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SUFFOLK, Virginia — Suffolk City Council held two public hearings for two companion ordinances. During their Wednesday, Feb. 21 meeting held at City Hall Chambers, council members heard and approved, 7-0, a rezone/amendment ordinance for property located on 2061 and 2075 Wilroy Rd to eliminate previously approved conditions and change the zoning from Residential Low Medium, M-1 Light Industrial and B-2, General Commercial to M-1, Light Industrial zoning district.

Likewise, an ordinance to grant a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the same property and amend previously approved conditions for establishing an outdoor storage contractor and trade shop was included. During their Jan. 16 meeting, the Planning Commission recommended the approval of both ordinances in an 8 to 0 vote. Director of Planning and Development Kevin Wyne gave details on the history of both ordinances, noting both were approved in 2010.

“The rezoning was conditional, it was accompanied by two proffers at the time. One of these proffers related to open space, in all honesty, we had a hard time understanding why it existed, but it limited an access point over a really small area of what was identified on an associated plat as open space. Seeing no real need for that, we don’t foresee any issue with it being eliminated,” Wyne said.

On why the applicant is requesting these amendments, Wyne says several years ago, the footprint of the property’s use expanded beyond the original rezoning and CUP by approximately an acre.

“So the proposed amendments this evening aim to correct this by incorporating this area into the limits of the rezoning and ultimately the CUP,” Wyne said.

Brian Layne, the applicant of both ordinances, spoke in support of the ordinances.

“We’re really just here for an old legacy item. We’re just trying to clean it up, Kevin (Wyne) did a great job presenting it. We did work with staff to get to where we are tonight. You can see that everything is lined up, lights are green for approval,” Layne said.