NORFOLK — The city will clamp down on repeat permit applications for some applicants whose attempts were previously denied.
City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to prohibit the reapplication of substantially similar conditional use permit applications after concerns were raised by members.
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Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander said one must now wait a year before resubmitting an identical application.
“An applicant may submit a materially different application at any time, and the Council may reconsider a denied application at any time by majority vote,” Alexander added.
Norfolk businesses and property owners are required to obtain conditional use permits for special land uses, such as selling alcohol, opening with extended hours or operating a short-term rental property, among other examples. According to the city, the process can take two to three months and costs $1,080.
Alexander did not say which repeat applications prompted the change, and city spokesperson Kelly Straub said no one particular application prompted the change.
Repeat requests for rezoning already must wait a year before reapplying after a denial, Straub said.
According to city documents, the change will create less work for city planning department staff and give it more time to work on other applications.
City Council members voted to adopt stricter land use policies in 2022 following several downtown shootings. The new rules made all restaurants and bars obtain a conditional use permit to serve alcohol at any time. The change was made to make it easier for city government to revoke permits from late-night clubs and restaurants deemed problematic.
Then, in 2023, City Council loosened the rule, allowing some restaurants who close at 5 p.m. to serve booze without applying for a conditional use permit.
Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com
