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7/9/26, 2:57 PM City Council Regular Meeting - Dec 09 2025 - Midtown Community Center (570 McLawhorne Dr, Newport News, VA 23601) - Minute…
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ADOPTING A DESIGN CRITERIA MANUAL FOR
THE CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.
The City of Newport News Department of Engineering has developed a
comprehensive update to the Design Criteria Manual (DCM), which establishes
technical standards for all private and public development within the City. The
original manual was published in 1984 and last updated in 2005. Since the last
revision, engineering practices, building codes, and environmental regulations
have changed significantly, and the Department is taking proactive steps to
align its standards with current best practices, ensuring that both private and
public development can proceed efficiently, sustainably, and with greater
resilience to future challenges.
The revised DCM modernizes outdated standards to reflect current engineering
practices and technologies; aligns with updated regulations, including
stormwater permits, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and Virginia
Department of Transportation requirements; establishes clear, consistent
requirements for developers, engineers, and contractors; streamlines the
development review process by providing predictable expectations from the
outset; and supports long-term resilience by incorporating design strategies
that address changing climate conditions.
The Manual covers the major areas of development regulated by Engineering:
Stormwater Management: Updated criteria for detention, water quality,
and flood protection, and aligned with Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL) goals and climate resilience strategies.
Wastewater Systems: Improved standards for sewer design, pump
station reliability, and inflow/infiltration (I&I) reduction, including
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system integration.
Roads and Transportation: Updated roadway design standards that
incorporate pedestrian and bicycle safety, ADA accessibility, complete
streets principles, and traffic calming.
The Manual update benefits the City and the Development Community by
providing clear outlines of requirements, which reduces uncertainty and
rework; faster reviews through standardized criteria; improved infrastructure
resulting in safer, more resilient, and easier-to-maintain systems that will
benefit the entire community; regulatory standards which will ensure
compliance with state, federal other applicable standards; climate resilience
through infrastructure designed to withstand future climate conditions,
protecting both public and private investments; and support for quality growth
which encourages responsible private investment that aligns with City goals.
The City Manager recommends approval.
(No registered speakers)
Moved by Councilman Robert Coleman, seconded by Vice Mayor Curtis D.
Bethany III, approval of the resolution.
Carried by the following votes:
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