Architectural Review Board - Regular Meeting

February 23, 2026

DR #26-00369 – 1145 Bolling Avenue – upgrades to tennis courts at Larchmont Elementary School.

The applicant proposes the removal of the six existing courts, practice walls, and lighting at Larchmont Elementary School. Two new tennis courts, two new pickleball courts, and a new practice court with a hitting wall will be constructed as replacements. The overall court footprint will be reduced, resulting in a 54% decrease in impervious surface coverage. New concrete walkways will be added to provide access from the parking lot. These walks will run along the northern edge of the courts and partially along the western and eastern edges. A new black vinyl-coated chain-link fence will be installed around the perimeter of the recreation area. The new practice court with a hitting wall will be located on the eastern side of the facility. An acrylic panel, approximately 10 feet in height, will be attached along the southern fence line as the hitting wall. The City of Norfolk has standardized court colors to be consistent with the US Open colors: blue inner court and green outer court. Required Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) mitigation buffer plantings will be included in the project, and no trees will be removed. Additionally, U-shaped black bike racks will be installed as long the western edge of the courts.

COA #26-00368 – 812 Stockley Gardens – landscaping in the verge.

The applicant proposes removing the dead grass from the verge in front of the building and replanting a new ground cover. The area measures approximately 1 foot and 6 inches in width and 100 feet in length. The applicant proposes Japanese Pachysandra as the ground cover. While the guidelines do not specifically address landscaping within the verge, the proposed plantings will function as an extension of the existing landscaping in front of the building. The applicant states that the existing grass is struggling to grow due to the shade. The applicant proposes using Japanese Pachysandra as the ground cover. The garden beds in front of the building currently have monkey grass along the edges. The applicant intends to introduce Japanese Pachysandra to provide visual and textural contrast to the existing monkey grass. The proposed plant is suitable for partial to full shade. Given that the proposed planting area facing northwest and is exposed to afternoon sun, the selected plant may not be the most suited to the site conditions. However, the guidelines do not offer specific guidance on plant species selection. There are plantings in the verge north and south of Albemarle Court, including 815 Stockley Gardens and 916 Blow Street, that are not typical grass. Given the presence of other plantings in the verge than grass exist in the area and that the change in plant type will have no adverse effect on Albemarle Court or the larger district, Staff recommends approval of the application with the following condition: 1. If the Japanese Pachysandra does not survive in the proposed location, an alternative ground cover that is suitable for the site condition shall be installed.