Virginia: Norfolk casino gets planning commission OK, with concerns over smoking

Thursday, September 26, 2024 7:30 PM
Photo:  HKS (courtesy)
  • WHRO radio

Norfolk’s Planning Commission has given a thumbs-up to the city’s long-awaited casino project, recommending the City Council give final approval to the development likely at a meeting in October.

But the backing didn’t come without questions.

Commission Chairman Kevin Murphy asked why the plan allowed for indoor smoking and the sale of tobacco products, noting that indoor smoking bans are in effect for virtually all other Norfolk businesses.

“I was very disappointed to see you were planning to allow smoking when the previous operator had agreed not to allow smoking in the casino, and that was a great way to distinguish the Norfolk casino as a non-smoking casino,” Murphy said.