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Character Districts

Character Districts

Many comprehensive plans use a traditional land use plan to designate appropriate uses (e.g., residential, commercial, office, and industrial) in different areas of the city. However, more modern planning practice recognizes that

it’s not just the use that makes a place, but the way it fits in with its surroundings through its streets, open space, connectivity, and more.

Character districts are the City’s updated approach to planning, replacing the traditional land use plan. The 11 character districts are described in detail on the following pages and make up the bulk of this chapter.

Complete Communities

Rather than focusing on specific land uses, character districts focus on the outcomes and attributes of complete communities. They aim to create a place built on how it is experienced and the types of people who will be there. Uses are still a consideration, and are often described as uses typically seen, seen occasionally, and seen under special circumstances; however, there is much more flexibility in what is allowed in each district. For example, the Low-scale Neighborhood Character District mostly includes single-family residential, but it may also include some small-scale neighborhood commercial uses if they are in an appropriate location (such as on a street with higher traffic, room for parking, etc.).

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Character Districts

– COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, DEFINED –

Communities that provide employment, housing, recreation, and businesses for its residents with a mix of land uses to accommodate a variety of housing types and support equity and affordability.

There is also a focus on other aspects of the built environment, such as stormwater management (described through best management practices, or BMPs), tree canopy, and the streetscape.

While complete communities support mixed-use development, it’s important to know that this doesn’t mean every complete community should look like a pedestrian-oriented, urban block with a main street and apartments over bars and restaurants. It can also look like (and may often look like) single-family neighborhoods with parks and schools interspersed and a restaurant and pharmacy at the corner of two larger roads. In rural Chesapeake it will look like a lot of farmland, where some residents work, and important community fixtures (such as churches) and farm supply within a short drive.

GEN 3: Create "Complete Communities" throughout the City, focusing on maintaining the unique characteristics of each place.

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How to Use Character Districts

Character districts are just one policy of many in Chesapeake 2045. It is only one aspect of the plan that City staff and Planning Commission use to make recommendations and City Council uses to make decisions on land use applications. Character districts are a tool for residents and developers to understand the typical elements expected in a community. Project managers will need to consider the broader context of the district and not just the parcels they are developing or redeveloping.

Conservation and Environmentally Sensitive Overlay Districts

The Conservation District aims to protect Chesapeake’s biodiversity, environmental services, and ecosystem connectivity. Lands identified for this district must be protected and should remain undeveloped. This is a unique character district in that its boundaries are formed based on data, including land zoned for conservation, wetland mitigation sites, and land designated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation as outstanding and very high-quality Ecological Cores and Natural Land Network corridors.

The Environmentally Sensitive Overlay District is related to, but different from, the character districts. This overlay district occurs in addition to the recommended character district and provides an additional layer of policy to be considered. It identifies lands that either contain important environmental resources that should be protected or where potential hazards should be avoided to protect

Environmentally Sensitive Overlay Map

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Environmentally Sensitive Overlay

The Environmentally Sensitive Overlay identifies lands vulnerable to flooding or disturbance. Tailored mitigation strategies based on these features complement land in the Conservation Character District, which prohibits discretionary development.

future users and buildings. These areas may

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be developed if concerns are appropriately managed, but some land in this district may be best left undeveloped.

Character Districts and Overlay

Districts ..................................................

It’s important to remember that character districts will not look the same across the entire City.

Even something that seems

as simple as a Low-scale Neighborhood will develop differently depending on where it’s located.

The gridded streets and narrower lots of South Norfolk (in the Urban Overlay District) are primarily single-family homes, and yet, look nothing like the cul-de-sacs and sprawling

yards found in parts of Great Bridge (Suburban Overlay District) that are also primarily single- family homes. To help bridge the gap between the different landscapes across the City, the overlay district development patterns and character district policies should be considered in concert with one another to truly understand the appropriate character and opportunity.

Character Districts and Small Area

Plans ..................................................

Character districts, like Chesapeake 2045 as a whole, take a high-level view of the City. By their nature, small area plans cover a specific part of the City and in much greater detail. Thus, while we expect there to be general agreement between small area plans and the character districts (or a reasoned discussion in the small area plan as to why there is not agreement), small area plans take precedence where there is a detailed recommendation and should be considered the “stronger” policy.

Character Districts Map and Descriptions

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Character Districts 2045

Character Districts describe different types of "Complete Communities" in the City. Complete communities provide employment, housing, recreation, and businesses for residents with a mix of land uses and a variety of housing types. Particularly, Character Districts highlight the envisioned mix of uses, open space, amenities, and street network and mobility across the City.

