Council rejects with proffers (Smith/King) (8-0) (Newins abstained), 0–1

APPROVED with proffers (Smith/King) (8-0) (Newins abstained)

0 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain

Amanda L. Newins (abstain), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (no)

PLN-USE-2025-050 Tidewater Express Inc. Conditional Use Permit

2 yes, 0 no

Ella P. Ward (yes), Daniel W. Whitaker (yes)

PLN-TXT-2026-002 State Code Updates - Wireless & Housing

2 yes, 1 no

Les Smith, Jr. (yes), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (no), Patricia Y. "Pat" King (yes)

PLN-COMP-2026-003 Comprehensive Plan Solar and Battery Energy Storage Policy

3 yes, 2 no

S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (yes), Les Smith, Jr. (no), Patricia Y. "Pat" King (no), Daniel W. Whitaker (yes), C. Jeff Bunn (yes)

PLN-USE-2026-017 Debaun Self Storage

2 yes, 0 no

Amanda L. Newins (yes), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (yes)

PLN-USE-2026-010 Jerry Harris Remodeling Conditional Use Permit

2 yes, 0 no

Les Smith, Jr. (yes), Daniel W. Whitaker (yes)

PLN-USE-CT-2026-003 St. Brides Rd Communication Tower

2 yes, 0 no

S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (yes), Daniel W. Whitaker (yes)

PLN-REZ-2026-005 Battlefield Blvd Tattoo Parlor Rezoning

4 yes, 2 no

C. Jeff Bunn (yes), Amanda L. Newins (yes), Richard W. "Rick" West (yes), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (yes), Les Smith, Jr. (no), E.R. "Jeff" Jefferies, Jr. (no)

PLN-USE-2026-009 Battlefield Blvd Tattoo Parlor Conditional Use Permit

4 yes, 2 no

C. Jeff Bunn (yes), Amanda L. Newins (yes), Richard W. "Rick" West (yes), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (yes), Patricia Y. "Pat" King (no), Les Smith, Jr. (no)

PLN-REZ-2025-013 2728 Battlefield LLC Rezoning

2 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain

Amanda L. Newins (abstain), Patricia Y. "Pat" King (yes), Les Smith, Jr. (yes)

Closed Meeting Authorization for October 27, 2026

2 yes, 0 no

Ella P. Ward (yes), Patricia Y. "Pat" King (yes)

PLN-TXT-2026-003 Solar and Battery Energy Storage State Code Updates

3 yes, 2 no

Daniel W. Whitaker (yes), C. Jeff Bunn (yes), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (yes), Ella P. Ward (no), Les Smith, Jr. (no)

PLN-REZ-2026-003 Jerry Harris Remodeling Rezoning

2 yes, 0 no

Daniel W. Whitaker (yes), Ella P. Ward (yes)

PLN-USE-2025-049 1500 Steel Street Container Stacking

2 yes, 0 no

Ella P. Ward (yes), Les Smith, Jr. (yes)

PLN-REZ-2025-023 Tidewater Express Inc. Rezoning

2 yes, 0 no

Daniel W. Whitaker (yes), E.R. "Jeff" Jefferies, Jr. (yes)

Approval of Proposed Agenda

0 yes, 0 no

2728 Battlefield LLC Rezone

2728 Battlefield Blvd. S.

Conditional zoning reclassification of approximately 13.6 acres from A-1 Agricultural to M-1 Light Industrial.

approved (8-0) · still approved

1500 Steel Street Container Stacking

1500 Steel St.

Conditional use permit to allow container stacking up to four high.

approved (9-0) · still approved

St. Brides Rd Communication Tower

244 Saint Brides Rd. W.

Conditional use permit to construct an approximately 199-foot-tall communications tower.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Jerry Harris Remodeling Outdoor Storage

1328 22nd St. & 906 B St.

Conditional use permit to allow outdoor storage for a contractor business.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Battlefield Blvd Tattoo Parlor

202 Battlefield Blvd.

Conditional use permit to allow a tattoo parlor.

approved (5-4) · still approved

Tidewater Express Inc. Rezone and Use Permit

4168 S. Military Hwy

Conditional zoning reclassification of approximately 42 acres to M-2 General Industrial and C-1 Conservation.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Jerry Harris Remodeling Rezone and Use

1328 22nd St. & 906 B St.

Zoning reclassification of approximately 0.29 acres to B-5 Urban Business District.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Tidewater Express Inc.

4168 S. Military Hwy

Conditional use permit to operate a towing service with an outside storage yard.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Debaun Self Storage

1652 Debaun Ave.

Conditional use permit to allow a self-storage facility.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Rural Road Safety and Heavy Commercial Traffic

Residents raised concerns about industrial-scale development and heavy truck traffic on narrow, unsafe roads in the Fentress overlay district.

What it means: Fentress area residents and motorists.

Industrial Zoning and Contractor Storage Expansions

The council is reviewing multiple rezonings and conditional use permits to allow industrial uses, contractor yards, and equipment storage in Southern Chesapeake and Deep Creek. These projects aim to expand commercial logistics and contractor operations while incorporating buffer yards and operational hour restrictions to protect nearby schools and residential areas.

What it means: Local contracting businesses, logistics providers, and commercial property owners.

Public Safety Canine Line-of-Duty Honors

Council requested a proposal to honor police, fire, and sheriff canines that die in the line of duty.

What it means: Public safety personnel and animal handlers.

State Code Alignment for Wireless and Solar Energy Systems

The council was forced to adopt state-mandated changes regarding solar and battery storage facilities, sparking frustration among members who felt local control was overridden.

What it means: Energy developers and state-level compliance mandates.