Our initial review of the document finds that the Draft Comprehensive Plan describes a strong vision for creating a high-quality future for the City that is proactive about developing necessary infrastructure, protects green and open space, works to connect people, and respects the unique character of different parts of the City. The policies presented adopt the principles of Smart Growth, focus on moving people on Complete Streets that provide safe access to all, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users, It includes good policies related to the environment, resilience, and supporting rural areas. The many good aspects of the plan need to be applauded.
We are still collecting feedback from the environmental community on the plan, but after a first reading, there are two key areas where the plan can be improved: creating healthy landscapes and planning for utility infrastructure.
Healthy
Landscapes
While
the document goes into detail on policies related to Wetlands and
Riparian Buffers, Tree Canopy, and Green Infrastructure, it often treats nature
as something to be found in "Environmentally Sensitive" areas of the
City and wildlife as something only found in "natural
areas" like the Great Dismal Swamp. The reality is
that nature and wildlife co-exist with people throughout the City.
In every part of the City, people will encounter birds and bees,
butterflies and dragonflies. Birds, squirrels, turtles, raccoons,
and a whole variety of creatures loved and sometimes underappreciated
live in our backyards and front yards, our trees, shrubs, and hedges, our
parks, and our stream buffers. Doug Tallamy's book
"Bringing Nature Home" highlights the critical importance of
implementing conservation landscaping across all our urban and suburban
areas.
Action: Tell
planning to include policies to support conservation landscaping practices
across all parts of our City in the Plan.
Infrastructure
The
draft Plan looks at Water and Sewer, Roads and Rail,
and even Broadband/Fiber Optics. It touches on Renewable
Energy. But it does not address the impact of energy transmission
infrastructure. Chesapeake has seen significant expansion of energy
infrastructure in recent years, including solar farms, gas pipelines
(e.g. the Southside Connector, Virginia Reliability
Project, Chesapeake Compressor
Station), electric transmission lines
(e.g. the connection from Coastal Virginia Offshore
Wind Project to Fentress Substation). This expansion of
infrastructure is expected to continue to support electrification of
vehicle charging and home heating, construction of data centers, Virginia
Commerce Park, etc. As shown with Southside Connector and
other projects, this can result in significant disruptions and concerns for
local communities.
Action: Tell Planning to include
policies to plan for the growth of energy
infrastructure to minimize these impacts on communities and
the environment. The policies should also encourage energy
efficiency in City buildings.
The draft Plan explains the requirements to use best management practices to both manage the quantity of stormwater runoff and reduce pollution and sediment carried in the runoff into our rivers and bays. It discusses the benefits of Green Infrastructure to address increasing rainfall and flooding using nature-based solutions like rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, trees and landscaping, and rainwater harvesting systems. But then it hedges on the concern that Green Infrastructure may be more expensive to maintain and ultimately includes a policy to "Encourage piped [grey infrastructure] stormwater management when reasonable to reduce stormwater maintenance requirements for the City." While purely Green Infrastructure may not be the right fit for every situation, the City must always incorporate best management practices to meet pollution control requirements and cannot just look at direct maintenance costs before "encouraging" the use of grey infrastructure.
Action:
Tell Planning that policies for Stormwater Infrastructure and Green
Infrastructure should consider the overall lifetime cost and indirect benefits
of different solutions.
The
document directly addresses Sea Level Rise (SLR) and adopts the HRPDC
recommendations to plan for 1.5-feet of SLR by 2050, • 3.0-feet of SLR
for 2050–2080, and 4.5-feet of SLR beyond the year 2080. One key
risk identified by the Department of Homeland Security is to the Northwest
River Water Treatment Plant. This water treatment plant provides the City
with up to 10 million gallons of clean water daily. However, sea level
rise threatens to make the Northwest River more salty as tidal waters push
further inland.