Revised 5/19/2026

Character Districts

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LOW-SCALE NEIGHBORHOOD

Low-scale Neighborhoods are the most common character district in Chesapeake. They are mostly single-family detached homes with townhomes and small multifamily buildings along key roadways. Schools, places of worship, civic buildings, and small-scale neighborhood commercial can be found in these areas.

Uses

• Mostly single-family residential with some accessory dwelling units and duplexes where appropriate.
• Townhomes and some small multifamily buildings, typically between one and three stories, may be found along key roadways.
• Schools, places of worship, civic buildings, and small-scale neighborhood commercial may be found in these areas.

Distance to other uses

• Typically located within 1.5 miles of a Neighborhood Center, Community/ Regional Commercial, or Urban Mixed-use District.

Activation

• Primarily activated during morning and evening hours.
• Activation may be extended with community spaces and commercial uses.

User

• Primarily experienced by local residents.
• Few, if any, amenities draw members outside the local community.

District Compatibility

• Low-scale Neighborhoods are well-buffered from Production and Processing and Employment Center Districts.

Access and Experience

• District is primarily accessed via automobile.
• District can be comfortably experienced via walking, cycling, and driving, although commercial may be somewhat far from individual residences for walking.

Street Network

• Street network may include curving or meandering streets depending on location in the City, but cul-de-sacs are limited.

• The street network includes multiple entry and exit points maximized to connect to surrounding districts and neighborhoods.

Public Transportation

• Public transportation service may be limited. Stops are likely located along key roadways.

Open Space and Amenities

• Open space is primarily found in the form of private yards.

Travel to Other Open Space

• Common areas, small parks, and natural open spaces with trees should be within a half-mile of every residence and safely accessible by walking or bicycling.

Changes in Scale

• Larger planned communities include usable open space with amenities such as pools, playgrounds, courts, etc.

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Open Space Over Time

• Larger parks may be needed as incremental development occurs.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks are located on both sides of the street throughout communities with a planted verge between the sidewalk and edge of curb.
• Bike facilities are included on key roadways.

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is supported through street trees and other public planting areas (e.g., small parks, etc.).
• Individual lots should maintain required tree canopy.

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Stormwater

• BMPs are typically found as retention ponds that, when possible, are incorporated into communities and act as an open space feature and amenity.

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MID-SCALE NEIGHBORHOOD

While in many ways similar to the Low-scale Neighborhood, the balance of residential types in the Mid-scale Neighborhood shifts. There will be mostly townhomes and small multifamily buildings with some single-family detached homes. Schools, places of worship, civic buildings, and small-scale neighborhood commercial may be found here.

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Uses

• Mostly townhomes and multifamily buildings, up to four stories.
• Some mixed-use buildings, up to six stories, may be appropriate along key roadways.
• Some single-family detached, particularly in a more densely arranged layout, may be appropriate.
• Schools, places of worship, civic buildings, and small-scale neighborhood commercial may be found in these areas.

Distance to other uses

• Typically located within one mile of a Neighborhood Center, Community/Regional Commercial, or Urban Mixed-use District.

Activation

• Primarily activated during morning and evening hours; activation may be extended with community spaces and commercial uses.

Character Districts

Waterfront condominiums.

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User

• Primarily experienced by local residents.
• Few, if any, amenities draw members outside the local community.

District Compatibility

• Mid-scale Neighborhoods are well-buffered from Production and Processing and Employment Center Districts.

Access and Experience

• District is primarily accessed via automobile.
• District can be comfortably experienced via walking, cycling, and driving, and residences are proximate to commercial uses.

Street Network

• Street network is well-connected with shorter blocks and higher intersection density to slow down motorists, prioritize pedestrians, and maximize connections to surrounding districts and neighborhoods.

Public Transportation

• Public transportation service may be limited. Stops are typically located along key roadways.

Open Space and Amenities

• The majority of open space is provided in the form of smaller common spaces such as parks, courtyards, accessible rooftops, community clubhouses, natural spaces with trees, etc.

Travel to Other Open Space

• Common areas, small parks, and natural open spaces with trees should be within a half-mile of every residence and safely accessible by walking or bicycling.

Character Districts

Changes in Scale

• Larger planned communities include usable open space that includes amenities such as pools, playgrounds, athletic courts, etc.

Open Space Over Time

• Larger parks may be needed as incremental development occurs.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks are located on both sides of the street throughout communities with a planted verge between the sidewalk and edge of curb.
• Bike facilities are included on key roadways.

