Greening Chesapeake: 2026

October Newsletter

In this edition ● Elections 2026 ● Data Center Ordinance and Policy ● Ospreys in Trouble ● Urban Forestry ● Chesapeake Sustainability Network ● Upcoming Events ● Planning Commission ● City Council ● Green Drinks ● Action Alerts ● Volunteer Opportunities ● In the News ● Follow us on Facebook

Sign to our Keep Chesapeake Communities Safe from Data Centers letter.

City Council Candidate Questionnaire: Topics included data centers, trees, affordable housing, open space, flooding, alternative transportation, government transparency, and more.

Topics of Interest

Data Center Policy

Chesapeake Comp Plan

Greenbrier Area Plan

Streetscape rendering from Plan

General Assembly 2026

Urban Forestry

Bike & Ped Facilities

October Newsletter

Elections 2026

Elections Matter! While every year is an election year in Virginia, this November's midterms will certainly be critical for the future of our nation and our environment. The election will decide control of the US Congress and how it holds the administration accountable.

Locally, the majority of the City Council and School Board are up for election. The outcome may decide how Chesapeake regulates data centers and whether we take new steps to protect our city's tree canopy and natural areas. The Chesapeake Sustainability Network sent a survey to each of the asking candidates about their positions on key environmental issues important to citizens of Chesapeake. You can see their responses to our questions at https://www.greeningchesapeake.com/2026/08/city-council-candidate-questionaire-2026.html.

Also on the ballot are three Virginia Constitution Amendments regarding core rights for Virginians. The Chesapeake Sustainability Network Steering Committee, in alignment with the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, supports voting Yes on Question 3, restoring the right to vote to people convicted of felonies upon their release from incarceration.

Early voting is underway at the Voter Registrar's Office at 411 Cedar Road and will expand to several libraries between October 19 and October 31. The last day to register to vote is October 23, although you can do same day registration and vote a provisional ballot if you need to. Get more info on how and where to vote from the Voter Registrar's Office at https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1155/In-Person-Early-Voting-Absentee-By-Mail-. You can find the sample ballot at https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1055/Sample-Ballot

We urge you to get out and vote!

Data Center Ordinance and Policy

The Planning Department has completed its Open Houses but is still taking public input via its Online Survey until October 30. We urge everyone to take the survey and let the Planning Department know your thoughts. You can find some key points to make in our information flier.

We also have a letter detailing key recommendations that we plan to send to the City Council, Planning Commission, and City Manager. We encourage you to sign on at Keep Chesapeake Communities Safe from Data Centers.

The final regulations on setbacks, noise, water and power usage, landscaping, and lighting will ultimately decide where and how data centers can be built in the City. Strong setback and noise restrictions will help keep data centers away from communities. These regulations will also set key rules, such as noise, water and sewer connections, backup generator usage, decommissioning, and enforcement, including in the Coastal Virginia Commerce Park where data centers are still permitted "By-Right" due to the previously approved PUD zoning.

The moratorium implemented by the City Council expires in February. The Planning Department is planning to report back what it heard from the public at a City Council Work Session, which we expect in November. A revised ordinance could come back to the City Council as early as December, so we need to be ready to act. Sign on to our Keep Chesapeake Communities Safe from Data Centers letter, and we will keep you informed of next steps!

Ospreys in Trouble

Our colleagues at the Cape Henry Audubon Society and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation have shared information on the dire situation for ospreys across the Chesapeake Bay region. Ospreys in the saltier parts of the bay had the worst breeding year on record, with nesting pairs only successfully raising 0.25 chicks per nest on average. Baby ospreys were literally starving in the nests because parents could not find enough fish for them to eat. Ospreys need to raise about 0.8 to 1.3 chicks per year to keep the population stable. In tidal freshwater regions, ospreys did do better, raising just over 1.0 chicks per nest.

Among environmental groups, there is great concern that the declining populations of menhaden fish are destabilizing the entire food web in the Bay. Menhaden are a forage fish that are key parts of the diet of ospreys, eagles, striped bass, otters, and many other species that make the Chesapeake Bay home. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is currently reviewing options that include reducing the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50%. The ASMFC is taking public comment through October 9. We encourage everyone to sign on the Audubon action alert at https://act.audubon.org/a/menhaden-osprey-2026

Urban Forestry

Everyone loves trees. On September 26, the city held its Chesapeake Celebrates Trees event at the Arboretum to recognize 40 years as a Tree City USA. Yet despite these commitments, between 2014 and 2021, the city saw a net loss of 832 acres of trees.

Everyone knows we need to do better. In 2022, the City hired an Urban Forester who has focused on tree care and planted many hundreds of trees across municipal properties. The Tree Board, part of the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council, continues to seek new ways to educate communities about the many benefits of trees. The City is currently reviewing bids to hire consultants to develop an Urban Forestry Master Plan.

