[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5976931,"mediaKeyId","5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58","parentId",5834404,"title","City introduces Virginia Zoo’s incoming executive director and credits staff for recent accreditation success","audioSeconds",159,"startMs",24000,"endMs",183000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58&start=24&end=183","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58/thumbnail_24000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5976931/Norfolk/Norfolk-County/Virginia/City-introduces-Virginia-Zoos-incoming-executive-director-and-credits-staff-for-recent-accreditation-success","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976931-4c6d8efb5004ba3b9f43b0976a7d6a52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163653&Signature=Czu1d-kUZ6SMy6vGnAYpltjRYuiCsFknqOGYGNS6b8ERTjo8WJuPVUq7iw~nTAXwTcDCHhegO84QPzwAyo6EhOGb-O7ILg1isuuEd8~w9il6IKFnaDRoIhVfXlZJRpeUTpksSAnQwdUkxBlpexVGnYI~ibMNY8NgBBRdOpiUAZ4OB-kOF2XZd3QUNy1FxO3pYxZ9HZ42xy-Bt6dCvq0x0vEuli~T3URnZSzhKlS~92HDvd~fIkdKLtxKiccl7FXroHGrlzvZ9RgGGddXkUQDRZwnaScIPdltbgtlS0jFRLB0rXPopNpiQuUsntMNm9QW1Md-goICWIoTnsbomFMxkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Norfolk, VA","date","2025-09-23T00:00:00Z","article","City officials introduced Chris Jenkins as the incoming executive director of the Virginia Zoo at Tuesday’s work session and credited zoo staff for successfully completing the zoo’s annual accreditation visit. A city official said Jenkins brings more than 25 years of frontline animal care and training experience and previously served as chief operations officer for a national animal-training and exhibition organization in Winter Haven, Florida; he has also worked as an education program presenter for the Walt Disney Company and in park operations at SeaWorld of San Diego.
The same official recognized Richard Parker, who served as acting director in recent months and previously served as assistant director. Staff praised Parker for assembling a cross‑city team that supported the accreditation process. The city official said Jenkins began work this week and that zoo staff had already worked with the accrediting agency to complete requirements for the annual accreditation.
No formal personnel votes were taken at the work session; the presentation was an announcement and recognition of staff efforts. Councilmembers welcomed Jenkins and thanked Parker for his interim leadership.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Norfolk City Council Work Session - September 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City leaders introduced Chris Jenkins as the new executive director of the Virginia Zoo and praised Richard Parker for leading staff work that helped the zoo secure its annual accreditation.","taxTitle","Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia","taxId",4671,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5976936,"Council asks staff for update on number and enforcement status of illegal short-term rentals",27,1193000,1220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58&start=1193&end=1220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58/thumbnail_1193000.jpg","/articles/5976936/Norfolk/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Council-asks-staff-for-update-on-number-and-enforcement-status-of-illegal-short-term-rentals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976936-35ae5e5be3765064b3ca18d0bd32b153/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163653&Signature=YyfYylLxuO9ERYTrpp2EuT344--eqCRJguWXpWRtYOXHT-tkMYhLkLGPtwn5IJcMpoEpFrvBfu11bDSkTlSzMBk54AA6i6G5K9PXo8TMEExXh9LDRbZoL1dKEgp-VFTlfV9hfp71MpIVlK1sCeN8k-NAyK-UPRD-Cjls1Kp44wogkXSRG9didqvU~EU8wzeDWgYUpWoxL9wQ1fr9qLFaNIi~-wfYbbWJtZQp00udyX22YBwFnE0c-EnVaG0QlDL5lbV2AZ~OSeYM3GxOMJn91x1kNgvKs5tfKscgM5JfxTS~Z1dKdUq0p7mhb8oxLmP2WGEwBHrgPbxRU~cBoVph0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the work session, a councilmember asked staff for a clearer, current count of illegal short-term rental operations in the city and for an update on enforcement activity. The councilmember said news reporting had quoted a number that seemed high and asked staff to provide what the city believes is the accurate number and the status of enforcement efforts.
Staff indicated they will prepare an update. When asked, staff member DeHaan confirmed, \"We can do that,\" indicating the city will provide the requested information to council.
