Planners delay CenterPoint decision

Published 4:23 pm Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Suffolk will hold off on a decision regarding the proposed CenterPoint development until it can explore its options for funding the highway improvements that the project would require.

Members of the city’s Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to postpone for 90 days a decision on the proposed $325 million warehousing and distribution facility.

The company had proffered $3.46 million toward Holland Road improvements in exchange for the city’s thumbs-up on a rezoning that is necessary for the project to go forward. The cheapest alternative for dealing with congestion along the road, however, could cost $94 million, according to a study by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

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The company’s proposed intermodal center would help handle the growing amount of container traffic headed to and from the ports in Hampton Roads.

Suffolk has estimated that the project would generate more than 2,000 jobs and $3 million in real estate taxes.