The Newport News City Planning Commission on Jan. 15 unanimously recommended that City Council approve conditional use permit CU2024-0012 to allow W.M. Smith Contracting LLC to build and operate a small contractor's office and limited equipment storage at 12618 Warwick Boulevard.

City planning staff presented the application, saying the 1.21-acre site is zoned C-1 (retail commercial) and is identified on the city's One City, One Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan for neighborhood commercial uses. Saul (planning staff) told commissioners the applicant proposes a new 2,500-square-foot building, perimeter landscaping and screening, and two sheds for enclosed storage; the applicant proposes three company vehicles, five enclosed trailers and a skid steer to be stored on site, and said no large commercial vehicles or equipment would be kept there.

The staff presentation noted that transitional buffers are required where commercial districts abut residential parcels: a 20-foot buffer is required adjacent to multi-family property along the site's eastern boundary and a 30-foot buffer is required where the site abuts single-family property to the north. A 16-foot landscape strip along Warwick Boulevard and other site regulations were shown on the conceptual site plan. Staff recommended the commission forward the permit to council with 15 conditions, including submittal of a Class I site plan and a landscape plan, submission of building elevations and materials for staff approval before a building permit is issued, a prohibition on outside storage of materials and supplies, and a restriction that no self-propelled or towed vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 10,000 pounds be stored on the property.

During the public question-and-answer period, commissioners asked whether the narrow, leftover drive area at the front of the property was in the city right-of-way; planning staff confirmed that the irregular piece along Warwick Boulevard is city right-of-way left over when the roadway was realigned and would remain city property. Commissioners also confirmed that the proposed storage yard would be fenced and located away from the residentially zoned edge of the site, and that existing vegetation along the rear property line would be retained and supplemented as required.

Raymond Suttle Jr., an attorney with Kaufman & Canoles representing contract purchaser W.M. Smith Contracting, told the commission the previous dog training and kennel structure on the site had been demolished and said, "We think it's a very good reuse of the property." Mark Smith, the company principal, attended and the applicant's representatives told the commission they had reviewed the staff conditions and found them acceptable.

Commissioner Michael Taylor moved to recommend approval of CU2024-0012 to City Council; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call vote 7-0. Planning staff said the matter will be scheduled for City Council on Feb. 11 for final action.

The commission record shows the permit is recommended with the 15 staff conditions described in the staff report; those conditions will be part of any ordinance if City Council approves the permit.