise was insufficient. Michael Ireland (Executive VP of Acoustical Sheet Metal) spoke in support, detailing the company's growth from 8 to 650 employees and the need for 350 more jobs. Lisa Murphy (Chair of VB Development Authority) spoke in support, highlighting $45 million capital investment and the company's performance.
• Item 21 (City of Virginia Beach – reservation removal): Martha Thural spoke against sacrificing the Southeastern Parkway reservation for one business. Ollie Alred reiterated opposition to piecemeal changes to long-term plans. Lisa Murphy spoke in support, arguing the reservation is impractical due to a stormwater facility and utility easements, and that Hudome Way can provide connectivity.
• Item 3 & 4 (Westneck Community Association pickleball courts): No speakers in opposition. Kathleen Johnson (applicant) presented sound studies showing compliance with noise ordinance.
• Item 5 (Phil M. Bonifant wedding venue): Maria Connor, a neighbor, expressed no opposition but requested advance notice of events to avoid noise conflicts. She noted past issues with Mr. Bonifant complaining about her noise.
• Item 8 (Elmer Properties, Bonnie Road LLC): Ollie Alred spoke in opposition, characterizing the proposal as a storage facility in a prominent location along the VB trail, urging a more pedestrian-friendly use.
• Item 12 (Church in Virginia Beach): Andrew Kiriakion, Michael Allen, and Donna Allen spoke in support, citing community benefits and neighborhood approval.
• Item 15 (Mark and Summer Brown – dirt bike training camps): Harold Warren spoke in opposition, alleging unauthorized construction in an agricultural easement and lack of erosion control. Ben Topping and Jamie Pilkington spoke in support, emphasizing the need for youth training and the lack of similar facilities.

Discussion Items

• Item 14 (ASC Real Estate LLC – conditional use permit for outdoor storage): The applicant requested a conditional use permit for outdoor storage associated with a manufacturing facility. Commissioners discussed conditions including that the bulk storage be contingent on commencement of building construction, and that a 11-foot wide shared-use path, landscaping, and enhanced screening be provided. After debate, a substitute motion to approve with these conditions passed 7-3.
• Item 21 (City of Virginia Beach – removal of Southeastern Parkway reservation): The city requested removal of a reservation on 21 acres to allow acoustical sheet metal to expand. Staff noted the road is not funded and the alignment may change. Commissioners discussed the rushed process and long-term planning implications. A motion to approve passed 7-3.
• Item 3 & 4 (Westneck Community Association – pickleball courts): The applicant sought a conditional use permit for two pickleball courts with no lighting. Commissioners added a condition for operating hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Approved 8-0 with one abstention.
• Item 5 (Phil M. Bonifant – wedding venue expansion): The applicant requested increasing the annual event limit from 50 to 75. Neighbors requested monthly notification. A substitute motion for 60 events per year failed 4-5. Subsequently, a motion to approve with 75 events and monthly notifications to neighbors within 1/8 mile passed.
• Item 8 (Elmer Properties, Bonnie Road LLC – conditional use permit for vehicle storage): The applicant proposed a fenced and landscaped parking lot for Lexus dealership inventory and employee parking, with an encroachment agreement for maintaining adjacent city-owned right-of-way. The item was approved with an added condition requiring an encroachment agreement for any public right-of-way improvements.
• Item 12 (Church in Virginia Beach – conditional use permit for church building): The applicant sought a conditional use permit for a 10,000 sq ft church on 1.59 acres. Commissioners noted the parcel's unique constraints (lake, highway, cul-de-sac) and approved with a condition for a 5-foot sidewalk with ADA ramp.
• Item 15 (Mark and Summer Brown – dirt bike training camps): The applicant requested a conditional use permit for youth motocross training camps on agricultural land. After testimony about unauthorized construction and agricultural easement issues, Commissioner Plumley moved to approve with modifications: increase annual camps from 12 to 20, allow two classes per week with up to 5 children, and remove the requirement for a concrete apron. The motion passed.
• Items 17 & 18 (5073 Virginia Beach Boulevard LLC – conditional use permits): The applicant sought approval for interim uses (warehouse and parking) on assembled parcels in the Witchduck SGA. Commissioner Bailer moved to deny, arguing the uses contradict the comprehensive plan. The motion for denial was seconded and passed (vote not recorded but motion carried as final action).

Key Outcomes

• Deferrals: Item 9 (Haven Station) deferred indefinitely; Item 6 deferred 30 days; Item 10 deferred indefinitely (all approved 10-0).
• Consent Agenda: Approved 10-0 with abstentions on minutes.
• Item 14 (Acoustical Sheet Metal expansion): Recommended for approval (7-3) with conditions: bulk storage contingent on building commencement, construction of an 11-foot shared-use path, and enhanced landscaping.
• Item 21 (Southeastern Parkway reservation removal): Recommended for approval (7-3).
• Items 3 & 4 (Westneck pickleball courts): Recommended for approval (8-0, 1 abstention) with operating hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Item 5 (Bonifant wedding venue): Recommended for approval (8-0, 1 abstention) with 75 events per year and monthly notification to neighbors.
• Item 8 (Elmer Properties parking lot): Recommended for approval (8-0, 1 abstention) with condition requiring encroachment agreement.
• Item 12 (Church in Virginia Beach): Recommended for approval (8-0, 1 abstention) with sidewalk condition.
• Item 15 (Brown dirt bike camps): Recommended for approval (vote not recorded, but motion carried) with modifications: 20 camps per year, two classes per week with up to 5 children, no concrete apron required.
• Items 17 & 18 (Witchduck properties): Recommended for denial (motion carried).