Action:
Tell Planning to include a policy to evaluate the impact of sea level rise on
the Northwest River Water Treatment Plan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detailed Recommendations
Below are detailed comments on the whole plan that can be the foundation for formal comments from the CEIC and other. It is divided into three parts: Key Policy Recommendations, Other Suggested Edits and Corrections, and Positive Content in Draft
The opening pages of the document do a very good job of laying out the Guiding Principles (p. 10), Smart Growth (pp. 11-13), and defining Priorities (p. 24). These priorities are:
- Walkability, and specifically sidewalks
- Schools
- Balancing growth and infrastructure
- Protecting open space/green space
Something new for Chesapeake in the Plan is the
description of Character Districts (pp. 54-88) that describes a range of
appropriate uses in different types of communities that exist across the
City. The Character Districts defined
are Low Scale Neighborhoods, Medium Scale Neighborhoods, Urban Mixed Use,
Neighborhood Centers, Community Regional Commercial, Employment Centers,
Production & Processing, Regional Parks, Rural, Fentress Overlay, and
Conservation. Tree Canopy and Stormwater
characteristics are two aspects included in the description of each character
district. A map of how parts of the City are designated under these character
districts is on p. 58.
Key Policy Recommendations
Healthy Landscapes
While the document goes into detail on policies
related to Wetlands and Riparian Buffers, Tree Canopy, and Green
Infrastructure, it often treats nature as something to be found in
"Environmentally Sensitive" areas of the City and wildlife as
something only found in "natural areas" like the Great Dismal
Swamp. The reality is that nature and
wildlife co-exist with people throughout the City. In every part of the City, people will
encounter birds and bees, butterflies and dragonflies. Birds, squirrels, turtles, raccoons, and a
whole variety of creatures loved and sometimes underappreciated live in our
backyards and front yards, our trees, shrubs, and hedges, our parks, and our
stream buffers. Doug Tallamy's book
"Bringing Nature Home" highlights the critical importance of
implementing conservation landscaping across all our urban and suburban areas. The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement
Council, the Virginia Dare Soil and Water Conservation District, Elizabeth
River Project, Chesapeake Master Gardeners, AskHRGreen, Virginia Native Plant
Society, Butterfly Society, Friends of Indian River, Cape Henry Audubon
Society, and other local and regional groups all work to promote and encourage
these practices These practices also
support a variety of local business including native plant-focused nurseries,
landscapers certified in conservation landscaping practices, shoreline
restoration contractors.
pp. 145-149 Environment and Resilience
– Tree Canopy
Modify section title to “Tree Canopy and
Conservation Landscaping”.
Alternatively, these could go into the following sections which could be
renamed “Conservation Landscaping and Wildlife”
Add
Text to define Conservation Landscaping, which involves gardening
and landscape design that supports creating a healthy and sustainable
environment. It involves using native
plants, reducing stormwater runoff and erosion, protecting shorelines and
wetlands, minimizing the use of chemicals, and creating habitats that support
wildlife such as birds, butterflies, bees, turtles, and other
wildlife. There is a preference to using plant species native to
the coastal Virginia region as they best support insect populations that are
the foundation of the natural food web. Native plants are critical to
sustaining biodiversity. Native plants also provide a unique sense of
place since they reflect the original landscape of the region. These practices
are encouraged across all character districts in the City, including private
residential and commercial properties, municipal and public spaces, employment
centers, etc.
ADD
Policy: Connect residents, businesses, and
institutions with resources implement best practices such as conservation
landscaping , rain gardens, permeable pavement, living shorelines and rain
water harvesting. [ source: SWCD https://vaswcd.org/vcap/ ]
ADD
Policy: Educate
residents and officials about importance of protecting wetlands and riparian
areas for providing flood protection, water quality improvement, and ecosystem
enhancement. [source -
2035 Comp Plan https://resources.cityofchesapeake.net/comp-plan-2035/#page=67 ]
The Tree policies should be directed
not just at residential homeowners, but all residents, businesses, and
institutions such as churches, schools, and hospitals.
EDIT
Policy under TREES: ENV 40: Connect homeowners residents,
businesses, and institutions to existing resources on tree
care and maintenance, and work with neighborhood groups to support their local
tree canopy goals.
In 2025, the Commonwealth passed
legislation allowing localities to adopt an ordinance establishing a tree
canopy fund. Section F of the same
Ordinance states that “Any such tree canopy bank shall be within the locality
and located as closely as feasible to where the development project is
situated.” Locating any tree planting as
close as possible to the affected development is important to make sure the
trees provide benefits to the users and residents of the development and the
surrounding community.
