The city plans to improve a section of Route 460 as part of a $86.8 million road project. City leaders say it will increase capacity on a major roadway near the planned 10 building, 5-million-square-foot Port 460 warehouse complex. The road project will get $30.1 million from the state’s Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund.

“This significant allocation of Transportation Partnership Opportunity Funds by the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board provides a rare opportunity to address a projected traffic mitigation concern before it becomes a major issue,” said Suffolk Mayor Mike Duman in a July 16 announcement.

The project would widen a 2.3-mile section of Route 460, from the Route 58 bypass to Lake Prince Drive, as well as redesign the Route 460 and 58 interchange.

The roadway project follows public criticism of the huge warehouse development, which is planned near the interchange. After a 2022 City Council vote to rezone the property to allow the development, Duman told The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press about 41% of the complaints revolved around its impact on traffic.

Some community residents mobilized a local opposition group to the warehouse, called Citizens Voice, and filed an unsuccessful lawsuit seeking to stop the development.

Group spokesperson and Suffolk resident Denise Murden said they were happy the roadway project was being funded.

“If the project is going to go there, it’s absolutely essential,” Murden said.

Beyond the state funding, the project has also received $6.6 million from Matan, the developer who will build the warehouse project, $1 million from the Port of Virginia, and $1 million from the city of Suffolk, Deputy City Manager Kevin Hughes said in an email.

With the project about halfway funded, Hughes said the city plans to fund the remainder locally while applying for additional state and federal grant money.

Hughes said city officials hope to begin construction in late 2026. The first Port 460 building is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2025, according to the project website.

Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com

Police said officers responded to the 1000 block of Litton Lane for reports of shots fired. At the scene, emergency services found 19-year-old Kyron Edwards, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing, and police have not released potential suspect information or what may have led to the shooting.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com

“Aviation is a cornerstone of growth for any region,” owner Steve Fox said.

Although the 634-acre facility at the intersection of four major highways — Interstates 64, 664 and 264 and U.S. 58 — had its share of hardships in the past, it continues to soar and act as a gateway to Hampton Roads. The bulk of the public-use, privately owned reliever airport, known by the code KPVG, is in Chesapeake with a portion of its western side just over the Suffolk line.

Dating back to the 1940s, the facility was originally called Portsmouth Airport. It was started by Capt. Henry Pascale, a World War I veteran eager to provide a place for flying lessons for other service members returning home. After a rocky start, Pascale saved the airport from foreclosure. At the time, it consisted of about 200 acres, three grass runways and gravel roads.

More than 60 years later, three pilot businessmen, Steve Fox, Jack Fox and David “Andy” Gibbs, stepped in to purchase the airport in 2000 from a bankruptcy auction.

“It included 13 buildings, an old terminal, an old runway and 90 T-hangars — pretty much everything was at least 20 years old or older,” Fox said.

The following year, they bought an additional 404 acres for construction of a new runway and future development of the airport.

Today, Steve Fox and his wife, Bee, retired city attorney for Virginia Beach, are the majority owners of Virginia Aviation Associates, which owns the airport. The Foxes’ son, Luke, serves as the airport’s director of finance and managing engineer. Fox bought out his father, Jack Fox. Gibbs, the airport’s former helicopter instructor, died in 2013.

“I’m the last man standing from the original three owners,” said Steve Fox, a third-generation pilot whose grandfather, Martin Fox, was a pilot in World War I. “It was in the stars, I guess.”

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Revamping for jets

Fox explained that when he purchased the airport, there were three detriments: the condition of the buildings, its 4,000-foot runway and the lack of an instrument landing system. Insurance companies generally require turbine-powered aircraft, or jets, to operate on a 5,000-foot runway.

Eager to improve the airport, its capabilities and amenities, Fox learned about grant funding from the Virginia Department of Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration’s capital improvement program, both geared to help with privately owned airports. The FAA has supported the airport’s growth with more than $30 million in grants.

“One of the conditions is that we have to keep the airport open forever,” he said.

The first phase in the redevelopment, completed in 2015, included the construction of the 5,350-foot-long, 100-foot-wide runway. The price tag for that alone was $30 million, Fox said.

The new runway sits parallel to the original 4,000-foot-long, 75-foot-wide main runway that was lengthened and repaved and became the new taxiway. Both runways were equipped with new lighting.

