Planning commission approves family transfer, church CUP and a Chesapeake Bay exception; items to proceed to next steps

The Suffolk City Planning Commission approved several land-use actions during its May meeting, finishing three formal items and routing one ordinance amendment to City Council.

Family transfer approved: The commission unanimously approved family transfer subdivision FTR2023007 (326 Loomis Road), a request by Scott and Kristen Nobles to create a five-acre parcel for Michael and Deborah Jimerson while retaining about 29.77 acres as residue. Staff planner Britney Collier said the application met criteria under UDO §31-5-14, noting a deed of gift and sworn affidavits were prepared; the vote was 6–0.

Conditional use permit for Hope City Church: Staff planner Shannon Wolf recommended approval of conditional use permit CUP2024005 to establish a small place of worship at 540 East Constance Road (Suite B). Wolf described the proposed use — up to about 124 sanctuary seats, worship services, youth activities, expungement clinics and a food pantry — and walked through parking calculations under UDO §31-6-06, which require approximately 31 spaces for the sanctuary. Pastor Justin Goodman, the church’s senior pastor, described local outreach work and asked for approval. The commission approved the CUP 6–0 and staff said the application will be scheduled for City Council in July for final action.

Chesapeake Bay preservation exception granted: The commission considered exception request CEX2024001 to allow six raised timber decks to encroach into the 100-foot resource protection area buffer at Bennetts Creek Quarter Phase 3 (4351 Abercorn Drive). Staff planner Amy Mervine recommended denial, calling the request "self-imposed" because the applicant previously had an exception for Phases I and II. Applicant representative John Napolitano argued the encroachment percentage mirrors the prior approval and said required buffer restoration will be provided. A commissioner who inspected the site described the decks as small and moved to approve the request; the commission voted 6–0. Staff said no City Council action is required for the exception.

Meeting notes and next steps: The commission also received staff briefings on significant upcoming rezoning items (White Marsh Plaza and Bell Harbor), an April City Council status report, introductions of new planning staff, and a proposed disclosure form for land-use applications to be implemented in July to identify applicants’ project participants and potential connections to elected/appointed officials.

The actions taken at the commission level are procedural or advisory depending on the item: the family transfer and the CBPA exception were finalized by the commission, the CUP will be transmitted to City Council for final approval, and the ordinance text amendment was recommended to Council.