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March Newsletter

 

Green Drinks Chesapeake - Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Our next Green Drinks meeting will be on Wednesday, March 26, 6 pm, at YNot Italian in Greenbrier. Our guest speaker is Dennis Bagley, Executive Director of the Southeastern Public Services Authority (SPSA) which is responsible for our regional waste management programs including the regional landfill.  Mr. Bagley will be discussing the Alternative Waste Disposal options being examined to divert trash from ending up in the landfill.   SPSA has been leading a multi-year effort to solicit proposals for such alternatives that is moving toward a conclusion.

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.

CEIC Environmental Awards

The CEIC is seeking nominations for its annual Environmental Awards Program.  Chesapeake businesses, groups, and individuals may be nominated in categories for Business & Industry, Community & Communications, Community Organization - Adult, Community Organization - Youth, Educational Institution, Government Agency, and Innovation in Recycling, Reducing and Repurposing.  Submit nominations at Form Center • Environmental Awards Nomination

Tree Canopy Losses in Chesapeake

There is a new tool developed through a collaboration between the Arbor Day Foundation, PlanIT Geo, and the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program. that shows the percentage of tree canopy cover and canopy cover changes over time for all urban areas in the United States. The tool is available down to the Census Block level.

Unfortunately, it documents what we already know, we're seeing a steady loss in tree canopy in Chesapeake.  Digging into the data, it looks like we lost over 700 acres of tree canopy between 2018 and 2023 in the urban census blocks of Chesapeake, reducing the overall tree canopy cover in this area from 35% to 33.8%.   

More resources, data and information will be added to the website in 2025, including a downloadable National Baseline Canopy Assessment Report detailing the state of tree canopy in urban areas across the country and in-depth reporting on the impact of strategic investments in trees in cities nationwide.

Overview: https://hub.treesatwork.org/          Mapping Tool: https://treecanopy.us/

Images shown here are snapshots of the current (2023) tree canopy cover and change in canopy cover since 2018 in the urban areas of Chesapeake.  Highlighted Census Block is in Greenbrier.




General Assembly Updates

The 2025 General Assembly Session wrapped up in February and the ball now moves to the Governor's court to see which bills he signs, vetoes, or recommends amendments to. A couple of the bills that passed address tree canopy loss. See our post on some of the environmental related bills of local interest that passed the General Assembly this session, pending signature from the Governor at General Assembly Update 

City Planning Updates

The Planning Department is working to finalize a draft of the Greenbrier Area Plan for presentation to the Planning Commission and City Council later this Spring.  They have scheduled a Community Meeting for Monday, March 24, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Greenbrier Middle School.  They will also open a Public Comment Period from March 12 through April 9th with a formal Public Hearing targeted for the summer.  Get all the details at Greenbrier Area Plan | Chesapeake, VA

The Indian River Design Guidelines are scheduled to be presented to the Planning Commission at their March 12 meeting - Meeting Agendas & Videos | Chesapeake, VA.  After reviewing and commenting on the latest draft, the Friends of Indian River are supporting approval of the document.  They found the document to be very positive and, especially for the Indian River Road corridor describing a path to transforming the community to a more pedestrian-friendly shopping street with landscaping, trees for shade, and sidewalks.  The Guidelines support efforts to implement urgently needed pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements along Indian River Road and Military Highway. It also adopts Dark Sky and Bird Safe lighting and window standards.

The word is that a draft of the City's updated Comprehensive Plan document will come out around the summer, but there is no formal announcement yet.  Community Meetings for the Deep Creek Area Plan should be starting up in the spring.  Learn more about the City's Planning efforts at Planning Department | Chesapeake, VA

The next Advisory Committee meeting for the Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism Master Plan is still pending.  

Planning Commission Updates 

Several projects of interest are at Planning Commission in March - Meeting Agendas & Videos | Chesapeake, VA:
  • PLN-REZ-2024-003 Southern Chesapeake, Single Family Home, loss of about 0.8 acres
  • PLN-REZ-2024-016 Great Bridge, Multi-family Residential on 21 acres of 31 acre parcel.  Preserves existing forested area.  Adds landscape buffer.  Plan drawings of 12/18/24 show street trees; these are missing in 1/9/25 drawings, Net canopy gain of about 2 acres with street trees (?)
  • PLN-USE-2024-033 South Norfolk, southeast corner of the Battlefield Boulevard North and Robert Hall Boulevard intersection. Fueling Station (“gas station”), loss of about 2.5 acres of tree canopy
  • PLN-USE-2024-052 Great Bridge, 1217 Cedar Road, Oil Change Facility.  Adds more landscaping, for about 0.2 acre gain in canopy
  • PLN-USE-2024-056 Southern Chesapeake, 657 Johnson St., Contractor Office and Gravel Storage.  Preserves existing woods.  Add more landscaping, for about 0.1 acre gain in canopy

City Council Updates

At the City Council in March is 

  • PLN-USE-2024-031 Homestead Pet Crematorium would have a net loss of about 0.6 acres of tree canopy.  Planning Commission recommended Denial 8-1.  Continued from the February City Council meeting.
The agendas are not posted yet, but at the February 25 meeting, there was discussion that the City Council would get a briefing on the SPSA Alternative Waste Disposal options at their March 11 Work Session.  Also, the Budget season will kick off with a budget presentation by the City Manager in late March.  The Connecting Chesapeake presentation did not happen at the February 25 Works Session and there is still no word for when it will be rescheduled.  

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
  • The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has set up a reporting tool to report of an Invasive Species to their office. Invasive species that VDACS monitors include Imported Fire Ant, Spotted Lanternfly, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Box Tree Moth, Northern Giant Hornet (aka 'Asian Giant Hornet'), Yellow-Legged Hornet, and Tier 1 Noxious Weeds.  Report an Invasive Species
  • Did you miss the Story of Plastic movie at the Naro in February?  This 4-minute animated short hits many of the key takeaways from the movie. The Story of Plastic (Animated Short)
Upcoming Events
  • 2025 Virginia Marine Debris Summit - co-hosted by Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and Clean Virginia Waterways. This 3-day event will focus on solutions to measurably reduce plastic pollution from entering Virginia’s freshwater and tidal rivers, estuaries, wetlands, beaches, and ocean. Cost: Registration is only $55 for students and $95 for individuals.  March 18-20th, 2025 at Norfolk Botanical Gardens.
  • Climate Lecture Series Featuring Senator Tim Kaine - Chesapeake Bay Foundation - Join CBF at Slover Library for the kickoff of the Brock Climate Lecture Series, featuring Senator Tim Kaine, as he discusses 'Climate Change: Keeping Our Community Safe and Prosperous.' They will also be joined by Hilary Harp Falk, President & CEO of CBF. Registration is required at the link above.  Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 6:30PM - 7:30PM
  • The South Hampton Roads Master Gardeners are hosting the Green Thumb Gardening Series 2025 at Green Acres Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth on Tuesday evenings from March 11 to April 8.  Topics include Veggie & Herb Companions - Harmonious Collaboration, Small Space Greenhouses,  “Natural Garden Treatments” ~ Fact or Fiction?, Seven Principles for Sustainable Landscaping, and Spice up your life with Herbs! $25 for the 5-week series. Green Thumb Gardening Series 2025 Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Volunteer Opportunities

In the News

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



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