EDIT
Policy under TREES: ENV 38: Adopt an ordinance establishing a tree canopy fund
for the purposes of collecting fees from developers that cannot provide their
canopy requirements on site and using them to plant trees elsewhere in
the City located
as closely as feasible to where the development project is
situated. [. Source –
Virginia State Code https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074280.PDF ,
section F.]
Carry over policy to identify areas of city owned land that can be set aside for tree preservation from the current 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
Add Policy under
TREES: Identify
areas of city owned land that can be set aside for tree preservation.[source - Comp Plan 2035 https://resources.cityofchesapeake.net/comp-plan-2035/#page=78 , PRT Master Plan
briefing https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/DocumentCenter/View/24939/City-Council-Presentation-- page 8 ]
p. 149 Wildlife
- the draft states that “most
residents do not regularly interact with the animals that roam Chesapeake’s
natural areas”. This takes a very narrow
view of wildlife. Section should recognize that wildlife
includes all kinds of birds, butterflies, bees, squirrels, box turtles, and all
varieties of small creatures that are found in our backyards, commercial and
municipal landscaping, parks, and even street trees. Many residents
routinely interact with wildlife through gardening, backyard bird feeders, and
bird watching. Fishing is another very popular activity that brings
residents in contact with wildlife. Residents also sometimes have
negative interactions resulting in human-wildlife conflicts, usually when wildlife
are attracted to human dwellings or trash. Conservation Landscaping (see
Key Policy Recommendations) is vitally important to support wildlife
biodiversity in Chesapeake.
Reducing yard waste ending up in
landfills is another critical process for our waste management efforts. SPSA reports that about 20% of solid waste
collected in the region is yard waste. [https://www.hrpdcva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4297/Regional-Solid-Waste-Management-Plan-for-Southeastern-Virginia-PDF?bidId=] The City needs to send thousands of truck
trips every year to collect yard waste, especially in the autumn, to collect
bags of leaves. A significant fraction
of this yard waste could be composted by residents and businesses on-site. Yard waste collected could also be composted
at scale and reused. The City should
adopt a policy to identify and encourage such strategies.
p. 151 Environment and Resilience – Solid Waste and Recycling
ADD
Policy under SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING: Identify strategies for encouraging
composting, reducing yard waste requiring collection, and repurposing yard
waste collected for compost. [source – Public Works https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1079/Tips-for-a-Clean-Chesapeake ]
Conservation practices are also
encouraged for the agricultural sector. Runoff from farmland is one of
the largest sources of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution for both
the Chesapeake Bay and the Southern Watersheds. TMDL Action Plans are in
effect to reduce these pollutants, and the Virginia Dare Soil and Water Conservation
District has cost-share programs to support farmers installing best management
practices to address the issue. Implementing these programs improves
water quality, including in the Northwest River, which supplies much of the
City with water. The practices reduce soil erosion and also provide
important wildlife habitat. Chesapeake can support these efforts, particularly
through the Chesapeake Extension Office.
ADD
Policy under Growth Management and Rural Areas RURAL
CHARACTER: Connect farmers cost-share programs to
implement best practices such as erosion control, streamside buffers, cover
crops, preserving wetlands, and nutrient management. [source: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/document/cs-flier.pdf ]
On p. 209, the draft plan has a graphic showing the difference
between Traditional Development and Cluster Development. Cluster
subdivisions are discussed in relation to the Rural Character in GMRA21 on p.
171. But cluster development can be effective in other character districts to
preserve natural spaces for community use. Cluster development can also
help preserve space for connections to adjacent communities and
facilities. A classic problem today is where all the interior perimeter
of a school faces private property with no connection to the subdivision street
network, turning what could be a hundred-yard walk for students into a several
mile drive. Perhaps state …
p. 203 Placemaking and
Design – Community Design
EDIT Policy
under Placemaking and Design COMMUNITY DESIGN: DES 3:
Developments should encourage cluster development to preserve natural spaces for
community use or conservation, whichever is appropriate, and support connections
between communities.
The City can also support conservation landscaping on municipal
properties and roadways, when practical.