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is supported through street trees and other public planting areas (small parks, etc.).
• Individual lots should maintain required tree canopy.

Stormwater

• BMPs are typically found as retention ponds that, when possible, are incorporated into communities and act as an open space feature and amenity.

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NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

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Neighborhood Centers are areas of the City where the development pattern is walkable, with a mix of uses, including small-scale retail, restaurants, personal services, offices, City services, and residential on upper floors. They look different across the City but are relatively small and contain a tight cluster of uses that serve local residents.

Uses

• Typically include small-scale retail, restaurants, personal services, institutional uses, and offices. Residential is primarily found as small-scale upper floor multifamily in mixed-use buildings.
• Some mid-scale commercial centers may be appropriate with proper site design.
• A limited number of auto-supported uses (car washes, drive-thrus, oil change facilities, etc.) may be located on higher-volume, higher-speed roads in the district with proper site design.

Character Districts

Distance to other uses

• Neighborhood Centers are easily accessible to Low-scale and Mid-scale Neighborhood districts.

Activation

• Primarily activated throughout the day and into the evening hours.
• Additional activation may occur with upper floor multifamily residential.

User

• Primarily experienced by local residents within walking, bicycling or short drive (under 10 minutes); encourages neighborhood-centered economic activity.

District Compatibility

• Neighborhood Centers are typically surrounded by Low- or Mid-scale Neighborhoods.

Access and Experience

• Neighborhood Centers are directly accessible from nearby neighborhoods through walking, biking, automobile, and public transit.
• District is most comfortably experienced via walking and cycling.

Street Network

• Street network is well-connected with shorter blocks and higher intersection density to slow down motorists, prioritize pedestrians, and maximize connections to surrounding districts and neighborhoods.

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Public Transportation

• Public transportation infrastructure and stops should be located along key roadways, particularly where convenient to population centers.

Open Space and Amenities

• This district provides numerous improved small open space areas in the form of pocket parks, plazas, patios, outdoor dining areas, etc.

Changes in Scale

• Larger Neighborhood Centers have a greater need to establish unique public spaces to encourage visitors to stay longer in the area.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks are located on both sides of the street with a planted verge between the sidewalk and edge of curb.
• Bike facilities are included on key roadways.
• Streetscape amenities are included.

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is primarily supported through street trees and other public planting areas and required private landscaped areas (small parks, open space maintained in developments, etc.).

Stormwater

• BMPs minimize land area in order to maintain an urban fabric. Underground water storage and treatment trains should be considered.

This graphic illustrates what new neighborhood center development might look like.

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URBAN MIXED-USE

Urban Mixed-Use is a designation used sparingly; it is reserved for areas of the City that are primed for increased population and activity. Because it is not used frequently, it is critical that these areas are developed with the appropriate density and intensity of use. This district is mostly mid- to high-rise mixed-use buildings, where the ground floor is a commercial, civic, or cultural use.

Uses

• Mostly vertical mixed-use mid- (4-9 stories) to high-rise (10+ stories) buildings with ground floor being non-residential uses.
• Mid- to high-rise non-residential structures are appropriate.
• Some mid- to high-rise residential structures are appropriate if near other non-residential uses.
• Special or entertainment uses may be appropriate in this district.

Distance to other uses

• Typically located within one mile of Community/Regional Commercial or Neighborhood Center.

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Activation

• District is activated all hours of the day.

User

• Experienced by residents, patrons, and employees alike.
• Some commercial may serve local residents, and other may be a regional draw.

District Compatibility

• District is compatible with other dense or employee-driven districts; low-scale residential is far enough away to allow for adequate buffering for transition between districts.

Access and Experience

• Public transportation and pedestrian and active transportation are prioritized, and is the most comfortable way to experience this district.
• District can be accessed via all modes of transportation due to surrounding arterial roads.

Street Network

• Street network is well-connected with high intersection density and encourages safe interactions among vehicles and pedestrians and cyclists.
• Street network gives preference to pedestrians and cyclists.

Public Transportation

• Public transportation options are prioritized in this district and have frequent stops and infrastructure such as enhanced bus shelters, benches, kiosks, etc., to support ridership.

Open Space and Amenities

• Pocket parks, pedestrian plazas, and other urban open spaces are found throughout the district.
• Open space amenities may be incorporated vertically at multiple buildable levels and stories.

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Travel to Other Open Space

• This district should be in close proximity to large open spaces and accessible by means other than a private vehicle.

