Applicant seeks conditional use permit for flea market and banquet hall; neighbors raise parking and safety concerns

Soulful Vegan Events LLC applied for a conditional use permit to operate an indoor and outdoor flea market as well as a banquet hall at 1200 East Little Creek Road; city planning staff recommended approval with conditions, including a prohibition on holding banquet events at the same time as the outdoor flea market. Staff said the site is zoned CC and consistent with Plan Norfolk 2030’s commercial designation. The applicant proposed no live entertainment or alcohol on the premises. Staff described a parking plan showing 27 on‑site spaces and said the banquet hall requires an 11‑space minimum while the flea market requires six; because the two uses will not occur simultaneously staff proposed the non‑overlap condition to minimize parking conflicts. Staff also reported the applicant agreed to remove five parking spaces on the side of the building and that rear parking would be preserved for customers. Members of the commission and staff pressed the applicant about overflow parking and about written permission from a neighboring property for overflow spaces; staff said no written approval had been provided and that the applicant removed any proposed overflow parking from the plan. Commissioners and civic representatives also asked about security plans and whether the applicant had a permit to operate outdoor events while awaiting the CUP; staff said the applicant had a temporary zoning permit for outdoor events for a few more weeks but cannot operate the banquet hall until the conditional use permit is granted. The staff report noted opposition from the local civic league, citing parking and safety concerns related to people entering and exiting Little Creek Road and to a lack of clarity around front‑of‑building vendor spaces versus parking spaces. Staff recommended approval subject to the conditions in the staff report, including the non‑overlap of banquet events and outdoor flea market use and a two‑year expiration for the banquet hall CUP.