[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6661764,"mediaKeyId","2405924-47b9931f5bac6939ce152121190cf341","parentId",2405924,"title","Votes at a glance: Newport News council approves car-wash CUP and several ordinances; council unanimously moves March 11 meeting to CNU Games Theater","audioSeconds",4962,"startMs",63000,"endMs",5025000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2405924-47b9931f5bac6939ce152121190cf341&start=63&end=5025","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2405924-47b9931f5bac6939ce152121190cf341/thumbnail_63000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6661764/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Newport-News-council-approves-car-wash-CUP-and-several-ordinances-council-unanimously-moves-March-11-meeting-to-CNU-Games-Theater","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661764-74a8ce17215ce3d5293abd930e6465a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770957029&Signature=UKLHKlW165OKeTpNl4ZoU45k4dGudJBhkRLudipB-DDgdfe2wZcduFvv9L-HkVy4ay5OgNijULYHFDBIOVH3NyhDg7XZBxGUODKhXAZTgCUuiQ39iCFX7DZY5uhhWuk~hiYO30EGvSSTM16uiEkxb9bcH0rypzGlqb4Dllpw~H7sywNA~Nh757iIq3L2P3fsQhKJV5jVJwtGtsXVp4PZ1HAqRnuEA22toIMnnM9z8y8t~hznlXAccdjU08aWSAPmtZY16qnGCV5pQXN4xPYgUvn4MlqPXEDSHq0LkXa3iOb44lGWYrTZ~~bJDyTerK63q6yZ02up8DhG5wdsiAQYEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newport News (Sugggested)","date","2025-02-26T21:26:25.883Z","article","City Council approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and appropriations during its Feb. 25 meeting; most of the items passed unanimously. Highlights and outcomes are summarized below.

Green Clean car-wash conditional use permit (CUP): Council approved a conditional use permit to allow construction and operation of a Green Clean Auto Wash on a 0.84-acre parcel at 6102 Jefferson Avenue (C-1 commercial). The applicant said the site design limits access from Jefferson, places vacuums behind the building and includes enhanced landscaping; the motion to adopt the ordinance passed 7-0.

Council handbook: Council adopted a revised Newport News City Council Handbook, a biennial compendium of excerpts from the City Charter, city code and guidance for elected officials; the resolution passed 7-0.

Absentee voting / satellite office ordinance: Council adopted an ordinance amending city code to establish a permanent satellite early-voting office at the Denbigh Community Center to be available before every election (expanding the prior two-week arrangement). The change was described by staff as improving access for roughly 40,000 registered voters in the North District; the ordinance passed 7-0.

Harbor Road lease extension: Council authorized a 15-year extension of the city's lease with the Industrial Development Authority for a restaurant facility at 2295 Harbor Road to support a sublease to the selected tenant; the ordinance passed 7-0.

Property conveyance for Fire Station No. 11: Council adopted a resolution accepting conveyance of a 4.45-acre parcel at 680 Turnberry Boulevard from the Industrial Development Authority; the site will host a planned new Fire Station 11 and construction is anticipated in fall 2025. The resolution passed 7-0.

Appropriations: Council approved two appropriations: $30,000 from a grant awarded through the African American Mayors Association Economic Mobility Leadership Institute to support a local wealth-building initiative, and $639,335 in additional FY2025 VDOT street-and-highway maintenance funding for residential street reconstruction and resurfacing contracts. Both appropriations passed 7-0.

Consent agenda and minutes: Minutes and a resolution in support of Dr. Patricia Woodbury were approved on the consent agenda 7-0.

Meeting location change: Council approved a staff motion to change the location of the March 11, 2025 regular council meeting to the Games Theater at Christopher Newport University; the motion passed 7-0.

Why this matters: Most items were procedural or administrative but affect services (early voting access), facilities (Fire Station No. 11), capital programs (VDOT funds for resurfacing) and local business activity (lease extension). Several passed unanimously, signaling broad council agreement.