Meanwhile, development pressures result in continued losses. In many ways, the City's options are limited by state laws that set strict limits on how many trees the City can require developers to restore post-construction - maximums as low as 10% tree canopy for commercial development, 15% for multi-family development, and 20% for single-family development. The General Assembly did increase this maximum to 30% for low-density single-family development, but the City has not yet adopted this increased limit.

We intend to advocate for the 30% tree restoration requirement for low-density development. We also hope the Urban Forestry Master Plan will set strong goals for growing more trees in Chesapeake. And we expect more action on trees in the General Assembly in January. Stay tuned for information.

In the meantime, if you want to get your hands dirty, come out and help Parks, Recreation and Tourism plant new trees at Bells Mill Park, Edinburgh Park, and Sawyer's Mill Park and/or help manage invasive plants that threaten existing trees.

Chesapeake Sustainability Network

The next Chesapeake Sustainability Network planning call will be on Thursday, October 8, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to discuss our local efforts. We'll use Google Meet - see the e-mailed newsletter for the link or reach out to us at greeningchesapeake@gmail.com

The agenda will include Data Center next steps, Legislative priorities, and the calendar for the rest of the year.

Upcoming Events

VOTE! Now through November 3 for US Congress, Chesapeake City Council, Chesapeake School Board, and 3 Virginia Constitutional Amendments. See details above.
Saturday, October 3 - Chesapeake Recycles Day @ Greenbrier Sentara College of Health Sciences,1441 Crossways Blvd, 9 am - Noon -
Thursday, October 15 - CBF Learning Series: The Changing Chesapeake: Impacts of a Warming Bay - Chesapeake Bay Foundation @ Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, 6 pm
Wednesday, October 28 - Green Drinks - Come join the conversation. We will discuss the latest happenings in Chesapeake and next steps on data centers. 6 pm, location TBD.
Saturday, November 7 - Chesapeake Recycles Day @ Tidewater Community College - Chesapeake Campus, 9 am - Noon -
Wednesday, November 11 - CBF Learning Series: Powering Virginia's Clean Energy Future - Chesapeake Bay Foundation @ Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, 6 pm

Planning Commission

Some agenda items of interest for the Planning Commission on October 14 include:

PLN-REZ-2025-020 Great Bridge East side of Battlefield Boulevard South, between Hessian Loop and Henry Jefferson Way. Rezoning to build single-family residential on 8.4 acres. Current tree canopy is about 0.5 acres. Potential tree canopy increase of about 1 acre.
PLN-REZ-2025-022 in Great Bridge at 1412 Mount Pleasant Rd. Rezoning to build Single Family Residential on 16.4 acres. Current tree canopy is 3.2 acres. Potential tree canopy gain after reforestation: +0.3 acres.
PLN-REZ-2025-023 in Deep Creek at 4168 S. Military Hwy for a Towing and Storage facility on a 42-acre property. About 20 acres are forested wetland, with additional trees in the upland area. Wetland areas are not being developed; about 16 acres are being rezoned C-1 Conservation; and the remaining 4 acres would be M-2 Industrial. The plan does include new perimeter plantings. Overall, it appears to be minimal tree canopy impact.

Find the full agenda at Planning Commission Agenda

To submit comments to the Planning Commission online, visit https://cityofchesapeake.jotform.com/210536857544057

City Council

Some agenda items of interest at the City Council in October:

PLN-USE-2025-009 in South Norfolk at 2651 S. Military Highway, along the waterfront. Requests a conditional use permit to utilize the site for concrete crushing and recycling and requests a height exception for 170-foot-tall silos and tanks. The parcel is 46 acres, including 20 acres of tree canopy; potential tree canopy loss of 8.0 acres. Note that this site is about 320' from Reunion townhouse community (on the other side of the railroad tracks). Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-USE-2025-049 in Deep Creek at 1500 Steel Street, along the waterfront. A conditional use permit to allow container stacking on a 54-acre parcel. Current tree canopy is about 7 acres; ~0 acres lost; site plan keeps existing buffers. Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-REZ-2025-013 in Southern Chesapeake at 2728 Battlefield Blvd. S. Rezone 13.6 acres to Light Industrial for a concrete company and associated equipment and storage. Currently about 8 acres of trees. No significant impact to tree canopy; add perimeter buffer. Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-REZ-2026-003 in South Norfolk at 1328 22nd St. & 906 B St. Rezone 0.3 acres to Urban Business District for outdoor storage for a contractor business. No significant tree canopy. Site plan adds shrubs around the perimeter. Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-USE-2026-015 in Southern Chesapeake at 1004 W. Saint Brides Rd. A conditional use permit to operate a meeting and banquet hall and an alternative parking surface on an 88-acre property. Current tree canopy is 6.4 acres. 0 acres of tree canopy are disturbed in the site plan. Planning Commission recommended Denial.
PLN-USE-2026-017 in Rivercrest at 1652 Debaun Ave. (at Battlefield/I-64 Interchange). Conditional Use for 4-story self-storage facility on 6.2-acre property. About 0.9 acres of tree canopy. ~0 acres of additional tree canopy loss; being built on already cleared land. Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-USE-CT-2026-003 in Southern Chesapeake in Heritage Park, at 244 Saint Brides Rd. W. A Conditional use permit to construct an approximately 199-foot-tall communications tower on a 140-acre property. Existing tree canopy is 68 acres. Loss of about 0.4 acres of tree canopy for an access road to an existing clearing in the woods. Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-TXT-2026-002 - Ordinance Change due to State Code Updates. Modify requirements for wireless facilities including temporary support structures, by-right locations for manufactured housing, off-street parking requirements and administrative reductions of parking spaces, development of residential uses on property owned by certain tax-exempt organizations, and small lot residential districts. Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-TXT-2026-003 - Ordinance Change due to State Code Updates. Modify local regulation of solar and battery energy storage facilities. Planning Commission recommended Approval.
PLN-COMP-2026-003 - Comp Plan Change due to State Code Updates. Modify local regulation of solar and battery energy storage facilities. Planning Commission recommended Approval.