Phase one included construction of a new 6,800-square-foot public use terminal with a lounge/lobby, 20-seat conference room, pilot lounge with a nap room, kitchenette, office space, concierge, crew cars and covered vehicle porch. The revamp included the installation of a dozen more hangars, connecting the airport to the public sewer system and adding high-speed internet. These projects cost another $25 million. The state aviation department provided a $500,000 grant for the instrument landing system.

“Any jet, up to the size of a Gulfstream business jet, can land here in any weather condition because we have a proper length runway and an instrument landing system,” he said.

Phase two addressed the need for more and newer hangars. The airport expanded from 13 to 37 buildings ranging from 4,000 to 40,000 square feet. The $10 million project included a second fuel farm and an aircraft washing station.

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Welcoming new technology

Phase three started this month to add more than $10 million in infrastructure improvements over the next 18 months, Fox said. The project involves the construction of a 36,000-square-foot combined jetport and research and training center, new aprons, three large buildings, hangars and electric-charging stations for new electric aircraft, Fox said.

The state aviation board awarded the project a $6.5 million grant, the airport said.

The center will enable different companies — startups from around the world — to test alternative fuels and alternative fueled aircraft right here in Hampton Roads. Fox said in the past 24 years of owning the airport, he has not seen the amount of investment and focus on new aircraft that he has seen in the last two years.

“Innovation in both aircraft design and alternate fuel sourcing is flourishing,” he said. “The public will be excited to know that the cost of flying should come down significantly as the new technology emerges.”

Phase four will bring down nine of the original 13 T-hangars still standing, and phase five will address development of 200 acres of raw surplus land for future use by aircraft manufacturers, Fox said.

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Regional transportation hub

The ambition of the airport is high for a staff of 13. The airport, with 160 planes based there, sees close to 90,000 operations yearly.

Throughout the years, it’s had countless notable arrivals and departures from its property, including President Joe Biden and Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Ambulance helicopters also use the airport regularly.

“Our facility is not about rich people with jets; our facility is servicing people in need, both financial and medical and fostering increased employment,” Fox said.

More than 30 businesses are based at the airport, including Prevailance Aerospace, Hampton Roads Charter Service and Hampton Roads Helicopters. Dave Hynes has been a part of operating the last two businesses from a large complex at the airport since their inception in 2005. Gibbs was his business partner.

Hynes said the expansion and growth at the airport has been beneficial for both of his businesses — whether providing management, hangaring and piloting services, teaching people how to fly helicopters or providing tours or photo mission flights.

“It’s helped us grow the businesses, helped us to be able to employ more employees and be able to contribute more into the local economy because we’re growing and expanding as the airport is growing and expanding, too,” Hynes said.

Another area of growth involves the roadway just outside the airport.

“The blessing of the airport is that we’re on U.S. 58 right at the intersection of four highways,” Fox said. “The curse is that we’re on U.S. 58 right at the intersection of four highways.”

Both Fox and Hynes are anxiously awaiting better traffic flow now that $14 million to improve intersection access to the airport from U.S. 58 was approved, with work starting in 2026. 

“Our vision of converting Hampton Roads Executive Airport’s 80-year-old barnstormer airfield into a modern executive regional transportation hub continues with this next phase of development,” Fox said.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

The city budgets, that fund local governments for the fiscal year, set rates for real estate and personal property taxes. Here are tax rates adopted by seven Hampton Roads cities, and the revenue those taxes are expected to generate in the new fiscal year. Personal property tax varies by property type and the rate charged for personal vehicles is included.

Cities may offer different relief programs that can reduce tax liability.

Chesapeake

Real estate tax rate: $1.01 per $100 of assessed value, same rate unchanged for a few years. The city is expected to collect $390.5 million in revenue in fiscal 2025.

Personal property tax rate for vehicles: $4.08 per $100 of assessed value. Same as previous years. The city is expected to collect $76.2 million from all personal property taxes in fiscal 2025.

Chesapeake adopts $1.6 billion operating budget that will expand some tax relief, increase city worker pay

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Hampton

Real estate tax rate: $1.15 per $100 of assessed value, a 1-cent decrease from last year. Real estate tax revenue is anticipated to total $176.5 million in fiscal 2025.