Provenance: Each item was introduced by staff at the Feb. 25 meeting and adopted by recorded roll-call votes; excerpts below point to the staff presentation and the roll-call outcomes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Newport News City Council Meeting 02-25-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a series of ordinances, appropriations and resolutions on routine and policy items on Feb. 25; most measures passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Newport News (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",12491,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661769,"Newport News council rejects rezoning for proposed 120-unit Old Fort Eustis apartments after heated public hearing",2590,942000,3532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2405924-47b9931f5bac6939ce152121190cf341&start=942&end=3532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2405924-47b9931f5bac6939ce152121190cf341/thumbnail_942000.jpg","/articles/6661769/Virginia/Newport-News-council-rejects-rezoning-for-proposed-120-unit-Old-Fort-Eustis-apartments-after-heated-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661769-7aedb1a157f454a5bb3ba5ed4c429bd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770957029&Signature=TPWVcwtz5B3Lqe~BdqnA3T26Wu9T2E50JFgbTnQ7gqy8jtm2BxjQTQfrG5HG5eqIx~IvlROzCrx-Wa-neiY-eTzacLaPkyO9uzoxvZUel501ia8SvUJbGYaGgbQpfVvZbjVvDjhqN9FliYwZrlX6QmN4p4tZYIoDWy8TmO4yARPrpb3gcDX2q9kjpCEpAx6o44gcj~Qwx9Z9Xp9zN~gSzHbIkf6R-IhdNYB0VnclmusZKLnZs7-HOfnIo18fkPKg7Lk8bE63uqp6kkiUvKksJmYMIqTkrSzStzVwiajes8lX52BxfFI7~StGGT9I0yNcidrJHeqihuEm1AYAK2cbjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Council narrowly voted 3-4 on Feb. 25 to deny an ordinance that would have rezoned a 6.297-acre property at 628 and 634 Old Fort Eustis Boulevard from R-4 (single-family) to R-7 (medium-density multifamily), a change proposed by Fort Eustis Investment Partners LLC to allow roughly 120 apartments.

Why it matters: The project touched on broader policy tensions in Newport News over where the city should add housing and how to balance neighborhood concerns about traffic, drainage and character with a stated municipal goal of increasing housing options.

What happened: The planning commission had recommended against the rezoning by a 6-2 vote. At the council meeting, the public hearing drew about 15 speakers representing developers, neighbors and community groups. Supporters, including the developer's attorney Michael Massey and developer Alvin Keels, said the plan aligns with the city's comprehensive land-use guidance and would provide workforce housing near Fort Eustis and the shipyards. An architect and engineer for the project described site design measures intended to address drainage and buffer concerns.

Opponents from the adjacent Woodcreek neighborhood raised traffic safety, parking and proximity concerns. \"They can't really enjoy the quiet living that they bought a house to live in there,\" Risa Craver, identified as the Woodcreek Homeowners Association treasurer, said during the hearing, describing accidents and congestion near the Jefferson and Fort Eustis Boulevard intersection. Other residents questioned the developer's outreach and expressed skepticism about claimed neighborhood surveys.

Council debate and outcome: Council discussion cited the need to align zoning and large housing decisions with a citywide strategic plan. Some council members said they were reluctant to approve a rezoning before a council-led review of the comprehensive plan; others argued the city's low apartment vacancy rate and housing study supported adding units.

Mayor Jones framed the vote as a question of district deference and process: \"This is not a no. This is not a right now,\" he said, adding that council would seek improved community engagement and consistent processes in the future.

Motion and vote: A motion to adopt the ordinance failed 3-4. The roll call recorded these votes: Councilman Long, Councilwoman Vick and Councilman Ealy voted in favor; Mayor Jones, Councilman Harris, Vice Mayor Bethany and Councilman Coleman voted against. The planning commission had earlier opposed the request 6-2.

Developer proffers and clarifications: Developer speakers said they would offer site changes and infrastructure mitigations if the rezoning moved forward. Alvin Keels told council his team would proffer a traffic signal for the intersection if needed, saying \"we'll proffer a stoplight. That's $750,000 that we'll invest in making that intersection safer.\" He also described the planned product as market-rate apartments with stainless appliances and amenity features and estimated the complex would generate about $250,000 a year in taxes (\"estimated $250,000 a year in taxes over a 10 year period\"). Planning staff and the project team discussed a proposed buffer (discussed increasing from 30 to 60 feet in follow-up community meetings) and stormwater controls the engineer said were designed to capture on-site runoff.

Next steps: Council rejected the ordinance at this meeting; city staff and council members indicated willingness to continue community engagement and suggested revised proffers could return the matter for further consideration. Planning commission concerns (and neighborhood opposition) will factor into any revised application.