At September City Council meetings:

PLN-REZ-2026-001 in Rivercrest at 727 Wickford Dr., 853 & 845 Great Bridge Blvd. - Build Multifamily Residential. Currently 2.2 acres of tree canopy. Loss of about 1 acre of tree canopy in the plan. Approved by City Council

City Council meeting details are posted to the City Council agenda page.

Green Drinks

Our next Green Drinks Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 28 at 6 pm. Location TBA.

Action Alerts

Healthy Landscapes: 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

Volunteer Opportunities

Saturday, October 3 - Tree Planting @ Bells Mill Park, 9 am - 11 am
Friends of Indian River Volunteer Opportunities
Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council Volunteer Opportunities
Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism volunteer opportunities

In the News

Follow us on Facebook

We're working to increase our reach to improve our advocacy. Please help by going to our Chesapeake Sustainability Network page, following us, and inviting your friends to follow us too.

September Newsletter

In this edition ● Data Center Ordinance and Policy ● City Council Candidate Questionnaire ● Virginia Bottle Bill ● Bird Safe Hampton Roads ● 2026 Legislative Scorecard ● Chesapeake Sustainability Network ● Upcoming Events ● Planning Commission ● City Council ● Green Drinks ● Action Alerts ● Volunteer Opportunities ● In the News ● Follow us on Facebook

Data Center Ordinance and Policy

As part of the coalition of organizations concerned about data centers, we successfully got the City Council to adopt a clean, interim Data Center Ordinance on August 18th. We filled the City Council chambers. 39 people spoke in opposition to the original draft Ordinance, and almost that many more were in the room in opposition who did not speak. The Council likely received dozens, if not hundreds, more e-mails and calls in opposition. The Council heard loud and clear the overwhelming concern and opposition to large-scale data center development in the City. We thank Amanda Newins for offering alternative ordinance wording that closed the By-Right Loophole, removed the Fentress Overlay from consideration for data centers by Conditional Use, and tabled the remaining criteria, such as noise limits and setbacks, for further public input. The Council also asked Staff to request an opinion from the State Attorney General on whether a locality can effectively ban data centers. The adopted August 18 version of the interim ordinance can be found at Data Center Ordinance and Policy | Chesapeake, VA

But our work is not done yet. The policy decisions for setbacks, noise, water consumption, landscaping, etc. still need to be finalized. Even the victory on the Fentress Overlay comes with the caveat that properties anywhere in the City could still apply to be rezoned as M-1 or M-2 industrial zones and concurrently apply for a Conditional Use Permit to build a data center. Similarly, the only barrier to building data centers By-Right in the Coastal Virginia Commerce Park PUD adjacent to the Great Dismal Swamp is the lack of power, water, sewer, and other infrastructure.

The final regulations on setbacks, noise, water and power usage, landscaping, lighting, and decommissioning will ultimately decide where and how data centers can be built in the City. We will be working on a detailed position paper on these issues and we encourage you to stay involved and look out for additional action alerts.

In the near-term, the Planning Department is holding three open houses in September to collect public input, each from 5 pm to 7 pm:

Tuesday, September 1, Great Bridge Primary School, 408 Cedar Road
Monday, September 14, Indian River Community Center, 2250 Old Greenbrier Road
Wednesday, September 30, Camelot Community Center, 948 King Arthur Drive

The moratorium implemented by the City Council expires in February, but we expect the Planning Department will probably work to bring a revised ordinance back to the City Council before then, likely after the November election.

Learn more about the City's proposed policy and the various concerns, including opening up the Fentress overlay to data center development, permitted noise levels, setback distances from residential properties, plans for decommissioning defunct data centers, and efficiency standards.

City Council Candidate Questionnaire

This November's election includes many crucial votes, including for the US House and Senate, and pivotal Virginia Constitutional Amendments. Locally, the Chesapeake City Council and School Board each have 5 seats up for election. Early, in-person voting starts on September 18th.

