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: Since our governing state statutes do not allow us to ban certain types of businesses and industry, the best we can do in our governance is to regulate limitations for the community’s best interest. I would try to ensure that the data center was located in a non-residential area, had appropriate setbacks , set a specific measurable noise level limit in decibels, ensure that the proposal included expected environmental pollution impacts to the community, would ensure that the site plan had adequate drainage and parking in accordance with city codes, and ensure that an engineering study would indicate that water and electrical usage would not adversely affect our community customers and result in an additional negative burden, either service-wise or economically. We can only develop as far as our infrastructure will support the development. I would also stress that the data center be CEEDA certified and have ISO 30134 certification.
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: As a former government federal employee from the office of Fossil Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy, I have a good knowledge of the energy sector and I am a firm supporter of multiple energy sources, including clean coal, natural gas, oil, hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, and solar. We are technologically finding new solutions to meet electric demand, so innovation is leading the way and I don’t know what new systems it will bring to the market. From a personal point of view demonstrating support for clean energy, I have solar hot water and solar PEV panels in my home, as well as a large battery bank, so I’m a believer. I don’t foresee any special subsidies from the city to fund personal clean energy in private homes, but I do endorse building codes and planning that supports these initiatives. Our codes have to be balanced to support new materials, better HVAC and lighting, and other initiatives while not burdening builders and buyers into only being allowed to build unaffordable homes. Federal programs like Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB), state initiatives, and industry initiatives are plentiful and supporting clean energy.
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: I can’t make a decision on this initiative at this time that would endorse this proposal, because it could be considered an overreach of government authority. I think we could partner and collaborate with developers to strongly encourage site planning to maintain or grow our tree canopy in developments.
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 have areas in the city where lower-income homes are more prevalent and available for sale. Generally, people that have bought properties and homes want to maximize the return on their investment, so I don’t believe that forcing them to build low-income homes would be fair, especially if it changes the character of the community to something different than what they and their neighbors bought. I believe that we have established communities with multi-family dwellings that are more affordable and will continue to do so. From a rental housing perspective, I own a recently refurbished 4 BR rental home in the city with Section 8 tenant that seems to be working out well, because it is managed by a rental agency, maintained by me, and supported with government funding. The tenants are integrated in a vibrant neighborhood instead of a city-owned project that would deteriorate over time.
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: I live on the water on Indian River and have not experienced a significant sea-level rise and I believe it is just a natural climate variation over time and the threat may be overstated. The best we can do is maintain storm-water systems to the best of our ability, ensure that builders install the required drainage (including required French drains where stipulated), and ensure that any new development be designed with adequate infrastructure to support our mid-Atlantic climate.
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: As a member of the city’s Citizen Advisory Committee for the Chesapeake Land Bank Authority, we do our best to repurpose blighted or unused properties for the good of the community. I think we have a good record of already doing the things mentioned in this question and will continue to do so. Blue Heron Park, a quarter of a mile from my home, is a good success story. Chesapeake is Virginia’s 2nd largest city and will continue to grow, so there needs to be a balance between development and preservation. We have a master plan to guide us and execute. With the proper oversight, we can maintain a healthy urban/rural balance. City Council members have some influence, but not overall control in this area.
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: Some of this is already occurring in our community and we have a good record of accomplishment. Indian River Road next to my house has reduced travel lanes from 3 to 2 and new bike paths have been instituted and marked just this month. I would like to continue to see sidewalks and bike-paths retrofitted where feasible in our city, and have developers include sidewalks in their site plans. I am a strong supporter of finishing the shoulders/sidewalks of Military Highway between Auburn Avenue and Greenbrier Parkway, which is a busy commercial corridor.
8. How would you improve access to public transportation in our City?
Answer: I will continue to support HRT and their programs to serve the community, possibly including point-to-point transport.
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: I personally somewhat favor curbside recycling in some form because it provides convenience for citizens that wish to recycle and promotes slightly better efficiency in recycling. It has been discontinued due to affordability for citizens and I support that decision. I endorse citizens voluntarily paying extra for curbside recycling if such a plan could be designed, and I will continue to recycle as I do now, bringing materials to the Indian River Library recycling site.
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: More fees for citizens to pay just makes it more difficult for them to afford the basics of housing, fuel, groceries, etc. so I don’t support the 5-cent fee. I believe that we have the necessary resources already in place through non-profits like yourself, school systems, and volunteers to clean up Chesapeake and mitigate litter. I would fully support a city campaign to focus on Adopt-A-Highway programs and other similar initiatives. Almost every morning I walk 4 miles and I regularly pick up bottles and trash between Lilac Avenue and the Indian River Shopping Center, disposing of many handfuls of trash each time. We can attempt to change our culture to stop people from littering our streets with limited success, but we need to mitigate their bad behavior by cleaning it up. When I don’t pick up the litter, it remains there for weeks. I don’t believe that this has a government solution, but the government is a stakeholder and partner.
11. What steps would you take to improve transparency and public engagement in land use and development decisions?
Answer: I would like to see current rules enforced. If a property is sold and a house is being built, there should be a posted building permit with a developer’s name on it. I am not sure, but I think that neighbors are supposed to be informed when a home is sold and a new building/demolition is to occur.
12. What other sustainability, environmental, or quality-of-life issue do you believe deserves greater attention? Please elaborate.
Answer: As co-chair of the Norfolk Highlands Civic League, the major complaints are neighborhood speeding, inadequate drainage, bad neighbors that don’t comply with parking or are running businesses out of their homes, and lack of responsiveness by the city. I can’t fix bad behavior as a city council member, but I can focus on city response to citizen requests so that we have a government that works for the people. I consider the city as a service provider, and the citizens as our customers. Customers want good services and good value at affordable prices. Ultimately, I believe in quality government that provides the best quality-of-life in this city at the best value.