Provenance (excerpted from meeting transcript): the rezoning public hearing opened at the item introduction and concluded with the roll-call vote on the ordinance at the council meeting on Feb. 25, 2025.","City Council voted 3-4 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed a developer to build about 120 apartments on roughly 6.3 acres on Old Fort Eustis Boulevard after residents raised traffic, drainage and density concerns and the planning commission opposed the application 6-2.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661774,"Newport News police earn state recertification; youth advisory board highlights growing partnership",331,349000,680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2405924-47b9931f5bac6939ce152121190cf341&start=349&end=680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2405924-47b9931f5bac6939ce152121190cf341/thumbnail_349000.jpg","/articles/6661774/Virginia/Newport-News-police-earn-state-recertification-youth-advisory-board-highlights-growing-partnership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661774-abb1240ce0021b4badf11c4494b8e113/orig.mp4?Expires=1770957029&Signature=XCBSi0mnallxOTkZ5NeTmAilpt-vikNW6XndPiwCm-FWLsg~A6kvthHbfMlVX0xB8nfJODAeOmJ0AnKwduL~apAPKuuPalWFeDWjgQapUdLHG9wKkYMJ44wzVsXbXNnaqCG5lX0OdQNe9InHwT-Ak5GIcOHkn555ZP696hBYcBrPFffxn48p7VMFb8KeBAVfKjWpgk3wU3DAq0Ntc2h7YMz5jTEW3A7-a2duJOdY1YGviGSfxMOiH-RVX1m-kErQmOAFjk~7vkyCZR7Gb50Y61-D8cQLA1zB6q6r9q1cw1ws-c28s1sASXRkdPmu7nd70x1U-XpZk0N3DBSzBHHAdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services recertified the Newport News Police Department as a Certified Crime Prevention Community, city council heard during its Feb. 25 regular session.

The designation recognizes local community safety efforts; DCJS representatives told the council that Newport News met program requirements including 19 community-safety elements and work from neighborhood coalitions. \"This is an accomplishment that the police department in your community should be very proud of,\" DCJS presenter Tina Sumter said.

The certification program dates to a commission charge in the late 1990s and includes a review of core and optional safety elements, DCJS officials said. \"There are 400 criminal justice agencies in the Commonwealth Of Virginia. There are 12 that have achieved certified crime prevention community status,\" Harvey Powers, law enforcement division director at DCJS, told the council.

Why it matters: Recertification signals that local policing and community groups have met a suite of practices DCJS counts as evidence of sustained community-safety work. City officials and DCJS also said certification can improve eligibility for some state grants.

What council heard: DCJS staff described the certification standards and highlighted the Newport News Neighborhood Watch Coalition as a local organizing structure that helped the city meet the requirements. The recertification was approved by the DCJS board on Dec. 5, 2024, the presenters told council.

Council also heard from members of the Young Adult Police Commission, a youth advisory board run in partnership with Newport News Public Schools and the Newport News Police Department. Massimiliano Arellano, identified as a YPC co-president, told council the program was created by the police chief in 2018 \"to build a better relationship between the Newport News Police Department and the youth in the city of Newport News.\" He said this year's enrollment nearly doubled.

Student commissioners described program activities and what they gain from the meetings. \"Our motto is bringing youth to the conversation,\" Arellano said. Tyler McNally, a Denbigh High School junior and YPC member, said the group has used distracted-driver curriculum and fatal-vision goggles to learn about driving risks: \"The young adult police commission helps us build relationships with police officers,\" he said. Samaya Tate, identified as a YPC co-vice president, said she had \"witnessed firsthand their dedication and compassion and unwavering commitment to protecting and serving our community.\"

Council context and next steps: The presentation was informational. Council did not take formal action during the meeting on the certification; DCJS presenters invited questions and photos with the police chief following the report.

Details and sources: DCJS presenters said the city's application documented meeting 19 elements (12 core and a minimum of nine optional elements), and that the city was one of 12 certified communities statewide. Recertification was approved by the DCJS board on Dec. 5, 2024, and the presentation materials emphasized continued neighborhood watch activity and youth engagement as central to the application.","The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services recertified the Newport News Police Department as a Certified Crime Prevention Community, and members of the city's Young Adult Police Commission spoke to council about youth-police partnerships.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Newport News council approves car-wash CUP and several ordinances; council unanimously moves March 11 meeting to CNU Games Theater

Newport News council rejects rezoning for proposed 120-unit Old Fort Eustis apartments after heated public hearing

Newport News police earn state recertification; youth advisory board highlights growing partnership