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The Suffolk City Council is expected to vote on May 21 on a rezoning request that would allow the relocation of two car dealerships from Chesapeake to a site along Lynn Drive.

The proposed development, submitted by Peak AV LLC on behalf of Southern Auto Group, would relocate the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealerships from a leased Chesapeake facility to a newly constructed location in Suffolk. Plans call for two new dealership buildings—one 30,000 square feet and another 25,000 square feet—on a 7.8-acre portion of a 15-acre parcel near Bridge Road.

The Suffolk Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the rezoning request (RZN 2024-012) during its April 15 meeting. The application seeks to rezone the front portion of the property from Office Institutional (O-I) to General Commercial Conditional (B2), allowing for dealership operations, including vehicle repair and bodywork.

The site lies within the city’s designated northern growth area and is marked as a mixed-use core under the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. Although B2 zoning is not explicitly identified in the plan for mixed-use core areas, city staff found the request compatible with nearby land uses, including other auto dealerships located approximately 250 feet away, and deemed it consistent with the plan’s intent.

According to the applicant’s attorney, Lisa Murphy, the property’s rear portion contains forested wetlands, which will remain undeveloped and serve as a natural buffer between the commercial use and nearby residential areas. “These wetlands will remain undeveloped and provide a nice buffer between the commercial that’s going to be at the front and the residential behind it,” she said.

Murphy also noted that access to the dealership will come from Lynn Drive, not directly from Bridge Road. The site falls within the Scott Special Corridor Overlay District, which imposes additional development standards, including a required 30-foot buffer along Bridge Road.

A traffic impact analysis determined that the proposed use would generate less traffic than what is permitted under the current zoning. A separate fiscal analysis estimated the city’s annual positive cash flow of approximately $250,000.

City planning staff recommended approval, citing consistency with the Unified Development Ordinance and the comprehensive plan. The Planning Commission voted 7-0 in support. No opposition was raised during the public hearing.

If the City Council approves, the project would proceed with construction plans.