There are 15 candidates, including 3 incumbents, running for the 5 City Council seats. The Chesapeake Sustainability Network sent a survey to each of the candidates asking their positions on key environmental issues important to citizens of Chesapeake. Topics included data centers, trees, affordable housing, open space, flooding, alternative transportation, government transparency, and more. As of the writing of this newsletter, we thank the candidates who have responded (in the order received): Ozan Duran, Dr. George Yacus, Santiera Brown-Yearling, Jennifer Naperala, Dr. Janelle St Louis, Amanda Newins, and Daniel Rosinski.

You can see their responses to our questions at https://www.greeningchesapeake.com/2026/08/city-council-candidate-questionaire-2026.html

Virginia Bottle Bill

Jaimi McPeek, Legislative Director for the Virginia Bottle Bill Organization, spoke at our last Green Drinks meeting about their efforts to implement a deposit system for beverage bottles and cans in Virginia. In such a system, you pay a deposit on each bottle or can you buy. When you return your empty can/bottle to the store or special redemption center, you get the deposit back. Ten other states, covering about 1/3rd of the US population, now have such programs.

Having a bottle bill would significantly reduce litter; plastic and glass bottles, cans, and bottle tops make up 5 to the 10 most littered items - and probably the majority of items by volume. According to research by Clean Virginia Waterways, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans are approximately two and a half times more frequently littered in Virginia than in states with bottle bills. Reducing this pollution source will make our streets, parks, and waterways cleaner, reduce cleanup costs, and reduce the amount of microplastic entering the ecosystem as plastic bottles degrade.

A bottle bill also improves recycling efficiency because these containers are not contaminated or lost in single-stream waste collection systems. It would even save us money as taxpayers in reduced tipping fees for city trash sent to SPSA for processing and disposal.

Learn more at The Virginia Bottle Bill Organization

Bird Safe Hampton Roads

The fall "Lights Out" campaign is officially underway in Hampton Roads. As part of this voluntary program, the Cape Henry Audubon Society and its partners urge property managers, businesses, tenants, government agencies, and residents to help prevent nighttime bird collisions with buildings by turning off and/or blocking as many external and internal building lights at workplaces as possible at night to help prevent injury and death of migrating birds, especially from 11 pm to sunrise.

During migration, birds rest during the day and fly at night. During their long-distance flights, birds become disoriented by the bright, artificial lights of cities and are drawn into hazardous urban areas, where building collisions are a leading human cause of bird deaths, killing around 1 billion birds each year. Learn how you can help at Bird Safe Hampton Roads.

2026 Legislative Scorecard

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters has published its 2026 Legislative Scorecard. See how your senator or delegate voted on environmental issues in this year's General Assembly at VALCV

Chesapeake Sustainability Network

The next Chesapeake Sustainability Network planning call will be on Thursday, September 3, 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to discuss our local efforts. We'll use Google Meet - see the e-mailed newsletter for the link or reach out to us at greeningchesapeake@gmail.com

The agenda will include Data Center next steps, support for Virginia Bottle Bill legislation, partnering with Bird Safe Hampton Roads, EcoFest planning, and more.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 12, 10 am - 3 pm, EcoFest @ Russell Memorial Library.

Various organizations and vendors will be tabling, including the Chesapeake Sustainability Network. There will be educational workshops, hands-on activities, and a live band performing from noon to 3:00 p.m. There will also be a screening of the film "We're All Plastic People Now" at 1 pm.

Saturday, September 26, 12 - 4 pm, Chesapeake Celebrates Trees @ Chesapeake Arboretum

Chesapeake celebrates 40 years as a Tree City USA. The event will include Arbor Day Ceremonies, tree climbing demonstrations, interactive butterfly exhibit, forest bathing, tree trail tours, a food truck, giveaways, and more.

Planning Commission

Some agenda items of interest for the Planning Commission on September 9 include:

PLN-USE-2025-009 in South Norfolk at 2651 S. Military Highway, along the waterfront. Requests a conditional use permit to utilize the site for concrete crushing and recycling and requests a height exception for 170-foot-tall silos and tanks. The parcel is 46 acres, including 20 acres of tree canopy; potential tree canopy loss of 8.0 acres. Note that this site is about 320' from Reunion townhouse community (on the other side of the railroad tracks). Continued from July meeting.
PLN-USE-2025-049 in Deep Creek at 1500 Steel Street, along waterfront. A conditional use permit to allow container stacking on a 54-acre parcel. Current tree canopy is about 7 acres; ~0 acres lost; site plan keeps existing buffers. Continued from June.
PLN-REZ-2025-013 in Southern Chesapeake at 2728 Battlefield Blvd. S. Rezone 13.6 acres to Light Industrial for a concrete company and associated equipment and storage. Currently about 8 acres of trees. No significant impact to tree canopy; add perimeter buffer.
PLN-REZ-2026-003 in South Norfolk at 1328 22nd St. & 906 B St. Rezone 0.3 acres to Urban Business District for outdoor storage for a contractor business. No significant tree canopy. Site plan adds shrubs around perimeter.
PLN-USE-2026-015 in Southern Chesapeake at 1004 W. Saint Brides Rd. A conditional use permit to operate a meeting and banquet hall and an alternative parking surface on an 88-acre property. Current tree canopy is 6.4 acres. 0 acres of tree canopy are disturbed in the site plan.
PLN-USE-2026-017 in Rivercrest at 1652 Debaun Ave. (at Battlefield/I-64 Interchange). Conditional Use for 4-story self-storage facility on 6.2-acre property. About 0.9 acres of tree canopy. ~0 acres of additional tree canopy loss; being built on already cleared land.
PLN-USE-CT-2026-003 in Southern Chesapeake in Heritage Park, at 244 Saint Brides Rd. W. A Conditional use permit to construct an approximately 199-foot-tall communications tower on a 140-acre property. Existing tree canopy is 68 acres. Loss of about 0.4 acres of tree canopy for an access road to an existing clearing in the woods.
PLN-TXT-2026-002 - Ordinance Change due to State Code Updates. Modify requirements for wireless facilities including temporary support structures, by-right locations for manufactured housing, off-street parking requirements and administrative reductions of parking spaces, development of residential uses on property owned by certain tax-exempt organizations, and small lot residential districts.
PLN-TXT-2026-003 - Ordinance Change due to State Code Updates. Modify local regulation of solar and battery energy storage facilities.
PLN-COMP-2026-003 - Comp Plan Change due to State Code Updates. Modify local regulation of solar and battery energy storage. facilities.

Find the full agenda at Planning Commission Agenda

To submit comments to the Planning Commission online, visit https://cityofchesapeake.jotform.com/210536857544057

City Council

Some agenda items of interest at the City Council in September:

PLN-REZ-2025-010 in Grassfield at 2113, 2117, & 2115 Grassfield Rd & a portion of 860 West Rd - Builds Senior Housing on a 9.6-acre lot. Currently about 6 acres of trees. Loss of about 4.5 acres in the plan. Planning Commission recommends Denial
PLN-REZ-2026-001 in Rivercrest at 727 Wickford Dr., 853 & 845 Great Bridge Blvd. - Build Multifamily Residential. Currently 2.2 acres of tree canopy. Loss of about 1 acre of tree canopy in the plan. Planning Commission recommends Approval.

At August City Council meetings

PLN-REZ-2025-015 in Great Bridge at 1401 Battlefield Blvd S, Great Hope Baptist Church. Requests rezoning but with no definitive site plan. Earlier site plan showed addition of 486 parking spaces, accessory buildings, and ball fields to existing church. Current tree canopy is approximately 0 acres; no new landscaping shown in initial site plan. Withdrawn by Applicant
PLN-REZ-2025-021 in Western Branch at the western terminus of Woodland Drive. Builds Low Density Residential - 22 lots, minimum 8000 sq. ft. Currently 10.5 acres of tree canopy. Loss of about 7 acres in the plan. Sets aside a riparian buffer in CBPA. Approved by City Council
Data Center Ordinance - see above for details.

City Council meeting details are posted to the City Council agenda page.

Green Drinks

Our next Green Drinks Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 30 at 6 pm. Location TBA.

Action Alerts

Federal Budget: Urge Congress to do the right thing and uphold environmental funding for the Chesapeake Bay restoration. The administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget slashes critical funding to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Park Service (NPS). Contact your congressional representatives now - https://cbf.quorum.us/campaign/trumpbudget/
Federal Budget: Oysters: Ask Congress to Keep the Chesapeake Bay’s Oyster Sanctuaries Protected. The U.S. House Appropriations Committee recently passed a Fiscal Year 2027 funding bill for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that includes two harmful provisions (Sec. 586 and 587). One would open up protected oyster sanctuaries to commercial fishing; the other would cut off restoration funds for oyster sanctuaries most in need of investment. Contact your congressional representatives now - https://cbf.quorum.us/campaign/noaafunding/
Healthy Landscapes: 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

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to learn more about the environmental issues impacting the Chesapeake Bay watershed and ongoing restoration efforts? The next Chesapeake Bay Foundation Chesapeake Stewards (VoiCeS) class, a highly recommended multi-week adult education course, will be held in Portsmouth (near Camelot) from September 15 to October 20. Learn more and Register
Friends of Indian River Volunteer Opportunities
Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council Volunteer Opportunities

In the News

Chesapeake moves to restrict data center development, Virginia Beach presses pause - WHRO
EPA plans to make it harder to provide public input on data centers- The Virginian-Pilot
The Mid-Atlantic's electric grid operator is taking steps to rein in data center demand - WHRO
$689M manufacturing complex planned near Dollar Tree HQ in Chesapeake - WAVY
Dominion-NextEra merger could mean higher rates in the long run, experts tell Virginia lawmakers - The Virginian-Pilot
Could a Dominion-NextEra marriage be bad news for rooftop solar? - WHRO
Virginia Beach City Council to oppose seabed mining off Eastern Shore- The Virginian-Pilot

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We're working to increase our reach to improve our advocacy. Please help by going to our Chesapeake Sustainability Network page, following us, and inviting your friends to follow us too.

