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The Suffolk City Council voted unanimously May 21 to approve a rezoning request that will allow two Southern Auto Group dealerships to relocate to Lynn Drive, despite concerns about traffic congestion, wetlands impacts and the city’s long-term planning vision.

The 8-0 vote changed the zoning for more than 14 acres near Bridge Road from Office-Institutional (O-I) to General Commercial (B-2), clearing the path for Hyundai and Nissan dealerships to move from nearby locations in Chesapeake into the city’s northern growth area.

City Planning Director Kevin Wyne noted that more than half of the 14-acre site is considered wetlands and cannot be developed without additional permitting. “Prior to any development approval, the applicant will require authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” he said.

“This is an appropriate location,” said Lisa Murphy, attorney representing the applicant, Peak AV LLC. “It’s in a mixed-use core, adjacent to other dealerships, and is served by the necessary infrastructure.”

Murphy noted the project includes a 30,000-square-foot and a 25,000-square-foot showroom on two separate pads. The buildings would face Bridge Road, while much of the site’s rear portion remains undeveloped due to the presence of forested, non-tidal wetlands.

Murphy clarified the relocating dealerships will be Hyundai and Nissan, not Chrysler-Jeep, as stated in the April 15 Planning Commission meeting. 

“This was my mistake at Planning Commission, and I want to correct the record,” she said. “We’ve since discussed this with other dealers and clarified our intentions.”

Rebecca Hersey, a nearby resident and retired stormwater inspector, voiced concerns about the proposed auto dealership’s quality-of-life impacts, citing potential light and noise pollution. While acknowledging the city’s need for growth, Hersey expressed worries about losing peace and privacy due to the dealership’s proximity to her home. 

“When I walk out my front door, I’m going to see that car dealership right in front of me,” the resident said, requesting a wooded buffer and sound wall to mitigate the impact.

Hersey also told council she had never been contacted by anyone representing the dealership about the project. 

In response to resident concerns about light and noise pollution, Murphy noted both issues are already addressed under existing city regulations and site planning. According to Murphy, lighting will be directed downward to prevent spillover onto neighboring properties, and all repair work will occur inside the buildings to minimize external noise. Murphy also noted that a landscaped buffer is planned along the eastern edge of the property nearest to the home, and the proposed buildings will be set back approximately 150 to 200 feet from the property line. 

In response to a question from Vice Mayor Lue Ward, Murphy acknowledged they had not contacted Hersey. 

“No, we didn’t,” Murphy said. “We were not aware… the house is fairly hidden.” While other nearby property owners had received the site layout and concept plan, Murphy said Hersey’s property had not been a focus. She added they are open to discussing additional measures, such as a board-on-board fence, to help reduce light and sound impacts beyond the planned landscape buffer.

Councilman LeOtis Williams acknowledged the project’s appeal but urged caution.

“It looks good today, but we have to make sure we’re not putting a Band-Aid over a long-term problem,” Williams said. “I don’t want to see us say yes to something now and regret it five years down the road.”

Mayor Mike Duman emphasized that the project aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan and will enhance the tax base.

“This corridor is already heavily commercial,” Duman said. “This isn’t going to change the nature of what’s already there. It builds on what we’ve planned for in this part of the city.”

Wyne also addressed a fiscal impact analysis, which showed the project could generate nearly $800,000 in new revenue over a five-year period. He added that the proposed B-2 zoning would likely result in less traffic than what could be developed under the existing O-I classification.

“The traffic study actually showed that by-right office development could create more vehicle trips than the dealerships,” Wyne said.

Council members ultimately sided with the Planning Commission, which had voted 7-0 in favor of the rezoning last month. The vote included acceptance of the applicant’s proffered conditions, which tie development to the submitted site plan and limit the property’s use.

Before the final vote, Councilwoman Shelley Butler Barlow stressed that the Army Corps of Engineers review process would be critical.

“This isn’t over,” Barlow said. “There’s still permitting to be done, and we expect that to be handled properly.”

Federal wetlands permits will need to be obtained before site work can begin.