Open Space Over Time

• As Urban Mixed-Use areas grow, there is greater need to establish public spaces to encourage visitors to stay longer in the area.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks are located on both sides of the street.
• Ample pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is available throughout communities with street trees or urban landscaping.
• Street furniture is placed throughout the district.

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is primarily supported through street trees and other public planting areas (e.g., small parks, open space maintained in developments, etc.).

Stormwater

• BMPs minimize land area in order to maintain an urban fabric. Underground water storage and treatment trains should be considered.

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COMMUNITY/REGIONAL COMMERCIAL

Community or Regional Commercial is comprised of shopping centers and strip malls that most people think of as commercial areas with mid-scale and big-box stores. Whether “community” or “regional” depends on the stores located there and other nearby uses that may draw customers from farther away.

Uses

• Mostly mid-scale and big-box commercial with a mix of businesses that provide access to goods, services, dining, and entertainment.
• Some multifamily may be located here provided it preserves visibility and frontage for commercial.
• Some production and processing uses may be allowed with proper site design.

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• Regional Commercial centers are based on location and synergy with other uses that create draw outside of Chesapeake; physical characteristics are quite similar.
• Regional Commercial has easy access to highways with high visibility.

Activation

• Primarily activated during the day and early evening.
• Additional activation can occur with greater focus on uses that extend hours of operation, e.g., restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.

User

• Experienced by a wide range of residents and visitors, including those outside the City (Regional Commercial).

District Compatibility

• District is typically surrounded by Mid-scale Neighborhood, Employment Centers, and Production and Processing.
• Smaller Community Commercial districts can be compatible with Low-scale Neighborhood and can act as a buffer between incompatible districts.

Access and Experience

• Key roadways provide for all forms of transportation including public transportation, walking, and biking.

Street Network

• Street network is well-connected and uses principles of good access-management, including controlled intersections with few curb cuts and robust internal network within and between sites.

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Character Districts

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Public Transportation

• Public transportation infrastructure and stops should be located along key roadways.

Open Space and Amenities

• Usable open space, with space for patios, outdoor eating, courtyards, green gathering areas, etc., is found throughout the district.

Changes in Scale

• Larger Community/Regional Commercial developments have a greater need to establish unique public spaces to encourage visitors to stay longer in the area.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks are provided throughout the internal network of the sites as well as along the perimeter.
• Off-street pedestrian or bike facilities should lead into sites.

Tree Canopy

• Connected greenways, landscaped parking lot islands, and tree preservation areas all assist in providing tree canopy.

Stormwater

• BMPs are typically found as retention ponds that, when possible, are integrated into customer outdoor space.

EMPLOYMENT CENTER

Employment Centers contain many workers in a large, often campus-like setting. They are unique uses that include hospitals, municipal centers, colleges and universities, corporate parks, military bases, and others where there are typically multiple connected buildings.

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Uses

• Large-scale Employment Centers in health care, office, research, education, government, industrial, or similar uses.
• Low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise buildings may be found depending on use, location, and proper site design.
• Some supporting retail, restaurants, hotel, and personal services may be located here for area workers.
• Clustering of similar industries and supporting uses is encouraged.

Activation

• Many employment center uses are 24-hour facilities with large surges of traffic at shift changes.
• Additional activation may occur with supporting retail, hotels, restaurants, etc.

User

• Primarily experienced by employees and customers (e.g., hospital staff and patients).

Character Districts

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District Compatibility

• Uses in this district may require additional mitigation measures such as buffers, screening, and noise mitigation to ensure compatibility with adjacent areas.
• Impacts such as odor, noise, lighting, and vibration are addressed through proper mitigation.

Access and Experience

• District is accessible by car, bicycle, walking, and public transportation.
• Employment Centers are priority locations for public transportation connections.
• Within the Employment Center, district can be most comfortably experienced via biking and walking, although, depending on size, internal circulation may be necessary.

Street Network

• District is located along key roadways, but has a robust interior street network that provides for walking and biking in addition to automobiles.

Public Transportation

• Includes public transportation infrastructure such as enhanced bus shelters, benches, kiosks, etc., to support ridership.

Open Space and Amenities

• Ample open space opportunities are included throughout the campuses of this district.
• May include courtyards, natural areas, and recreational facilities.

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Character Districts

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• Greenways and walking paths are found throughout the campus.

Changes in Scale

• Larger Employment Centers focus on enhancing community spaces for center users (e.g., students, employees, etc.) and should consider providing spaces for the broader community.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks are located on both sides of the street.
• Ample pedestrian and bicycle facilities are provided.
• Street furniture is placed throughout the campus.