It should also continue to adopt conservation mowing practices on
municipal and public lands where there is not a direct interface with the
people. The City has this policy in the
current 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
Continuing this policy can reduce mowing costs for the City, reduce
runoff and flooding, and create wildlife habitat. In the Solar Energy Policy, the City
identified and adopted conservation mowing guidelines that should be extended to
all conservation mowing areas.
pp.
213-214 Placemaking
and Design – Landscaping
ADD Policy Landscaping on municipal
properties and roadways should incorporate conservation landscaping practices,
such as the use of native plants, when practical [https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plant-southeast-virginia-natives].
ADD Policy - Adopt
conservation mowing practices that reduce/minimize mowing of public lands,
including expressway cloverleaves, school property, and park perimeters. [source
Comp Plan 2035 - https://resources.cityofchesapeake.net/comp-plan-2035/#page=83 , VDOT https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/about/programs/pollinator/ ]
ADD
Text - Where appropriate, establish no mow areas that of a
variety of native groundcovers, including warm season grasses, wildflowers, and
native plants that benefit birds, bees, pollinators and other insects.
[source
- https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/DocumentCenter/View/3291/City-of-Chesapeake-Solar-Energy-Policy-PDF?bidId= ]
Carry forward the policy from the 2035 Comprehensive Plan to
encourage farmers’ markets and community gardens. Most residents of the City still do not have
close access to such sources of healthy, local food. This is particularly difficult to residents who
do not have ready access to personal automobiles, who often also live in food
deserts.
p. 234 Quality of Life –
Healthy Communities
ADD
Policy: Encourage the establishment of farmers’ markets,
community gardens, to provide healthy, local food for the community and
support local farming economy. [source - Comp Plan 2035 https://resources.cityofchesapeake.net/comp-plan-2035/#page=59 ]
Energy Infrastructure
The draft Plan looks at Water and Sewer, Roads and
Rail, and even Broadband/Fiber Optics.
It touches on Renewable Energy.
But it does not address the impact of energy transmission infrastructure. Chesapeake has seen significant expansion of
energy infrastructure in recent years, including solar farms, gas pipelines
(e.g. the Southside Connector, Virginia Reliability Project, Chesapeake
Compressor Station), electric transmission lines (e.g. the connection from
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project to Fentress Substation). This expansion of infrastructure is expected
to continue to support electrification of vehicle charging and home heating,
construction of data centers, Virginia Commerce Park, etc. As shown with Southside Connector and other
projects, this can result in significant disruptions and concerns for local
communities about pollution and environmental justice. The City should plan ahead to minimize these
impacts.
p. 104 - Connectivity
and Infrastructure – Utility Planning
ADD
Policy: Proactively plan for expansion of energy
infrastructure including new electricity transmission lines, solar and wind
generation, battery storage, and gas pipelines to minimize disruption to
existing communities and environmentally sensitive areas.
Green Infrastructure
The draft Plan explains the requirements to use best management practices to both manage the quantity of stormwater runoff and reduce pollution and sediment carried in the runoff into our rivers and bays. It discusses the benefits of Green Infrastructure to address increasing rainfall and flooding using nature-based solutions like rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, trees and landscaping, and rainwater harvesting systems. But then it hedges on the concern that Green Infrastructure may be more expensive to maintain and ultimately includes a policy to "Encourage piped [grey infrastructure] stormwater management when reasonable to reduce stormwater maintenance requirements for the City." While purely Green Infrastructure may not be the right fit for every situation, the City must always incorporate best management practices to meet pollution control requirements and cannot just look at direct maintenance costs before "encouraging" the use of grey infrastructure.
pp. 135-138 Environment and Resilience – Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure
Edit
Policy: ENV 14: Design stormwater management facilities to provide
additional benefits beyond stormwater treatment and retention, such as water
quality improvement, wetlands
ecosystems, wildlife habitat and recreation. [Source: Virginia Stormwater
Management Handbook, https://www.deq.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/24429/638555908077330000
https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_topics/water/stormwater.aspx
]
Edit
Policy: ENV 15: Encourage Consider piped
stormwater management when reasonable to reduce stormwater maintenance
requirements for the City while complying with
best management practice requirements for pollution and sediment control. [Source: https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/overcoming-barriers-green-infrastructure ]
p. 213 - Placemaking and
Design Parking Lots
Edit Policy DES 37 Use
parking lots as an opportunity to create treed and vegetated areas, providing stormwater capture
and aggregating
required landscaping into usable space where plants can thrive, as opposed to only
building small parking islands.