Candidate Survey Respones - Daniel Rosinski

1. Considering data center ordinance changes under consideration in Chesapeake, what policies would you support regarding the siting of data centers and the management of associated impacts, such as setbacks, noise, pollution, water use, energy demand, backup generators, environmental impacts, and infrastructure costs?

Answer: Per my petition signature, on Council I will oppose data centers anywhere in Chesapeake. When I served at the Navy Yard, my wife and daughter and I lived in Prince William County which (with others in Northern Virginia) went “all in” on large-scale data centers, and now seriously regrets the noise pollution and resource draws on neighborhoods. As an attorney, I appreciate that Council appears to have abandoned one of the premises it used to justify the proposed “conditional use” ordinance for data centers, which would have allowed them in important parts of rural Chesapeake like Fentress. This was its claim that a complete ban would violate the “Dillon Rule” limits on local government powers in Virginia, notwithstanding prior bans by local governments on environmentally harmful practices like fracking. Particularly where Council was not prepared to accept the reduced maximum daytime and nighttime decibel levels and increased setback requirements proposed by the Planning Commission, I oppose the “conditional use” approach. Even if those issues were addressed, the uncertainty over fossil fuel backup generator testing and usage (from which we have seen massive disruptions to the electrical grid and pollution) and the potential excessive draws on public water systems while we deal with droughts, lead me to favor a ban/oppose any conditional use.

2. How would you promote making more clean energy available to residents, businesses, and institutions in Chesapeake? What is your position on siting of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and utility scale solar? What do you believe the City can do to promote rooftop, balcony, and parking lot solar?

Answer: Because Washington D.C. cancelled incentives which made renewable energy more accessible to residents, businesses, and institutions, and tried to stop renewable projects like the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, on Council I would use available powers to increase the percentage of on-the-grid renewables available to our residents. I spoke at Planning Commission on 6/10/2026 in support of the proposed BESS, because it would provide residents power generated from renewables in periods of high demand without use of polluting “peaker” plants. I heard the concerns of Hickory residents, and support citing the BESS elsewhere in Chesapeake. I believe we can follow our General Assembly authorizing rooftop/balcony solar, by encouraging parking lot solar in rezoning proffers, while maintaining tree canopy requirements.

3. Between 2014 and 2021, the City had a net loss of over 800 acres of trees, largely to development. What polices will you support to protect tree canopy during development? Would you support increasing the tree canopy requirement on site plans for low-density single-family home development?

Answer: Yes, I would support increasing the tree canopy requirement (as authorized by recent General Assembly legislation) because trees not only reduces apparent temperatures by up to 10 degrees with shade, but also provide flood control through water absorption. To improve tree canopy, I would also support requiring additional proffers in business rezoning applications to increase the tree canopy, so that we end up with more trees in new development projects (as we should see with the approved Costco development).

4. Our region faces a significant shortage of housing that is affordable to people earning the area median income or less. How would you promote building more housing in communities that maintains a high quality of life and a healthy and livable environment?

Answer: We need 15,000 new homes including affordable multifamily housing, and we are not on track. Though we must avoid overdevelopment and maintain agriculture in Chesapeake, I would use our rezoning authorities to ensure that such developments adopt features seen in the Knick’s Reserve and Stillwater communities, including sidewalks, gardens, and community events spaces, along with multifamily housing. This will ensure that we are adding complete neighborhoods which prioritize life and walkable design.

5. Chesapeake continues to experience flooding, sea level rise, and increasingly intense rainfall. What are your priorities for improving flood resilience to protect neighborhoods, businesses, and natural resources?

Answer: My priorities are to mitigate increased flooding risks by nurturing natural features and improving built ones. We should protect tree canopy and existing wetlands by requiring proffers to maintain or improve them in rezoning applications. rather than allowing the paving over or other destruction of wetlands, as the Viridian Reserve North development unfortunately allowed. We need to improve stormwater pipe capacity and replace slow-draining ditches to adapt to higher volume storms, and work to improve our community rating in federal assessments so we can obtain additional resources to buy out chronically flooded properties.

6. One of the top resident priorities is "Preservation of large areas of open space and forest.*" How should Chesapeake balance continued economic growth with the preservation of open space, forests, wetlands, farms and rural character? How would you expand the City's urban forestry and natural lands management, such planting and maintaining trees, managing invasive plants, maintaining natural trails, and training staff on best practices? * As reported in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Master Plan study.

Answer: We should reduce expanding built-up area and parkland in developments at the expense of natural forest, the opposite of the approach taken in Viridian Reserve North. Naturally forested areas can be a valuable buffer area to absorb stormwater, and though I support responsible development efforts for more housing, I also support using proffers to increase the portions of communities left in a more natural state.

