Coming up in December
Join the Chesapeake Sustainability Network for a call to plan next steps on improving sustainability in Chesapeake on Thursday, December 4. Read more about all these topics, as well as upcoming Planning Commission and City Council agendas, Election Results, Action Alerts, Upcoming Events, Volunteer Opportunities, and what's In the News in our full newsletter below. |
November Newsletter
In this edition ● Chesapeake Sustainability Network ● Master Transportation Plan ● Comp Plan - Next Steps ● Data Center Policy ● Single Stream Trash and Recycling Coming to Hampton Roads ● Planning Commission ● City Council ● Election Results ● Green Drinks ● Action Alerts ● Upcoming Events ● Volunteer Opportunities ● In the News
Chesapeake Sustainability Network
- December 3, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Greenbrier Library (1214 Volvo Pkwy.)
- December 8, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Major Hillard Library (824 Old George Washington Hwy. N.)
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The draft Chesapeake Comprehensive Plan will be presented to the City Council at a Work Session in December (either the 9th or 16th) before going for a final approval vote in January.
Several of the issues we raised in our comments letter were addressed in the current draft reviewed by the Planning Commission. However, several important recommendations were not addressed. A key area is educating and connecting residents, businesses, and institutions with conservation landscaping practices such as the use of native plants, creating pollinator gardens, rain gardens, and reducing erosion. Many local organizations are working on this today, and we need continued support from the City.
The Chesapeake Sustainability Network will be reaching out to the City Council members before the plan is presented to them at the Work Session.
Data Center Policy
James City County becomes latest locality to implement new rules for data centers governing location, water usage and energy consumption. Where still waiting for Chesapeake to introduce an Initiating Resolution to start work on such a policy for our City.
Single Stream Trash and Recycling Coming to Hampton Roads
The Southeastern Public Service Authority SPSA approved a 20-year contract with Commonwealth Sortation LLC to change how we collect trash and recyclables. Phased in over the next three years, all waste will be collected in a single bin and sent to Commonwealth Sortation facilities where AI and robotics will be used to remove recyclables and organics. This contract would guarantee a diversion rate of 50% with 20% of the waste to be sent for recycling and 30% of the waste (the organic material) to be processed by pyrolysis to create biochar. The biochar is to be used to make concrete and provide long-term carbon sequestration; selling carbon credits is part of the business model.
SPSA warned that not adopting the new system would result in all available landfill space will be consumed by 2060. All the SPSA contracted localities, including Chesapeake, approved a 25-year contract extension for the new scheme. The new contract does result in an increase in tipping fees, i.e. the cost per ton to dispose of the trash, but generally lower than the cost of having a separate blue bin collection. But, since Chesapeake already did away with blue bin collection, we're likely looking at a net increase in cost. Conversations at the City Council when they were approving the new agreement with SPSA indicated that the City would consider keeping drop-off point collection for cardboard only.
Another concern is how this will affect the overall perception of recycling and waste reduction. The mantra was always supposed to be REDUCE, then REUSE, then RECYCLE, with reduction of the original use of material and reuse being much more environmentally healthy than recycling. With all the waste going in one bin and "auto-magically" being processed, will that remove incentives for people to try and reduce waste? And while the contract specifies that at least 20% of the waste be diverted to be recycled, that doesn't guarantee how much will ultimately be reprocessed into new useful products vs. how much gets shipped to another facility and ultimately landfilled or burned.
Planning Commission
Zoning applications to Planning Commission in December 10 include:
- PLN-SUBV-2025-003 in Deep Creek to subdivide 3.2 acre lot into 2 lots for single family homes. Potential canopy loss about 1.5 acres when homes are built. (Continued from November)
- PLN-REZ-2025-008 in Great Bridge at Southern side of Hanbury Road West between Kingsbury Drive and Madison Lynn Way to build Low Density Residential. Potential canopy loss about 1.2 acres
- PLN-REZ-2025-014 in Western Branch at 5028 Portsmouth Blvd. to build Gas Station. Includes landscaping. Potential canopy loss of about 0.2 acres. More trees could possibly be planted toward stormwater BMP in back of property, but that is not in the landscaping plan.
