Minutes 03/14/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 14, 2023 (d) CA-23-01 CITY-WIDE - Ordinance granting the request of City Council, the City of Portsmouth proposes to amend City Code Ch. 40.2 Zoning Ordinance (including without limitation Sec. 40.2-532(I) and Sec. 40.2-533(I)) to allow City Council to elect to reconsider Zoning Map Amendments and Use Permits that were previously denied prior to the end of the current one-year waiting period for refiling denied applications. Planning Commission recommends approval. 1. Julie Chop, Planning Department, presented the application. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REORDAIN CHAPTER 40.2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (ZONING ORDINANCE) BY DELETING SECTION 40.2-532(I) (ZONING TEXT AND ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS; EFFECT OF DENIAL) AND SECTION 40.2-533(I) (USE PERMITS; EFFECT OF DENIAL) FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELIMINATING THE WAITING PERIOD FOR FILING A NEW APPLICATION AFTER DENIAL.” Ayes: Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover Nays: None - City Manager’s Report - 23 - 89 - (A) Adoption of a resolution declaring the Innovation Overlay District established pursuant to Section 40.2-208(D) of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia to be a Revitalization Area within the meaning of Section 36-55.30:2.A of the Code of Virginia. (B) Adoption of a resolution affirming that the Bains Pointe development is located in a Revitalization Area within the meaning of Section 36-55.30:2.A of the Code of Virginia. Background:  The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) conducts a statewide annual application process to award LIHTC financing. The process is very competitive and many applications do not receive funding.  VHDA awards extra points to applications for developments that are located within a “Revitalization Area” established by a locality pursuant to Section 36-55.30:2.A of the Virginia Code.  Establishment of a Revitalization Area requires a finding that the economic development of the area will benefit the City, but that the area currently lacks the housing needed to support development, and that VHDA assistance may be necessary to provide decent, safe and sanitary affordable and mixed income housing.  Section 40.2-208(D) of the current City Zoning Ordinance establishes an “Innovation Overlay District” that generally encompasses the County, High and London corridors between Effingham Street and the Martin Luther King Freeway.  The purpose of the Innovation Overlay District is to support activity that stimulates innovation while offering value to entities that drive the economy and enhancing the existing mixed-use character of the area.  By declaring the Innovation Overlay District to be a Revitalization Area within the meaning of the Virginia Code, City Council can increase the availability of financing from sources other than the City for the development of affordable and mixed-income housing in the area.