7. Considering that many daily trips that people make are over short distances, often less than 1 or 2 miles, how would you work to make our streets safer and more connected for people walking, biking, and using mobility devices?

Answer: I would prioritize sidewalks, crosswalks, and measures like “HAWK signals” in areas like Military Highway, Portsmouth Boulevard and Campostella Road, where parents hesitate to even have their children walk to school. We need to review speed limits for pedestrian safety, improve bicycle safety in places like Indian River Road, put in wildlife crossing signs in areas like Greenbrier, and fix railroad crossings.

8. How would you improve access to public transportation in our City?

Answer: Many areas need better connectivity by sidewalks to closer bus stops. I support ensuring better bus access to locations like the Chesapeake CARES center off of Military Highway, so that there can be more effective usage of buses and HRT OnDemand services.

9. Considering the new 25-year contract the City signed with SPSA for combined single-bin trash and recycling collection, and considering the steadily increasing tipping fees (cost per ton collected) associated with the new contract, what steps should the City take to encourage residents, businesses, schools, and institutions to REDUCE the amount of solid waste put out for collection?

Answer: While it should increase recycling participation and diversion of otherwise unusable recyclables, single bin collection is not a complete solution. There are residents in housing not using City waste services, so the City needs to improve on recycling centers that have often been overloaded and unsightly in the past.

10. Would you support implementing a 5¢ fee on plastic bags to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags and to fund local environmental cleanup, litter and pollution mitigation, or environmental education efforts, and/or to provide reusable bags to recipients of SNAP or WIC benefits? Why or why not?

Answer: Because plastic bags themselves often seem to end up as pollution, I am supportive of pricing in the direct costs of cleaning them up into the product with a measure like this. Residents can avoid the costs entirely (unlike most of the dozen-odd taxes on property and services) by using reusable bags.

11. What steps would you take to improve transparency and public engagement in land use and development decisions?

Answer: Council needs to follow-through on Staff promises for more community meetings on topics like data center regulations. It also must stop arbitrarily reconsidering issues residents already took the time to speak against at Council, and manipulating speaker order to create the appearance of balance where there is none (as in the Virginia Natural Gas compressor station rezoning). Showing Council listens is key to encouraging citizens with an interest in their community to volunteer for those departments, boards, and commissions.

12. What other sustainability, environmental, or quality-of-life issue do you believe deserves greater attention? Please elaborate.

Answer: Council needs to look at overexpansion of hunting areas and unsafe target shooting in Southern Chesapeake. DWR supporting conversion of some former farms near homes into hunting areas raises safety and quality of life concerns. We should push back on these proposals and increase safety requirements.

Candidate Survey Responses - Amanda Newins

Answer: Chesapeake should not sacrifice our neighborhoods, rural communities, natural resources, water supply, or quality of life for unchecked industrial growth. I have been one of the strongest voices on Council pushing back against inappropriate data center development. Last year, I led the charge against a proposed data center on Centerville Turnpike that was positioned immediately adjacent to a residential neighborhood. I have also led the charge to prevent the expansion of data centers into rural Chesapeake, where these massive industrial facilities are fundamentally incompatible with our agricultural land, rural character, and surrounding communities.
More recently, I moved to eliminate data centers as a by-right use and establishing a moratorium while the City develops stronger standards. I have also asked for an opinion from the Virginia Attorney General to determine whether Chesapeake has the legal authority to ban data centers altogether, because our legal staff has advised Council that the City currently cannot do so. I believe we have an obligation to fully explore every legal option available to protect our residents.
Going forward, if we cannot ban data centers, they should be located only where they are compatible with surrounding land uses and where the developer, not existing residents, is responsible for the infrastructure costs created by the project. I support meaningful setbacks from homes, stronger noise and lighting standards, careful review of water consumption and groundwater impacts, requirements addressing air pollution and backup generators, and consideration of the demands placed on our electric grid and infrastructure. We need to take a comprehensive approach without sacrificing the quality of life, natural resources, and character that make our city special.

Answer: I support expanding access to reliable, affordable clean energy in ways that make sense for Chesapeake. We should encourage rooftop solar on homes and businesses, solar on appropriate parking facilities, and other projects that use already-developed land rather than unnecessarily converting productive farmland, forests, or open space.
I believe battery energy storage systems and utility-scale solar should be carefully and appropriately sited. I have opposed industrial uses such as large battery storage facilities when they are proposed too close to homes, schools, and established communities. Clean energy should not come at the expense of residents’ safety or quality of life.
For rooftop and parking-lot solar, Chesapeake can lead by making permitting straightforward, identifying appropriate public facilities and parking areas, and considering solar opportunities when constructing or renovating City facilities if cost efficient.

