Virginia Beach Planning Commission Public Hearing - November 12, 2025

The Virginia Beach Planning Commission held a public hearing on November 12, 2025, at 22:12:13 UTC (afternoon local time). The meeting covered deferrals, consent agenda items, and several regular agenda items including a text amendment on nonconformities, a variance, a coffee shop conditional use permit, a major athletic complex for Regent University, and a short-term rental request. The commission heard public testimony on multiple items and voted on recommendations to City Council.

Consent Calendar

• Approved four sets of minutes (September 24 retreat deferred for revisions; October 8 informal and formal minutes approved; November 6 site visit minutes approved, with noted abstentions).
• Approved Items 3 (Prosper Homes subdivision variance), 5 (CES JB 2 LLC condition modification), 6 (Stephen Alexander Holmes rezoning for 14-lot community), and 8 (Brianna Gwishrashi beauty salon conditional use permit) as consent items.
• Item 12 (Robert Mills) was removed from consent due to an opposition speaker.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item #1 (withdrawal/deferral): Mac Weaver of Dragus Companies expressed concerns about proposed size and time limits for portable storage containers (including roll-off dumpsters) on construction sites, stating it would make operations inefficient, increase truck trips, and raise costs. He requested exemption or flexible standards for construction sites.
• Item #11 (Courtney Ebron group home deferral): Seven speakers, including Jordan Lewis, Scott Lewis (a police officer and neighbor), Tanya Sneed, Beverly Garris, Juana Wilson, Jean-Philippe Delorenzo, Alex Schaefer, and Rafael Barajas, all opposed the group home citing:
  • Lack of owner outreach and transparency (owner hospitalized, no direct contact with neighbors).
  • Concerns about owner's lack of training and certifications.
  • Past issues with Section 8 tenants at the same property (illegal activity, overcrowding).
  • Safety concerns: potential for crime, gang activity, retaliation, and noise from group homes.
  • Traffic and parking strain in a small residential neighborhood.
  • A petition of 85 neighbors opposing the project.
• Item #2 (nonconformities text amendment): Eddie Bourdon spoke in support, clarifying that the amendment restores authority to the Board of Zoning Appeals for structural variances, consistent with state code and past practice.
• Item #12 (Robert Mills short-term rental): Paul Murphy Veleo, a resident of Dolphin Run condominium, opposed the short-term rental, arguing it would change the character of the building from a residential community to a resort. He noted community desire for minimum one-year leases and that notification signs were vandalized.

Discussion Items

• Item #1 (Indefinite Deferral): The city requested indefinite deferral for the portal storage container amendment. Commissioner Plumley moved to defer, citing willingness to work with the speaker. Approved 11-0.
• Item #11 (30-Day Deferral): The applicant requested a 30-day deferral due to hospitalization. Commissioners discussed concerns about lack of outreach and public safety. Commissioner Biler stated this would be the last deferral she would support. Approved without objection.
• Item #2 (Text Amendment on Nonconformities): Staff explained the amendment clarifies that variance requests for non-conforming structures (not uses) would be heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), aligning with state code. Commissioner Plumley questioned whether the BZA is required to hear these. The city attorney noted the code says BZA "shall have" the power. Commissioner Camp further questioned the distinction between structure and use variances. Approved 9-1.
• Item #4 (Mooney Variance): The applicant sought a conditional use permit to make improvements to a nonconforming single-family home. The house lacks off-street parking due to lot constraints. The applicant noted support from neighbors and civic league. Commissioner Camp questioned future right-of-way impacts. Approved 9-1.
• Item #7 (Lynn Haven Coffee Shop): Conditional use permit for a coffee shop in a condominium unit with no alcohol sales, limited hours, and landscaping improvements. Commissioners praised alignment with the SGA plan and future trail. Approved 10-0.
• Items #9 & #10 (Regent University Athletic Complex): A major project including athletic fields, fitness center, and parking. Commissioners discussed traffic, parking, and sidewalk connectivity. Commissioner Camp sought a condition for a continuous sidewalk along Regent University Drive and connectivity to Centerville Turnpike path and student housing. The applicant agreed to submit a revised plan illustrating connectivity to the extent possible within their ownership and control. The condition was added as a friendly amendment. Approved (Commissioner Skuniver abstained as an adjunct professor at Regent).
• Item #12 (Robert Mills Short-Term Rental): Conditional use permit for a penthouse unit at Dolphin Run. Commissioner Plumley noted the area is within a short-term rental overlay and that there are already approved STRs in the building. The applicant stated the condo board president rents his unit and the program helps keep dues low. Commissioner questions about condo association approval were addressed. Approved.

Key Outcomes

• Item #1: Recommended indefinite deferral (11-0).
• Item #11: Recommended 30-day deferral (unanimous).
• Consent Agenda: Approved minutes and items 3,5,6,8 (unanimous, with noted abstentions on minutes).
• Item #2: Recommended approval of text amendment (9-1).
• Item #4: Recommended approval of variance (9-1).
• Item #7: Recommended approval of conditional use permit (10-0).
• Items #9 & #10: Recommended approval of conditional use permits with amended condition for sidewalk connectivity (with one abstention).
• Item #12: Recommended approval of short-term rental conditional use permit (unanimous).

All recommendations will be forwarded to Virginia Beach City Council for final decisions.