The council did not take action in the work session beyond requesting the report; staff will return with the updated count and enforcement status at a future time, as requested by councilmembers.","A councilmember requested a staff report clarifying the city's current estimate of illegal short-term rental operations and the status of enforcement; staff acknowledged the request and agreed to provide the information.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5976941,"Applicant revises layout for proposed Halpern Drive convenience store, planning commission recommends approval",101,1057000,1158000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58&start=1057&end=1158","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58/thumbnail_1057000.jpg","/articles/5976941/Norfolk/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Applicant-revises-layout-for-proposed-Halpern-Drive-convenience-store-planning-commission-recommends-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976941-fac2597df6d7eef52d1249a7c55b39a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163653&Signature=jg2qaL-6GcHSlcgac8QOmXCns~5wPrOYspo~LhV3j2c2MN3S5-C79YjgL2LyjGGHiVMKYsA4MKYQS9rLxkgkpNjDjvJZzGyups77aP7CG5Urx70KuDJxCLcYwN333pn4AhKtmd8DCmGl0IGHokq6STeL00CUMuy0v624VzBGDwVqUNcE0nWHGkI8cB0CQRN9HKKTVFrJJ2QZ5L4KxUoM92OSBeAx6aPy5M9VS3HfIg9VPikqIvvAmGBFT-ikBko0Azf4K1h87s5X~6D92QSe9p5IVcNx5aPB2KEyatuSkkr1sYYnR8YMARhWYCoMZ6I0CUntpEtFeb6K~OhmUX~tKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff updated the Norfolk City Council on a conditional use permit application for a convenience store with gasoline sales, off-premise alcohol and smoking products at 7912 Halpern Drive, at the corner of East Little Creek and Halpern Drive. Bobby Tahan, director of city planning, said the applicant flipped the building orientation to move pumps away from the corner and provided building elevations to avoid a blank wall along Halpern Drive.
The applicant’s engineer provided a trip generation analysis and estimated that roughly 75% of vehicles accessing the site would use the East Little Creek Road entrance; the site has two full-service curb cuts, one on Halpern Drive and one on East Little Creek Road. Planning Commission voted 7–0 in favor of the proposal, Tahan said. Staff relayed that the Roosevelt Gardens Civic League met and now supports the application.
Tahan also said staff negotiated a proposed condition that would restrict the former nearby convenience store site from operating as a competing convenience store or as a grandfathered use; councilmembers acknowledged that restriction as part of the mitigation package. The item is on the council agenda for further consideration; staff will return with any final conditions before a formal vote.","City planning staff said an applicant seeking a convenience store with gasoline sales and off-premise alcohol at 7912 Halpern Drive submitted design changes to mitigate traffic and provided a trip-generation estimate; the planning commission recommended 7–0 approval and neighborhood support was reported for Roosevelt Gardens Civic League.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5976945,"Conditional use permit sought for indoor/outdoor flea market after banquet request withdrawn",122,786000,908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58&start=786&end=908","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58/thumbnail_786000.jpg","/articles/5976945/Norfolk/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Conditional-use-permit-sought-for-indooroutdoor-flea-market-after-banquet-request-withdrawn","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976945-5b94ce517f2029a0027e3bb64488103e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163653&Signature=FTrSGG7u2EeVWYZTcuQuQgqwpAYvCjdWobGYeEY1gvvDCGo0ZwX9WMdi~BNBbBO9G~5oR57SubsF83Cobfkejk7SEme8p9IhX0L-xHjwunJzkBOuflOOoX2cc3~7Mp62Id4dR9c3FD27HTM1IrMCzf4qBZvpkEfXgaLcJxOeiG8LT0gfsIr4uLEn19tvH1s0LO9bYGeWzZcLatTENb6XcTi0GakxO1bFH15YUPSquaJQ8~HL4TJIxxRfyZBT6Nf~8GUqcVfyX2reHdesy3ngDL-0uE7FFtlPGqizgcdIiP5JceyuGzOF~A1iFAz8MzyJ7H7KUDQ6GNsojRIVHow1Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff briefed the Norfolk City Council on a conditional use permit application for an indoor and outdoor flea market at 1200 East Little Creek Road, at the corner of Pythian and East Little Creek. Bobby Tahan, director of city planning, said the operator asked to withdraw a proposed banquet facility and now proposes only an indoor and outdoor flea market with a stated indoor capacity of 42.
Staff said the conditional use permit includes a proposed condition prohibiting amplified sound and music outdoors to reduce noise impacts. The applicant met with the South Bay Civic League on Sept. 11; staff attended that meeting. After the presentation the Civic League voted not to support the application, citing concerns about parking and outdoor activity, Tahan said. At the July planning commission hearing, commissioners recommended approval 6–1.