Answer: Chesapeake’s trees are an important part of our quality of life, helping manage stormwater, reduce heat, protect air and water quality, and preserve the character of our communities. Protecting tree canopy should be part of responsible development rather than something considered after the fact.
I would support stronger tree-preservation and replanting requirements where appropriate, particularly on large development projects, while recognizing that requirements need to be practical for individual homeowners as well. We should prioritize preserving mature trees and meaningful natural areas rather than simply replacing trees one-for-one after they are removed.

Answer: We can expand housing opportunities without abandoning the character that makes Chesapeake a desirable place to live. I support responsible growth that puts housing where existing roads, schools, utilities, public safety services, and other infrastructure can support it.
We should encourage appropriate infill and redevelopment and development that is close to existing services and employment centers when appropriate. At the same time, we should not solve a housing shortage by simply pushing development farther into rural areas, forests, wetlands, and agricultural land. Good planning means creating housing opportunities while protecting the infrastructure, open space, and quality of life residents depend on.

Answer: Flood resilience should be treated as both an infrastructure priority and an environmental priority. We need to continue investing in stormwater infrastructure, drainage improvements, culvert capacity, pump systems, and maintenance while making sure new development does not worsen flooding for existing neighborhoods. I also support protecting wetlands, forests, open space, and other natural areas that help absorb and manage stormwater.

Answer: Economic growth and environmental stewardship do not have to be competing goals. My approach is to make sure growth occurs in the right places and does not undermine the qualities that make Chesapeake special. Protecting our farms, forests, wetlands, waterways, and rural communities is protecting our quality of life.
Chesapeake should continue to use thoughtful land-use planning, open-space preservation, conservation tools, and infrastructure planning to direct development toward appropriate areas. We should also look for opportunities to expand tree planting, maintain existing City trees, control invasive species, preserve and improve natural trails, and train City staff in modern urban forestry and natural-land management practices. Our character is one of Chesapeake’s greatest assets.

Answer: I support a Chesapeake where residents can safely walk, bike, or use mobility devices when they choose to do so. That means continuing to invest in sidewalks, trails, crosswalks, lighting, safe crossings, and connections between neighborhoods, schools, parks, businesses, and other destinations.
Our Comprehensive Plan already recognizes the importance of sidewalks, infrastructure improvements, and connected communities. We should prioritize projects that close gaps in our existing network and make routes safer rather than simply building disconnected segments. Safety must remain the first consideration, particularly around schools and high-traffic roadways.

8. How would you improve access to public transportation in our City?

Answer: Public transportation should be convenient, reliable, safe, and connected to where people live and work. I would support continued coordination with regional transportation partners to identify opportunities to improve routes, frequency, and connections.

Answer: The best way to control long-term waste costs is to reduce the amount of waste we generate in the first place. The City should expand education about recycling and waste reduction and work with schools, businesses, and community organizations on practical programs that encourage reuse, composting where appropriate, and responsible disposal.
The City should measure the effectiveness of its waste-reduction efforts and look for opportunities to reduce costs while improving environmental outcomes.

Answer: No, I would not support a 5¢ tax or fee on plastic bags. I support the goal of reducing plastic waste, litter, and pollution, but I do not believe adding another cost to citizens, particularly families already struggling with the rising cost of living, is the best way to accomplish it.
Instead, I would support pursuing voluntary and incentive-based approaches that encourage reusable bags without placing an additional burden on residents. The City could partner with local businesses and community organizations to provide reusable bags, expand environmental education and litter-prevention programs, and encourage retailers to offer incentives or discounts for customers who bring reusable bags.
Protecting our environment is important, but we should find smarter solutions that change behavior and reduce waste without reaching further into the pockets of Chesapeake families.

11. What steps would you take to improve transparency and public engagement in land use and development decisions?

Answer: Residents deserve to understand what is being proposed in their neighborhoods, what the potential impacts are, and when they have an opportunity to be heard. I support earlier and more meaningful public engagement rather than waiting until a project reaches the final stages of the approval process.
The City should make development information easier to find and understand, provide clear explanations of proposed changes, and give residents adequate notice and meaningful opportunities to participate. Staff reports should clearly identify potential impacts on traffic, schools, utilities, public safety, water, stormwater, environmental resources, and surrounding neighborhoods.

12. What other sustainability, environmental, or quality-of-life issue do you believe deserves greater attention? Please elaborate.

Answer: I believe we need to place greater emphasis on the connection between quality of life, responsible development, and infrastructure capacity. Environmental protection is not separate from quality of life, it is a fundamental part of it.
That would mean protecting our waterways and drinking water, preserving forests and open space, reducing flooding, maintaining our rural character, and making sure development does not overwhelm roads, utilities, schools, or public safety services. It also means recognizing that once we lose a farm, mature forest, wetland, or natural area to
As a Council Member, I have focused on putting Chesapeake first and my most recent actions regarding data centers and industrial uses near residential communities reflect that approach. We can welcome investment and economic development while still insisting that growth be responsible, appropriately located, and compatible with the community.