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is located throughout the campus, including within natural settings and yards.

Stormwater

• BMPs are typically found as a retention ponds that, when possible, act as an open space feature and amenity for employees.

PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING

Production and Processing districts include many manufacturing and distribution uses, but also allow for some minor office, retail, restaurants, and other uses to support area works. Clustering of similar industries and uses is encouraged.

Uses

• Includes many industrial and distribution uses. Examples include manufacturing, food and beverage production, data centers, warehousing and fulfillment.
• Uses such as storage yards, solid waste management facilities, and other uses with potential intensive land use impacts may be appropriate with adequate mitigation.
• Some supporting office, retail, restaurants, mini storage, and personal services may be located here to support area workers.
• Clustering of similar industries and supporting uses is encouraged.

Activation

• Primarily activated during business hours, although some 24-hour facilities exist.
• Additional activation, if desired, may occur with supporting retail and restaurants.

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User

• Primarily experienced by employees.
• Most supporting retail, restaurants, etc., are not meant to draw outside users.

District Compatibility

• Uses in this district may require additional mitigation measures such as buffers, screening, and noise mitigation to ensure compatibility with adjacent areas.
• Impacts such as odor, noise, lighting, and vibration are addressed through proper mitigation.

Access and Experience

• District is primarily accessed and experienced by driving, but internal circulation for pedestrians should be included.
• Typically has nearby access to highway and interstate systems, rail, airport, and/or barge services.

Street Network

• Street network is well-connected and uses principles of good access-management, including controlled intersections with few curb cuts and robust internal network within and between sites.

Public Transportation

• Public transportation infrastructure and stops should be located along key roadways and near large employment areas.

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An industrial building with a stormwater pond.

Open Space and Amenities

• Individual sites provide space for employees to break and recreate.
• These may include picnic areas, walking paths, natural wooded areas, etc.

Changes in Scale

• Larger employment centers focus on enhancing community and open spaces for employees.

Streetscape

• Accommodations are provided for pedestrians and bicyclists including separated sidewalks and paths along the periphery of the development.

Tree Canopy

• Large natural treed areas are included along roadways and within required buffers to screen buildings and parking.

Stormwater

• BMPs are typically found as retention ponds that, when possible, act as an open space feature and amenity for employees.

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RURAL AREA

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Rural Areas are primarily agriculture and supporting uses, and very low-density residential single family that contribute to the preservation of the agriculture industry. Agritourism and ecotourism are also appropriate here, along with some utility-scale solar energy facilities and limited commercial.

Uses

• Predominantly agricultural and supporting uses and very low-density residential single family which may include multi-generational housing opportunities that contribute to the preservation and integration of the agricultural industry.
• Agritourism and ecotourism uses are appropriate with consideration for surrounding residential areas.
• Some solar energy and battery storage facilities may be appropriate.
• Limited commercial clusters are appropriate in locations with key roadway access to support residents.

Activation

• Activated by residences and agriculture during all hours of the day.
• Activation may be increased/decreased depending on location of commercial uses or agritourism.

Character Districts

User

• Primarily experienced by local residents and agricultural employees except for agritourism/ecotourism.
• Few commercial amenities draw members outside local community.

District Compatibility

• District is well-buffered from dense commercial, residential, and industrial districts.
• Compatible with the Conservation Character District.

Access and Experience

• District is primarily accessed via automobile.
• District is most comfortably experienced by driving, although some areas may be experienced via recreational bicycling and horseback riding as well.

Street Network

• Street network is organic with low intersection density and constructed to respect natural features and aggregated agricultural land.

Open Space and Amenities

• Open space is primarily found in the form of private yards, active private farming operations, conservation land and other natural areas.

Travel to Other Open Space

• Residents drive to most parks and open space amenities.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks may be appropriate within farming villages or cluster developments.
• Multi-use trails are found along key roadways.
• Ditches should be sufficiently located away from road pavement.
• Consideration is given to agricultural equipment users on roadways.

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Character Districts

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is primarily maintained on private residences.
• Street trees are not prioritized in order to accommodate drainage facilities.
• Land conservation efforts protect large, forested areas.

Stormwater

• BMPs, when needed, are typically found as retention ponds that, when possible, are incorporated into communities and act as an open space feature and amenity.

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FENTRESS

Fentress is a unique character district that is based on policy and zoning put in place to reduce conflicts between Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress and surrounding land. Uses in this district are primarily agriculture and supporting uses, as well as very low-density residential, but can accommodate some industrial and commercial uses.

