August Newsletter

 View this newsletter online at http://www.greeningchesapeake.com/

Green Drinks Chesapeake - Wednesday, August 28

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, August 28, 6 pm to 8 pm at YNot Italian in Greenbrier.  A topic of conversation will be the Greenbrier Area Plan.

What is Green Drinks?  Green Drinks is mostly for people working on environmental issues, but anyone can come -- people from environment groups, business, government, academia, and as individuals. There is no 'us and them'. Green Drinks is a chance to mingle, share insights, inspire and delight each other. Come out and order some food or a drink (each participant pays for their own drinks and food; if drinking, please do so responsibly!) and join the conversation. Please do share the invite with others who may be interested. 

August Planning Commission Meeting 

There are three projects of interest going to Planning Commision on August 14: 

• 
  LS GreenLink USA, Inc. submarine power transmission cables manufacturing at the Chesapeake Deep Water Terminal next to St. Juliens Annex.  This includes a 600' tall structure related to the manufacture of these cables. 
• The draft Chesapeake Trails and Connectivity Plan (see below for more details)
• 5 MW Solar Farm on Long Ridge Road.  Site is farm field;  project would add about 2.5 acres of landscaped buffer.
• Church on Battlefield across from Water Treatment Plant.  22 of 25 acres is wooded, but plan does not impact those woods.  Should add some landscaped buffer around new structures
  
  

Trails and Connectivity Plan

The draft Chesapeake Trails and Connectivity Plan is going to the Planning Commission for review on Wed, Aug 14.  The Plan offers a great opportunity to layout a figurative and literal roadmap on improving walkability and connectivity in the City of Chesapeake, but this draft needs to go into more detail on how to realistically implement the proposed trail network and provide residents and visitors with tangible improvements in the near term, i.e. in the next 1 to 3 years, not just a vision for an undefined future date.  Learn more at Thoughts on Draft Chesapeake Trails and Connectivity Plan (greeningchesapeake.com).

If you wish to comment to the Planning Commission directly either by comment before the meeting, or in person at the meeting, please see Planning Commission | Chesapeake, VA (cityofchesapeake.net).   The full Draft of the Trails and Connectivity Plan can be found at Chesapeake Trails and Connectivity Plan | Chesapeake, VA (cityofchesapeake.net)

Connecting Chesapeake Study

Hampton Roads Transit has narrowed it study of options for high-capacity transit in Chesapeake to four routes, i.e. Tier 2 Alternatives.  These routes run from Summit Pointe or the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center to downtown Norfolk, two generally along Battlefield Blvd. and two going more to the east before eventually going across Indian River Road.  It briefed the City Council on these options at a Council Work Session on July 23.  The next step is to complete a next level technical feasibility analysis on these routes to present to the City Council.  Ultimately the City Council would need to agree to fund creation of these routes.  Interestingly, all these routes also follow routes identified as part of future Core Network of bicycle routes in the Trails and Connectivity Plan.  Co-existence of transit and bicycle paths will be an important factor to consider.  Learn more about the study a survey about these final four options plus which mode most appeals: express bus, bus rapid transit, or light rail at https://www.connectingchesapeake.com/

LS GreenLink USA, Inc. 

The Eizabeth River Project Technical Committee hosted a meeting at Paradise Creek with the developers of the proposed LS GreenLink facility in Chesapeake.  This project builds a $681 million facility along the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth to manufacture submarine power transmission cables for offshore wind projects.  The facility includes at 660' tall tower to manufacture the cables, which ultimately are many miles long. Customers would include projects up and down the east coast and in Europe.  The target is to be operational by 2027.  This is an industry to support green infrastructure and the company's representatives at the meeting seemed to genuinely be interested in making this facility a green facility.  It's obtaining tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act's green subsidies and plans to include 3 MW of rooftop and perhaps parking lot top solar.  Other asks from attendees at the meeting included minimizing loss of existing trees along the shoreline, planting pollinator/wildlife habitat the portion of the property reserved for future expansion, and following dark skies/bird safe lights out protocols, all of which they seemed amenable with.    The project application for a Conditional Use Permit to build the 660' tower will be at the Planning Commission on Wednesday, August 14.

70-story, $681M submarine cable plant planned for Chesapeake would be Virginia’s tallest building | WAVY.com

Oak Grove Lake Park 

At our last Green Drinks, Don B. told us how during PRT's Paddle Your Way | Chesapeake, VA (cityofchesapeake.net) events, he has been building a map of the depth of the lake - and telling us about some of the items and debris that are on the lake bottom.  Those who are curious can find his data on the social mapping tool C-MAP Genesis - Social Map (genesismaps.com); zoom to Oak Grove Lake Park. 

City Council Updates

In July, the City Council approved a resolution to authorize and direct the city attorney to petition the Circuit Court to call advisory referendums on "a proposed ordinance imposing a fee to establish a curbside recycling program." They also approved three development projects of note:  

• McGhee’s Concrete on Bainbridge Blvd.
• An apartment/condo complex at the south terminus of Kingsborough Square, i.e. behind the Food Lion off Battlefield where there was a plant rescue event a few months ago.  This would clear about 6 acres of woods, with only about 1.5 acres of trees replanted.
• A YMCA Athletic Field in Great Bridge just off the end of Etheridge Manor Blvd on a wooded lot with about 9.3 acres of trees; we'd lose at least 8 acres of trees.  

The biggest development project, Springton at Grassfield,  a 172.5 acre Planned Unit Development along Dominion Blvd, was Continued Indefinitely at the request of the applicant.  Future date at council is TBD. 

Coming up in August, among the development projects to be considered will be a Medium Density Residential project on Joliff Road putting 146 single family and town homes on 30.8 acres.  

More Upcoming Dates

• August 24 - The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will hold a self-paced Green Infrastructure Tour.  They invite you to explore at your leisure 10 beautiful examples of Green Infrastructure from 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, August 24. The tour is free, but you must register to receive a map of the locations.  Register at https://events.cbf.org/calendar/event/653

Action Alerts

• Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) is conducting a community-wide survey as part of development a new PRT Master Plan.  Take the survey at https://chesapeakeparksurvey.org/ 
  Learn more about the project at PRT Master Plan 2024 | Chesapeake, VA (cityofchesapeake.net)

In the News

• Chesapeake will ask voters about restoring curbside recycling (pilotonline.com)
• Dominion seeks approval for miles of Chesapeake transmission line replacement for offshore wind project – The Virginian-Pilot (pilotonline.com)
• Overall health of Chesapeake Bay gets best grade in more than 2 decades, annual report shows – The Virginian-Pilot (pilotonline.com)
• Chesapeake Coastal Virginia project receives $35 million in funding (pilotonline.com)
• Outer Banks Chamber supports the inclusion of the I-87 Corridor project in the 2050 Hampton Roads Long-Range Transportation Plan - OBX Today - Beach 104  (in Chesapeake, I-87 would be along Rt 17/Dominion Blvd to the Veterans Bridge)
• In 50 years, Hampton Roads could feel more like Louisiana, new climate map reveals – The Virginian-Pilot (pilotonline.com)
• Taking Stock 2024: US Energy and Emissions Outlook – Rhodium Group (rhg.com) - In 2023, US GHG emissions were 18% lower than they were in 2005 [and] on track to reduce its GHG emissions by 38-56% below 2005 levels in 2035. But they are not enough for the US to achieve its 2030 climate commitment under the Paris Agreement of a 50-52% reduction by 2030.
• Sunday (July 20) was the hottest day in recorded history | kgw.com

Stay on top of the latest news and join the conversation in our Facebook group at Greening Chesapeake (link corrected).