Tahan noted that indoor retail is permitted by right on the site, but the specific mix of used goods being proposed could require a conditional use permit. Councilmembers discussed whether the council could limit any approval to indoor-only activity; Tahan said such a condition can be imposed for a conditional use permit and staff will follow up with the applicant as requested.
Councilmembers suggested staff and the applicant continue outreach to the Civic League and explore parking and noise mitigation steps before the council takes final action on any permit.","An applicant at 1200 East Little Creek Road withdrew a request for a banquet facility but seeks a conditional use permit to operate indoor and outdoor flea-market retail. Planning staff said the Planning Commission recommended approval 6–1 while the local civic league opposes outdoor operations citing parking and noise concerns.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5976950,"City planning updates council on conditional rezoning request for West Indian River shipyard site",156,231000,387000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58&start=231&end=387","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5834404-b8ac2755fe282590e441e118a2fd2d58/thumbnail_231000.jpg","/articles/5976950/Norfolk/Norfolk-County/Virginia/City-planning-updates-council-on-conditional-rezoning-request-for-West-Indian-River-shipyard-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976950-e9db618def5f83361f066e6bbfbd9e47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163653&Signature=XuGtv5LzVLYfUYJ8pdGXRRSi~iSFzJXOKZXkQLqaNifeNQ9uHSp~ff-y7MznfeQRQK5RFLc7ENnhA0D-MQbhk7dkf~s9DxlmnofdEjH4-zsxMCmM4MWZyQay1m3XB31Z4jUM-4X2aBC6rvKUucydL4bFIu7RuM0J9A7f3DXjwHyXl~gutvk-jKKo8kJONUsYm1DlQciOpyepLNhwxW75j2BomBcxdF45gly5TlnDzBl0ueH-TvgUw64aAoYn71ZHtyVvabo8AObn~PhCQuRYU-U2588HiNhl9g9qOmhHykXgjhNdJNk5rlo8HlOoWgwWhAq6KhLludodgpwSGc4lmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff told the Norfolk City Council on Tuesday that Kelowna Shipyard Incorporated has applied for a conditional rezoning of two parcels at 344 West Indian River Road and 335 Emmett Place from the multifamily neighborhood-scale designation to industrial deep waterfront. Bobby Tahan, director of city planning, said the application would return the parcels to an industrial designation that existed before a 2016 rezoning for a multifamily project that never materialized.
The planning commission recommended approval by a 6-to-1 vote, Tahan said, and the applicant has submitted proffers to add evergreen landscaping along the southern and western boundaries and meet a Type C buffer requirement adjacent to residential properties. The site is currently used for temporary parking and storage, and the applicant signaled it intends to shift additional shipbuilding operations there.
Neighbors raised concerns about vehicular access from West Indian River Road and the potential operational impacts of expanded shipyard activity, Tahan said. Staff forwarded a letter from a community leader outlining operational and buffer concerns to the applicant for consideration. Council members asked whether a rezoning could include a time-limited condition that would revert zoning if development did not occur; Tahan said a conditional rezoning might allow that kind of condition but staff would need to confirm whether it is permissible and report back.
Council members and staff also discussed which streets would provide industrial access if the rezoning were approved. Tahan said the site’s primary existing access for the temporary parking use is via Emmett Place; there is a separate access through a fence from West Indian River Road that the applicant does not currently use. The council asked staff to follow up with a written response on whether a time-limited reversion clause can be included in future rezonings and for clarification on access and mitigation options for West Indian River Road.
The item is on the council docket for further consideration; staff said they will return with the requested legal and traffic clarifications ahead of any final vote.","City planning staff updated the Norfolk City Council on a conditional rezoning application by Kelowna Shipyard Incorporated to change two parcels on West Indian River Road and Emmett Place from multifamily to industrial deep waterfront, noting planning commission support, neighborhood access concerns, and proffers for additional landscaping.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City introduces Virginia Zoo’s incoming executive director and credits staff for recent accreditation success

Council asks staff for update on number and enforcement status of illegal short-term rentals

Applicant revises layout for proposed Halpern Drive convenience store, planning commission recommends approval

Conditional use permit sought for indoor/outdoor flea market after banquet request withdrawn

City planning updates council on conditional rezoning request for West Indian River shipyard site