Find the full agenda at Planning Commission Agenda
Approved at the Planning Commission in November and going to City Council in December
City Council
In November, the City Council approved:
PLN-REZ-2024-014 to rezone 18.8 acres from A-1 to R-10 for low density residential. Land is currently farm field, so there is a potential net increase of 3 acres of tree canopy if developed.
PLN-REZ-2024-001 in Grassfield seeks to rezone 43 acres from A-1 to Residential. Potential canopy loss about 3.4 acres.
PLN-REZ-2025-012 in Great Bridge seeks to rezone 5.5 acres from M-2 to Residential to build 2 homes. Most of property is wetlands in CBPA and protected. Potential canopy loss about 0.3 acres.
PLN-USE-2025-021 in Rivercrest asks for Conditional Use Permit for a Gas Station and Car Wash on Battlefield between Bypass Interchange and Great Bridge Blvd. Potential canopy loss about 0.1 acres.
PLN-USE-2025-024 in Southern Chesapeake asks for Conditional Use Permit for meeting and banquet hall with an alternative parking surface. No significant tree canopy impact.
Coming up at City Council in December of interest,
- PLN-USE-CT-2025-005 in Western Branch to build 199’ Communication Tower on City Property. Potential canopy loss about 0.2 acres
Elections Results
- Commonwealth's Attorney - Matt Hamel
- Commissioner of Revenue - Victoria Proffitt
- Sheriff - Wallace Chadwick III
- Treasurer - Corrie Kring
- School Board - Amanda Quillin
- HD 84 - Nadarius Clark
- HD 89 - Kacey Carnegie
- HD 90 - Jay Leftwich
- HD 91 - Cliff Hayes
- HD 92 - Bonita Anthony
- Sign a petition to let your elected officials know that you support a Bottle Bill for Virginia. Sign the Petition - The Bottle Bill Virginia
- Are you taking steps to help improve the Chesapeake environment with the landscaping in your yard? If you are, we would love to recognize your efforts and share tips on what more you can do. Sign up for our new Chesapeake Healthy Landscape program at https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1254/Chesapeake-Healthy-Landscape-Program
- 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
Upcoming Events
- The Master Transportation Plan community meetings (see details above)
- December 3, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Greenbrier Library (1214 Volvo Pkwy.)
- December 8, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Major Hillard Library (824 Old George Washington Hwy. N.)
- City Council Work Session on Comp Plan - TBD
- Virginia 2026 General Assembly Preview - hosted by Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Saturday, December 6th, 9 AM - 12 PM - https://app.glueup.com/event/general-assembly-preview-159463/
- Virginia 2026 General Assembly Preview Webinar - hosted by CBF - Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 6:30PM - 8:00PM. - https://www.cbf.org/events/va-2026-general-assembly-preview-webinar/
- Friends of Indian River Volunteer Opportunities
- Chesapeake Parks, Recreation, and Tourism has ongoing efforts for invasive species management and tree planting on multiple dates through 2026. Sign up at Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism: Volunteering Opportunities
In the News
- EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers - AP News
- Dominion Energy seeks its largest slate of solar and battery storage projects yet - WHRO
- Energy bills in Virginia could increase $1,100 annually by 2040, new report says - Virginia-Pilot
- Virginia could show how to manage data center growth. So far, it’s a case study in stalling legislation - Virginia Mercury
- To Weather the Growing Costs of Climate Disasters, Some States Are Getting Creative - Audubon Magazine
- In Virginia Beach, a renewed push for plastic bag fees - Virginian-Pilot
- First-of-its-kind offshore wind turbine vessel arrives in Hampton Roads - Virginian-Pilot