DATE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997             TAG: 9704230452

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: PUBLIC LIFE 

                                            LENGTH:   55 lines

YESTERDAY

Portsmouth

TAX HIKE AVERTED: The city found funds in its budget to provide money the schools say they need without increasing the real estate tax rate by 2 cents per $100 as initially feared. See page

BETTER AIR: The City Council awarded a $112,850 contract to Z.B.Z. and Associates to modify the Churchland High School heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The changes are to improve the air quality in 11 classrooms and act as a pilot program for the entire building.

NO NURSING HOMES: The council decided not to allow residential care facilities within single-family home districts.

Chesapeake

TAX HIKE PRELUDE: The council approved amendments to ordinances allowing a number of new or increased fees and taxes. This sets the stage for formal approval later of the tax and fee increases, most of which would take effect July 1. See page

HIGHWAY LINGO: The council approved a resolution supporting the existing names of the local interstate highway system, with one exception: calling Virginia Route 44 Interstate 264 instead.

GROWTH TOOL SHARPENING: The council asked the Planning Commission to consider changing its local land-use policy to include rezonings for planned-unit developments. The policy denies projects that overburden area schools and roads. The council also asked the commission to consider broadening the policy to include the impact of other residentially zoned land with building plans that surrounds any proposed development. See page

Norfolk

TAXES AND SPENDING: There will be more bike cops to fight crime and drugs and a new city department designed to attack blight, if the city adopts its proposed $509.7 million budget for next year. The city will cover the cost of the Granby High School gym, a new Taylor Elementary School and renovations to Bay View Elementary. Real estate and property taxes will be unchanged, but some local fees and taxes would increase to cover the costs. See page

BOOK 'EM: Members of the Norfolk Library board presented petitions calling for increased spending to three members of the City Council in a meeting before the council's informal session. More than 2,300 people signed, asking that the city increase its support of the system to 1 percent of its budget - or an additional $1 million next year. The proposed city budget, however, calls for only $250,000 in new money for the libraries, but includes money to begin studying a possible new central library and funds for a flashy new bookmobile.

Virginia Beach

BUDGET SESSION: The City Council did not meet Tuesday. It will hold a budget workshop Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. to discuss funding for the schools and the public works and planning departments.

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