Personal property tax rate for vehicles: $4.50 per $100 of assessed value, no change. Hampton is expected to collect $50.8 million in all personal property taxes in fiscal 2025.

Hampton adopts $643 million budget boosting employee pay, adding speed cameras and increasing waste fees

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Newport News

Real estate tax rate: $1.18 per $100 of assessed value, no change from last year. The city is expected to collect $266.4 million in real estate taxes in fiscal 2025.

Personal property tax rate for vehicles: $4.50 per $100 of assessed value. Personal property taxes for all items is expected to total $69.2 million in fiscal 2025.

Newport News adopts $1.14 billion budget, raises salaries for city workers and public safety

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Norfolk

Real estate tax rate: $1.23 per $100 of assessed value, a 2-cent decrease from last year. Real estate tax revenue is anticipated to total $328.1 million in fiscal 2025.

Personal property tax rate for vehicles: $4.33 per $100 of assessed value. Norfolk is expected to collect $61.8 million in all personal property taxes in fiscal 2025.

Norfolk passes $1.9 billion budget with city worker raises, real estate tax cut

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Portsmouth

Real estate tax rate: $1.30 per $100 of assessed value, with a 5-cent credit bringing the effective tax rate to $1.25 per $100 of assessed value. Same as last year. The city is expected to collect $130.5 million in fiscal 2025.

Personal property tax rate for vehicles: $5 per $100 of assessed value. The city is expected to collect $36.9 million from all personal property taxes in fiscal 2025.

Portsmouth adopts $934 million budget reducing real estate tax, fully funding schools

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Suffolk

Real estate tax rate: $1.07 per $100 of assessed value, a nominal 2-cent reduction. Last year the rate was $1.09 but the city offered a 2-cent tax credit, putting the effective rate at $1.07. The city is expected to collect $165 million in real estate taxes in fiscal 2025.

Personal property tax rate for vehicles: $4.25 per $100 of assessed value. The city is expected to collect $36 million in fiscal 2025 in personal property taxes.

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Virginia Beach

Real estate tax rate: 97 cents per $100 of assessed value, 2-cent decrease from last year. The city is expected to collect $700 million in real estate taxes in fiscal 2025.

Personal property tax rate for vehicles: $4 per $100 of assessed value. The city is expected to collect $206.7 million from all personal property taxes in fiscal 2025.

Virginia Beach adopts $2.6 billion budget, cutting taxes and increasing city worker pay

The WIN Waste plant, formerly known as the Wheelabrator facility, closed this week and will be demolished over the next several months. For decades, it had been burning 80% of the region’s trash and converting it into steam energy for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Then, 30% of the ash left over was diverted to the landfill. But with the plant closure, now a daily average of 1,500 tons of waste is being sent to the regional landfill in Suffolk, according to Dennis Bagley, executive director of the Southeastern Public Service Authority.

The authority handles waste for Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, in addition to surrounding localities such as Franklin and Southampton and Isle of Wight counties. Bagley said SPSA managed about 480,000 tons of the region’s municipal waste in the last fiscal year.

The impending closure has been known for years. In 2020, the Navy announced it would be ending its contract with Wheelabrator and would build its own natural gas plant to power the shipyard. That loss of revenue led to WIN Waste officials determining the Portsmouth plant would be unable to remain operable through 2027, when the contract was slated to end.

With the added pressure to the regional landfill, it’s on track to run out of room by late 2026 instead of 2028, as previously anticipated. SPSA is working on a plan to open up new “cells” — the portions of a landfill where the trash is layered with materials to mitigate the environmental impact.

But even additional cells can only prolong the landfill’s life for so long. Bagley said he sees the plant closure as an “opportunity” for the region to think about new ways to manage waste beyond dumping it all in a landfill, where space could completely run out by 2061. Repurposing the waste, like what the Wheelabrator facility had been doing, reduces the overall amount. And as cities like Chesapeake weigh the restoration of city recycling services, Bagley said an all-in-one solution, such as a single-stream, mixed waste sorting facility, could be the future.

The authority is undergoing a bidding process to select a new vendor that could process, recycle, reuse and/or dispose of 100% of the region’s waste.

