DATE: Wednesday, May 28, 1997               TAG: 9705280476

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   62 lines

YESTERDAY:

NSU EXPANSION: Norfolk State University on Tuesday received approval of zoning and land-use changes from the City Council that opens the door for expansion plans on 25 acres south of the campus. See Page B4.

MAYOR ELECT? The City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution creating a 15-member study commission to examine whether Norfolk should have a popularly elected mayor. Former Congressman G. William Whitehurst will chair the commission. The council approved $10,000 for the commission to use to hire consultants, travel and buy office supplies. VIRGINIA BEACH

PUSHING THE BALL: The proposed PGA-caliber golf course and multi-purpose/soccer stadium to be built on the Lake Ridge property that now houses the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater cleared their final council hurdle Tuesday. The council voted to rezone the property and grant use permits for the facilities. See Page B5. X-ED OUT: Just weeks after ESPN's traveling X-Games took the sport to new area heights, the city outlawed all skateboarding from Pacific Avenue to the Ocean and made the ban year-round. See Page B1.

SEATING SETTLEMENT: Virginia Beach and Cellar Door Venues Inc. agreed to modify handicapped seating arrangements at the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater, which will settle a lawsuit filed by the Endependence Center last fall. See Page B1. CHESAPEAKE

LUXURY TAX BREAK: The tax on corporate airplanes and jets was dropped dramatically Tuesday at the request of the city's municipal airport. The aim: to lure at least two and maybe more high-paying corporate outfits to Chesapeake.See Page B7.

THE WAGES OF FOOD AND REST: The Department of Economic Development was given $325,000 by the City Council Tuesday to put towards the new conference center. The money was raised from the city's meal and hotel taxes, which were increased by the Council last year to partially fund the conference center project. See Page B7.

BATTLEFIELD BUCKS: The council approved $5.11 million to allow the design of an alternate route for Va. Route 168 to go ahead as scheduled. The city is in the midst of working out an agreement with a private builder to construct the project. PORTSMOUTH

TWO IF BY SEA: A water taxi service can be started at 10 Crawford Parkway thanks to a resolution passed by the city council on Tuesday. The taxis will be operated by Water Taxi Inc.

MAKING SPACE: The City Council approved the transfer of a parcel of land in the PortCentre Commerce Park to the Portsmouth Industrial Development Authority for the construction of an office building. The building will be used to help attract businesses to the city and will will be owned by Armada Hoffler, a Chesapeake-based development company, and leased to the city using fees from tenants.

REGIONAL PAYOFF: The City Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the Hampton Roads Partnership to carry out its Regional Competitiveness Program. The vote will help enable the area to apply for $6 million in state funds earmarked for cities that work together with their regional neighbors.

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