Northwest River Water Treatment Plant
The document directly addresses Sea Level Rise (SLR)
and adopts the HRPDC recommendations to plan for 1.5-feet of SLR by 2050, 3.0-feet of SLR for 2050–2080, and 4.5-feet
of SLR beyond the year 2080. One key risk identified by the Department of
Homeland Security is to the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant. This water treatment plant provides the City
with up to 10 million gallons of clean water daily. However, sea level rise threatens to make the
Northwest River more salty as tidal waters push further inland.
pp. 139-142 Environment
and Resilience –Sea Level Rise and Flooding
ADD Policy under SEA LEVEL RISE AND
FLOODING: Evaluate impact of sea level rise on Northwest River
Water Treatment Plan [source – Dept. Homeland Security
https://www.amwa.net/assets/DHS_OCIA_Norfolk_Virginia_SLR.pdf , HRPDC
https://www.hrtpo.org/DocumentCenter/View/6737/Section-6---Statement-of-Need-PDF ]
Renewable Energy
The draft plan includes some strong Renewable
Energy policies. Energy efficiency for
city facilities should also be addressed, as it was in the 2035 Comp Plan. As the adage goes, a penny saved is a penny
earned. The City should also model
rooftop solar energy; construction of rooftop solar is less expensive than
parking lot solar and generally has less of an issue of being shaded by tree
canopy in and around parking lots. The
City should also encourage residential solar, shared solar, and community solar
programs.
Pp 152-153
Environment and Resilience – Renewable Energy
EDIT
Policy: ENV 48: Develop a City energy policy that includes energy
efficiency and renewable energy goals and
a mechanism for publicly reporting energy use. [source Comp Plan 2035 - https://resources.cityofchesapeake.net/comp-plan-2035/#page=77 ]
EDIT
Policy: ENV 50: Model renewable energy usage in the City by
proactively installing renewable energy on rooftops and throughout
public areas, such as solar panels in City parking lots.
ADD Policy: Encourage residential solar, shared
solar and community-scale solar [source -
https://energy.virginia.gov/renewable-energy/SS_CS.shtml]
Other Suggested Edits and Corrections
The following changes would make the document more
accurate and well-rounded, but are not changes to proposed Policies.
p. 56 Environmentally Sensitive Overlay Map
- add Indian River Park as Environmentally Sensitive area. All of the park is within the Chesapeake Bay
Preservation Area.
- add Oak Grove Lake Park as Environmentally Sensitive area as it includes
forested wetlands
p. 58 Character District Map
– the shade of green between Rural and Conservation districts cannot be
distinguished. Change the shade of green
for one of these Character Districts.
- add Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways Park,
and Great Bridge Locks Park as Regional Parks.
All three draw visitors from around the region to use its superb bike
path, kayak launches, museums, and historic sites.
p. 67 Neighborhood Center District
- Tree Canopy- also provide by “landscaped parking lot islands”
p. 73 Community/Regional Commercial District
- Public Transportation – add that “Internal sidewalks” should connect directly
with transit stops.”
- Tree Canopy – also provided by “developer required private landscaped areas
and buffers”
p. 76 Employment Center District
- Tree Canopy – also provided by “developer required private landscaped areas
and buffers”
p. 82 Rural Areas District
- Tree Canopy – also provided by “hedgerows, windbreaks, riparian and property
buffers”
p. 82 Fentress District
- Tree Canopy – also provided by “hedgerows, windbreaks, riparian and property
buffers”
p. 88 Conservation District
- draft states that “District is rarely activated
with people” and “Lands are minimally experienced by residents at minor access
points.” However the Conservation
District includes the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge which is open
to the public via the Portsmouth Ditch for hiking/biking, the Feeder Ditch
Canal by canoe or kayak, and from Suffolk; the Northwest River Natural Area
Preserve which is accessible by small boat; and the Cavalier Wildlife
Management Area accessible by permit for hunting and nature related activities
(such as bird watching). Perhaps edit
to say that these “permitted areas are activated with people for nature-related
activities such as hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, hunting, etc. “ These are all areas with potential for
nature-based tourism.