Uses

• Characterized by predominantly agricultural and supporting uses and very low-density residential that was existing prior to the Fentress Overlay District and supports agricultural uses.
• Increased residential density is not supported.
• Industrial and commercial uses that are compatible with rural infrastructure and aesthetic and noise levels commonly produced during Fentress operations are appropriate.
• Some solar energy and battery storage facilities may be appropriate.

Distance to other uses

• District boundary conforms with adopted noise zones where not Conservation district.

Activation

• Activated by military operations, agriculture, and residences during all hours of the day including nighttime flight activity.

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Character Districts

User

• Experienced by both local residents and employees throughout the day and night.
• Few uses draw in members outside the community.

Access and Experience

• District is primarily accessed via car.
• District is most comfortably experienced by driving, although some areas may be experienced via recreational bicycling and horseback riding as well.

Street Network

• Street network is organic with low intersection density and constructed to respect natural features, aggregated agricultural land, and the Fentress Airfield.

Open Space and Amenities

• Open space is primarily found in the form of private yards, active private farming operations, conservation land and other natural areas.

Travel to Other Open Space

• Residents drive to most parks and open space amenities.

Streetscape

• Sidewalks may be appropriate within farming villages or cluster developments.

• Multi-use trails are found along key roadways.

• Ditches should be sufficiently located away from road pavement.

• Consideration is given to agricultural equipment users on roadways.

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is primarily maintained on private residences.
• Street trees are not prioritized in order to accommodate drainage facilities.
• Land conservation efforts protect large, forested areas.

Stormwater

• BMPs, when needed, are typically found as retention ponds that, when possible, are incorporated into communities and act as an open space feature and amenity.

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REGIONAL PARK

Regional Parks are special amenities that draw visitors and users from all over. They are often located to take advantage of a natural feature, historic resource, or large acreage. Because they contain extraordinary amenities and have many users, they are programmed for easy access by automobile.

Uses

• Comprised of unique park, community and outdoor resources that draw users farther than local neighborhoods.

Activation

• Primarily activated during daylight hours, particularly on weekends or during special events.
• Activation may be extended beyond daylight hours with additional lighting.

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User

• Experienced by residents and out-of-City visitors alike.

District Compatibility

• May be found adjacent to any district, taking advantage of unique resources, such as the waterfront, historic value, or large acreage.

Access and Experience

• District is primarily accessed via car, although some will be accessible via public transportation, biking, and walking, depending on their location within the City.

Open Space and Amenities

• Regional Parks may contain a combination of both active and passive recreation spaces, depending on need and location.

Open Space Over Time

• The number or scale of regional parks may need to increase as development occurs.

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Streetscape

• Sidewalks, paths, and trails are located in the parks as appropriate.

Tree Canopy

• Existing canopy should be preserved and expanded.

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CONSERVATION

Chesapeake is home to many natural resources, including wetlands, habitat, and natural areas that buffer and protect the Northwest River, which is a primary drinking water source for Chesapeake. Conservation lands must be protected. With the notable exception of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which has specific publicly accessible areas, most Conversation lands have little public access and are typically left alone. This character district includes lands that are already under protection (by the City, State, Federal government, non-profits, etc.) and those with very high environmental value.

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Uses

• Lands that protect Chesapeake’s biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity are appropriate in this district.
• Includes State and Federal conservation lands, properties owned by the Nature Conservancy and other nonprofits, land zoned C-1 conservation district, wetland mitigation sites, FEMA buyout properties, backup City water supply parcels, tidal wetlands, and the Intracoastal Waterway.
• This character district also includes the outstanding and very high quality Ecological Cores and Natural Land Network corridors as identified by the VA Department of Conservation and Recreation.
• Only limited passive and nature-based recreation and access is appropriate on these sites.

Character Districts

Wetlands.

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Activation

• With a few exceptions, district is rarely activated with people.

User

• With a few exceptions, lands are minimally experienced by residents at minor access points.

District Compatibility

• Conservation is well-buffered from Production and Processing districts as well as others that contain potentially hazardous uses.
• Contiguous conservation areas are most ecologically beneficial.
• District is compatible with the low-intensity uses found in Rural Areas.

Access and Experience

• Unless recreationally accessible by foot, bike, or canoe/kayak, access is primarily by car for maintenance only.

Tree Canopy

• Tree canopy is an important protected resource and considered during any provision of passive recreation.

Great Dismal Swamp Canal.

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