December Newsletter

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

Local Election Results

Congratulations to the winners of the City Council and School Board Elections:

•     Mayor Rick W. West
•     City Council Member S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter
•     City Council Member-elect Les Smith, Jr.
•     City Council Member-elect Patricia Y. "Pat" King

•     School Board Member Angie B. Swygert
•     School Board Member Norman G. Pool
•     School Board Member-elect Malia L. Huddle
•     School Board Member-elect Elijah Colon

2025 General Assembly

The League of Conservation Voters will be hosting a General Assembly Preview on Saturday, December 7 from 9 am to Noon. This is an opportunity to hear from statewide environmental experts about anticipated environmental legislation to be considered in Richmond next year.  You can tune in online or join a Regional Watch Party (breakfast included!) at LRNow in Virginia Beach. In-person attendees will be able to network with other local community members and advocacy leaders during breakout conversations on how state level policy impacts decisions at the local level and how to make an impact! Registration required; $20 suggested ticket price to support cover the event cost but LRNow is offering Free promo code - "VCNVB2024" - General Assembly Preview | Virginia Conservation Network

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be hosting its own General Assembly Preview Webinar on Wednesday, December 18 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.   Register at Virginia General Assembly Preview - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

And the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be organizing a Clean Water Lobby Day on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.  This is an opportunity to join other advocates to go to Richmond and meet with your Delegate and/or Senator to speak up for environmental issues important to you.  CBF is providing a charter bus with pickup/drop-off locations in Norfolk and Newport News this year, so you don’t have to worry about driving and parking in Richmond.  They will hold a Zoom call the week before so you know the issues and what to expect. They will even make the appointment with your elected officials so that you will be grouped with others in your area. During the meetings, you can speak or support others. Fact sheets will be provided to leave with the legislator, so you don’t have to memorize all the details. Topics CBF is focusing on include microplastics, environmental justice, environmental education, wetlands, and oysters.  You can of course bring up your own priorities in the meeting.   Lunch will be provided. You just need to get up early and bring your passion for clean water!  Sign up at Virginia Clean Water Lobby Day - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Trails and Connectivity Plan

The City Council approved the proposed Trails and Connectivity Plan at its meeting on November 19.  When asked, the Planning staff described the plan as "aspirational".  The Plan documents that the current active transportation network is disjointed and lacks accessibility, public transit options are often limited, and many open spaces, parks, recreational - and institutional - destinations can be difficult to reach on foot or by bicycle today.  Throughout the review process, the City's Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee expressed concerns that the Plan does not define how projects will prioritized.  With the approved plan not providing a clear roadmap forward, continued advocacy on a project by project, street by street, basis will be needed.

Planning Commission Updates 

In November, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the following.  These should go before City Council in December:

• Yadkin Road Battery Energy Storage Facility which will clear about 6 acres of forest
• Steel Street Shipping Container Storage Conditional Use Permit - 11 acre site was being used as junk car storage, no significant tree impact.  Looks like site is already being used for shipping containers but needs to get Conditional Use Permit.  Note says this parcel is in CBPA.
• An accelerated proffer modification request for The Commons site at northeast corner of Grassfield Parkway and Cahoon Parkway to change from Mixed Use Development to Apartments; site is already completely clear-cut for development.  

In December, the Planning Commission will consider the following projects of interest:

• Homestead Pet Crematorium that would have a net loss of about 0.6 acres of tree canopy
• Tow Yard in Camelot that should not impact existing tree canopy.

City Council Updates

In October, the City Council approved 

• LS GreenLink USA, Inc. submarine power transmission cables manufacturing at the old Chesapeake Deep Water Terminal next to St. Juliens Annex.  

Green Drinks Chesapeake - Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Our next Green Drinks meeting will not be until Wednesday, January 29.  

What is Green Drinks?  Green Drinks is mostly for people working on environmental issues, but anyone can come -- people from environmental groups, businesses, 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. 

Action Alerts

• Chesapeake residents in the Elizabeth River watershed can receive a free native tree from the Elizabeth River Project.  Limit one tree per home; homeowners are responsible for planting and providing proof of planting within 30 days. Free Tree Program - Elizabeth River Project
•  Due 12/6: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting public comments on the proposed regulatory framework to help solar developers avoid impacts to our state's prime agricultural and forest lands. This work come out of HB206 passed by the Virginia General Assembly during the 2022 session.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has an action alert to help you make comments at Support Responsible Solar Development in Virginia!  You can find the full text of the proposed regulations at the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Stage
• Leave Your Leaves.  Decomposing leaves provide a natural mulch for your yard.  You can simply mulch mow them into small pieces on your lawn where they will act as a natural fertilizer.  Leaves also provides essential habitat for a variety of beneficial insects and other wildlife.
  
  
  
  
  

Volunteer Opportunities

• Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism: 2024 Volunteering Opportunities - Park and Facility Planning Division (signupgenius.com)
• Friends of Indian River: December Newsletter and Events including Adopt-A-Park/Invasive Species Removal at Indian River Park

In the News

• Massive tower set to be Virginia’s tallest building gets height exception from Chesapeake council – The Virginian-Pilot (pilotonline.com)
• Coastal Virginia could lose a majority of its wetlands to sea level rise. Can we save them? (whro.org) 
• Housing costs are holding Hampton Roads’ economy back, ODU report says (whro.org) - "The primary recommendation from the report is for city and county governments to permit higher density development"
• Newport News votes to eliminate all minimum parking requirements
• Why an update to one of Suffolk’s planning documents has stretched on for more than 2 years
• Hampton leaders want to use nature to engineer against climate change

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