p. 98 Connectivity and Infrastructure – Biking, Walking, and Trails
- please define what is included in “active
transportation facilities”, i.e. bikeways (like bike lanes and protected bike
lanes), paths, bike parking, wayfinding, traffic management and safe
intersection design. Not all users of
this document will understand that these facilities are more than just bike
paths.
p. 166 Growth
Management and Rural Areas – Rural Areas
- the text accurately points out that
the area is attractive for “leisure walking and biking”. Long-distance “backroad
biking” is a popular activity and is a form of agritourism that support
bicycle outfitters, tours, and hospitality business like B&B’s, restaurants, and breweries/restaurants
(for that end of ride
refreshment). Another agritourism
activity in rural areas is bird watching. Rural farm fields are prime locations for birding in
various seasons in search of species like snow geese, cattle egrets, ibis,
kestrels, and large flocks of red-winged blackbirds. The U.S. cycle tourism market size was estimated
at $29 billion in 2024. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-cycle-tourism-market-report Birding tourism is a $17 billion market in U.S. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/birdwatching-tourism-market-report
Positive Content in Draft
The draft describes a strong vision for creating a
high-quality future for the City that is proactive about developing necessary
infrastructure, protects green and open space, works to connect people, and
respects the unique character of different parts of the City. The policies presented adopt the principles
of Smart Growth, focus on moving people on Complete Streets that provide safe
access to all, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users.
It includes good policies related to the environment, resilience, and
supporting rural areas. There are a
great many excellent features and policies included in the draft plan.
Below are select positive features in the plan that
we wish to particularly recognize.
p. 57 “Small Area Plans take precedence where there
is a detailed recommendation and should be considered the “stronger” policy.”
pp. 90- 100
Connectivity and Infrastructure
- a strong emphasis on “mov[ing] people with an efficient multi-modal
transportation system”, “Complete Street … designed to provide safe access for
all who need to use them, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and
transit users of all ages and abilities”, “Provide a safe, efficient, and
equitable active transportation network for all travelers regardless of age,
income, ability, race, where they live, or how they choose to travel. The
network should connect all of Chesapeake and be accessible to everyone.”, “Incorporate
active transportation facilities within new developments and City projects”,
providing “sidewalks [and] safe intersections.”
pp. 100-102 Transit
- setting goal to “make public transportation more appealing and more
convenient.”
p. 103 Rail
– “CON 34: Acquire abandoned railroad right-of-way the City has legal claim to
or that railroad companies are interested in disposing of for public use.”
p. 117 – Economic Properity
- “ECON11 Study and make recommendations on potential siting criteria and
sample stipulations for data centers.”
pp. 130-153 Environment and Resilience
- devotes entire chapter to Protect, maintain, and improve the quality of the
natural environment, While we have noted important areas that need to be
improved regarding creating healthy landscapes, green infrastructure, and
renewable energy, the draft presents a strong set of baseline policies to
achieve this goal.
Some highlights include wetland protections,
preference for living shorelines, riparian buffer protection, adopting the HRPDC
sea level rise scenarios, working to achieve Class 5 in the Community Rating
System (CRS) as it relates to flood mitigation, clear presentation on the
benefits of trees and the need for Urban Forestry Plan.
p. 155-157 – good discussion on the projected future
population growth in the City and the emphasis on minimizing suburban sprawl
from overtaking our remain rural areas.
p. 171 – Rural Character
- “GMRA23 When developing rural property for non-agricultural uses, to the
greatest extent possible, preserve fences, hedgerows, tree lines, and natural
vegetation to protect these landscape features during construction. Retain
treed areas between roads and buildings and protect these areas during construction”
p. 174- Agricutural Economy
- “GMRA26 Work with local farmers to
develop a strategy and action plan to support their businesses and potential
transition towards new agricultural models including small and niche farming in
the future”
p. 183/188 Housing
- “HOU6 Encourage energy efficient building practices to assist with long-term affordability
of housing”
- “HOU23 Implement an energy efficiency improvement program for existing
housing”
p. 201 Placemaking and Design – Community Design
- “Natural space should also be considered an amenity and planned for within
housing developments. Whether that space should be programmed and activated for
resident use or set aside for conservation, providing more passive benefits,
depends on the individual project, and should be carefully considered.”
p. 204 Placemaking and Design – Residential Design
- “DES9 Incorporate Smart Growth Principles and Traditional Neighborhood Development
practices in new development and redevelopment where appropriate to enhance
quality of life and the public realm.”
