Planning commission unanimously backs South Central Jefferson Avenue area plan and sends it to council

The Newport News Planning Commission on July 15 unanimously recommended City Council adopt the South Central Jefferson Avenue area plan (PLN-2026-0002), a community-backed strategy to guide development and transportation improvements along Jefferson Avenue.

Regina Jensen, the plan presenter, said the plan grew from a comprehensive planning effort that began in February 2025 and included two advisory committees and public outreach events. "We were able to receive over 100 applications of citizens ... and ended up with approximately 30 members of our citizen advisory committee," Jensen said, describing broad neighborhood participation. She traced the corridor’s planning history and said the plan links goals, objectives, strategies and implementable actions.

Jensen outlined both near-term and long-term concepts. Near-term items include a pilot North Newport News community family fun day on Aug. 8; longer-term concepts include a "no-build" re-striping concept to create a right-turn/bus lane by restriping lanes and signage, which staff said could require acquiring 10–20 feet of right-of-way from roughly 90 property owners and estimated the right-of-way cost at over $625,000 (staff said that figure covers only right-of-way purchase and that some owners might not sell). Jensen said feasibility studies and Department of Engineering review would be recommended if Council adopts the plan.

Commissioner Williams asked about timelines and called some elements "generic"; Jensen responded that staff vetted actions with internal departments and that feasibility studies and project leads are identified in the plan’s implementation tables. After public hearing (no speakers), Commissioner Archer moved to recommend adoption, Commissioner Shook seconded, and Miss Brown recorded a unanimous 6-0 recommendation. The commission transmitted the recommendation to City Council for its Aug. 11, 2026 hearing.

The plan includes recommended future land-use changes, a neighborhood commercial recommendation for parcel 6212 Jefferson Ave, and multiple actions to improve connectivity, pedestrian safety and economic vibrancy along the corridor. Staff emphasized that private development decisions ultimately affect timing and that some ideas (for example, acquiring right-of-way or major construction) would require separate feasibility and funding steps.