The waste-to-energy facility will be demolished, Bagley said, and the land will be returned to the Navy. As part of a negotiation on an early termination fee in the contract with WIN Waste, SPSA will receive $5.2 million and convert the neighboring Refuse Derived Fuel plant into Portsmouth’s first transfer station. These kinds of plants process waste into small pieces that can act as “fuel” that can later be used for steam and electricity.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virigniamedia.com

Mayoral candidates include incumbent Michael Duman, who is facing challengers Clinton Jenkins and David Bosselman.

Three City Council seats are on the ballot. Nansemond Borough incumbent Lue Ward is running unopposed. Sleepy Hole Borough incumbent Roger Fawcett will face Ebony Wright. Finally, Whaleyville incumbent LeOtis Williams is running against Jason Wooldridge.

In Suffolk School Board races, Nansemond Borough candidates include James Shores and Valerie Fields. Incumbent Judith Brooks-Buck is not seeking reelection. In Sleepy Hole, incumbent Heather Howell is facing Carly Bosco. Lastly, in Whaleyville, candidates Sean McGee, Jonathan Rankin and Thelma Hinton will face off after incumbent Phyllis Byrum chose not to seek reelection.

Suffolk operates a nonpartisan borough system, where the city is divided into seven voting boroughs and each borough’s residents vote for City Council and School Board seats.

Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com

This year’s theme is “Shell-ebrating Suffolk’s Roots, From Our Hearts to Our Boots.” Suffolk first celebrated its peanut-growing heritage in 1941 with a parade, dances and balls and coronation of a queen. About 10,000 people turned out for the first event. Today’s four-day festival draws more than 125,000 people.

Headlining the main stage this year will be country singer Easton Corbin, along with performances by the Deloreans, Celeste Kellogg, Snackbar Jones, Vinyl Radio, Luke Willette Band, Shades of Gray, Mash Up & Cozy Condition and Island Boy.

Returning festival favorites include a peanut butter sculpting contest, carnival and amusement rides, fireworks, a demolition derby, a touch-a-truck exhibit and a petting zoo.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 1. General admission is $10 per person, with children 12 and under free.

For more information about Suffolk Peanut Fest and associated concerts, events and games, see suffolkpeanutfest.com.

James “Danny” Buie was appointed to the job by City Manager Albert S. Moor II and will begin his new position on July 8, according to a news release. Buie has been serving as interim chief since October, when Chief Alfred “Al” Chandler retired from the force.

The city said it conducted a nationwide search and sought community feedback and internal input from the department during the search.

Buie has risen through the ranks and served in many positions since being hired in 1996, including as a field training officer, special investigations narcotics investigator and leader of the neighborhood enforcement team, the uniform patrol and special operations divisions and the Sector II precinct, the city said. He was promoted to deputy chief of criminal investigations in 2017.

Buie also has obtained numerous qualifications during his tenure, including primary hostage negotiator, SWAT team leader and commander, gang specialist, firearms and active threat instructor and new officer leadership trainer. He’s a graduate of West Point Leadership Center School, the Professional Executive Leadership School and the FBI National Academy.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com

Suffolk police sought 27-year-old Khalil McGlone, of Suffolk, for his alleged role in the shooting death of 26-year-old Darrell Lamont Knight Jr. of Suffolk. McGlone was arrested Wednesday morning with the assistance of Portsmouth police, according to a new release.

The other suspect in this case, Amir Rassein Knight, 24, of Suffolk turned himself in on June 4.

Police responded about 6:38 p.m. May 9 to a report of shots fired in the 1300 block of Blythewood Lane. Officers found Darrell Lamont Knight Jr. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

McGlone and Amir Knight are charged with one felony count each of attempted malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

Concerts this summer at Constant’s Wharf Park & Marina, 100. E. Constance Road, include Nashville Nights on June 21, Vinyl Headlights on June 28 and the Original Rhondels on July 12.

Festivities begin at 6 p.m. and the band will perform from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to all ages. Food trucks will be on-site for purchase and beer will be available for those over 21 years old with proper identification. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket for seating.

The fun continues with four additional concerts at Bennett’s Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road, including the Deloreans on July 26, Roberta Lea on Aug. 2, Slap Nation on Aug. 9 and Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos on Aug. 16