- DES13 Communities in the Urban and Suburban Overlays should emphasize connection
to the public right-of-way, with front entrances connected to pedestrian walkways/sidewalks”
p. 207 Placemaking and Design – Non-Residential Design
- “DES 15: Encourage more commercial development to be walkable, mixed-use, and
higher intensity …”
- “DES 20: Promote interior sidewalk connections throughout commercial and mixed-use
developments”
- “DES 22: Aggregate required green or open space to make it more usable and
increase any environmental benefits.”
p. 207 Placemaking and Design – Compatibility
- “DES 25: Review the Zoning Ordinance as needed to reduce impacts from
incompatible uses, such as improved screening, buffering, and vegetation”
p. 210 Placemaking and Design – Unique Design
Considerations
- “DES 26: Whenever possible, waterfront should be retained as a community
amenity with specific facilities based on the nature of the site. This includes
both residential and non-residential developments”
p. 210-211 Placemaking and Design – Sensitive
Environment
- Recognizes that light and noise pollution impacts both humans and
wildlife. States that light pollution
can be limited throughout the City by choosing exterior fixtures that are not
brighter than necessary, are directed towards the ground, have full cut off,
and use warm tones, among other practices. Recognizes impact of light pollution
on bird migration and that noise can cause wildlife to seek new habitat
- “DES 29: All
development and City construction projects should be reviewed for impacts based
on the Environmentally Sensitive Overlay and provide mitigation for those
impacts or refrain from developing in those areas.”
- “DES 30: Encourage developers to reduce light pollution by limiting the
brightness of exterior fixtures and promoting full cut-off fixtures when
practical. Where a development will occur in a highly natural area and/or
wildlife may be impacted, even greater consideration should be given to such
practices.”
- “DES 31: Develop an ordinance directed towards reducing light pollution.”
- “DES 32: The City will continue to manage detrimental impacts from noise “
- “DES 33: When a development would impact existing natural areas or known
habitat, consideration should be given to whether or not wildlife vehicle
collisions will increase, and thus whether a dedicated wildlife crossing or
other measure needs to be considered. “
p. 211 - Placemaking and Design Transit
- “DES 34: Direct higher
commercial and residential density around future or current areas served by
public transit with the greatest focus around transit hubs or transfer
stations.
p. 213 - Placemaking and Design Parking Lots
- “DES 35: Review Zoning
Districts to lower parking minimums where appropriate, and unless provided
reasonable justification, require the use of structured parking in the Urban
Mixed-Use Character Districts. “
- “DES 36: Encourage high-quality streetscaping for parking areas and include
continuous internal pedestrian walkways. “
p. 213 - Placemaking and Design Streetscape,
Wayfinding, and Gateway
- “DES 43: Establish and fund a City-wide policy for the planting and
maintenance of street trees. As a starting point, staff will refer to the
Virginia Department of Transportation and City Landscape guidelines when
designing street sections and the need for any planting of street trees”
- “DES 44: When roadway projects require the installation of public utilities
or otherwise create the opportunity, appropriate landscaping should be
included.”
- “DES 45: Review the street sections and related guidelines in the Public
Facilities Manual for possible amendments that clarify the expectations for
road design and accompanying facilities such as sidewalks, underground
utilities and street trees.”
p. 233 –
Quality of Life - Facilities Generally
- “QOL 5: Locate public facilities so they are easily accessible by the mode of
transportation used by frequently-served customers.”
p. 246 –
Quality of Life – Parks
- “QOL 31: Create multi-functional parks that store stormwater, reduce
flooding, and improve water quality where appropriate”