While the city is looking to acquire property to make improvements to Nansemond Parkway, residents and church officials continue to express concern about the impact of the project in that area and have asked for alternatives.
During a public hearing on the issue Wednesday, Suffolk City Council heard from six residents, including the pastors of two churches whose property would be split by part of the project. That split would reroute Bennetts Pasture Road to realign with Sportsman Boulevard.
After the hearing, and with some members of council having their own questions, they voted to table the issue until their Feb. 5 meeting. The project would improve the road from Nansemond River High School to just past Sportsman Boulevard.
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A majority of council members, including Donald Goldberg, Mike Duman, Roger Fawcett, Lue Ward and Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett, had concerns about different aspects of the project.
Goldberg asked about the amount of room between churches, and the wetland property surrounding them, while Duman asked whether there were other viable options, and Fawcett and Ward wanted to know whether the churches would receive assistance or compensation for parking. Bennett said the project could inhibit possible expansion for Tabernacle’s church, especially with wetlands surrounding the property.
Article provided by the Suffolk News-Herald, written by Jimmy LaRoue. Article published January 16, 2020.
Link to original article: https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2020/01/15/council-strengthens-2a-support/