Chesapeake City Council Meeting - March 20, 2024: Transit Study, Rezonings, and Proffer Modification
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Chesapeake City Council Meeting - March 20, 2024
The Chesapeake City Council convened on March 20, 2024, at 6:30 PM for a regular meeting following a work session on the Connecting Chesapeake high capacity transit study. The council addressed several land use applications, including rezonings, conditional use permits, and a proffer modification. Key decisions included approval of a rezone for Copart Auto Sales, a conditional use permit for EVgo charging stations, and a modification to the Patriots Ridge development proffer. A resolution to adopt the Industrial Waterfront Study was continued for one week. A request for an initiating resolution on disclosure of paid advocates failed.
Consent Calendar
- No separate consent agenda in the council meeting; all items were considered individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- John McCormick (applicant's agent) spoke in support of the Copart Auto Sales rezoning and conditional use permit, describing the planned wholesale online auto auction and noting that all vehicles would be shipped within 60 days.
- Grady Palmer (applicant's agent) spoke on the Patriots Ridge proffer modification, explaining that the developer would fund a parking lot expansion for Southeastern Elementary School via a cash proffer, as requested by Chesapeake Public Schools.
- Vic Nichols (self-represented) spoke in support of the Patriots Ridge modification, emphasizing that the cost should not be borne by taxpayers.
- Jerry Jones and Eric Winne (applicants) spoke in support of the pet crematory and home occupation items, respectively.
- Vic Nichols also spoke on several items, including support for the consent agenda items and general concerns about traffic and development impacts.
Discussion Items
- Connecting Chesapeake High Capacity Transit Study (Work Session): William Harrell and Ray Amoruso of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) presented the study, which examines potential high capacity transit (express bus, bus rapid transit, light rail) along a corridor from the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center area to connections with Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The study identified 16 conceptual alignment alternatives, grouped by start/end points. Key takeaways from a community survey (nearly 1,200 responses) showed strong support for high capacity transit, with top destinations including Greenbrier Mall, Virginia Beach Town Center, and downtown Norfolk. The study will proceed to tier two evaluation, focusing on technology options and cost, ridership, traffic, and land use compatibility. Councilmembers discussed connections to military bases, universities, and the need for park-and-ride facilities. The presentation concluded with a discussion of microtransit pilots.
- Industrial Waterfront Study (PLN COMP 2023-001): Staff recommended adoption of the study, which provides guidance on industrial waterfront land use, adaptation strategies, and community engagement. Councilmember Newins requested a one-week continuance to allow for a work session on public feedback and changes. The motion to continue passed 7-2.
- Disclosure of Paid Advocates: Councilmember Ike requested an initiating resolution to amend the zoning ordinance to require disclosure of all individuals and firms paid to advocate for discretionary land use applications. Councilmember Ritter objected, citing potential administrative burden and political motivations. After discussion, the request failed on a 3-6 vote.
Key Outcomes
- PLN REZ 2023-014 (Copart Auto Sales): Approved 9-0 to rezone approximately 30 acres from B3 Highway Business District to M1 Light Industrial District and C1 Conservation District, with proffers.
- PLN USE 2022-030 (Copart Auto Sales): Approved 9-0 for a conditional use permit to operate a wholesale used motor vehicle dealership and height exception for an 8-foot fence, with stipulations.
- PLN USE 2023-032 (EVgo charging stations): Approved 9-0 for installation of four electric vehicle charging dispensers at Target, with stipulations.
- PLN USE 2023-035 (Cherish PET Crematory): Approved 9-0 for a conditional use permit to allow a pet crematory on a 0.3-acre portion of a 2.3-acre parcel, with alternative parking surface and stipulations.
- PLN USE 2023-038 (Defining Wine): Approved 9-0 for a level two home occupation for internet sales of wine, with stipulations.
- PLN COMP 2023-001 (Industrial Waterfront Study): Continued for one week (to April 16, 2024) by a 7-2 vote to allow for a work session on public comments and changes.
- PLN REZ 2019-024 (Patriots Ridge proffer modification): Approved 8-0 (Councilmember Whitaker abstaining) to modify proffer #5, replacing developer school facility construction with a cash proffer for Chesapeake Public Schools.
- Request for Initiating Resolution on Disclosure: Failed (3-6).
- Other: Councilmember Kerry requested that a referendum on SIPSA and recycling fees include all taxes and fees; the city manager will provide operational cost information for the proposed pool at the Cuffy Center and conduct a study on potential pool locations. Councilmember Ritter requested a work session on utility billing tiers.
Meeting Transcript
The hospital is the first in the Hampton Roads region to manage patients with OUD using medication assisted treatment. And to learn more about the Proud program, please watch our interview with Dr. Ben Pickenshire on YouTube.com slash City of Chesapeake. Also, Operation Bold Blue Line, Chesapeake Police Officers are working diligently with state troopers to help reduce violent crime by getting illegal drugs and weapons off the street. And to learn more about this program, go to the City of Chesapeake.net Police. Thank you all for joining me on this special edition of a closer look. I hope we were able to shed light on the opioid crisis and the ways we can make a difference in our city. As a society, we have the power to address this issue with compassion and resilience. Let's work together to provide support, reduce stigma, and save lives. Remember, if you or someone you know is struggling to reach out for help, there's always hope, and recovery is possible. A little dose is in here. Who gets it? I won't know. Scary that it can be put into anything. We can't even see it or notice it. Listen, you're my friend. I noticed you haven't really been yourself recently. Yeah, I feel like something's up. How are you? Are you okay? Is there anything you want to talk about? I just want to know how you're feeling. And listen, even if you don't know what to say, I'm here to talk. No matter what you're going through, I just want you to know I'm here. I've got your back. When you want to talk, I'm here. You're watching Chesapeake Television. March 19, 2024 Council Work Session. We are pleased to be here and welcome everyone. We do have a topic of uh great concern to many folks in our city. Mr. Manager, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I'll immediately turn it over to our traffic engineer Troy Eisenberger to introduce our guests. Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Manager and members of the city council. We're excited to have HRT with us this evening to present on Connecting Chesapeake, the high capacity transit study. This is a great opportunity for the city to partner with HRT. Also while the Green Briar Area Plan is going on, a lot of times these things don't align, so this is a great opportunity for this transit study to go on at the same time as the Green Bar Area Plan is being up there. The Green Bar Area Plan is being studied. So at this time I'm going to turn it over to William Harrell and his HRT team. Thank you. Thank you very much. And it's always a pleasure to be back home. This is a very important study, and we're certainly pleased to partner uh with the city of Chesapeake. We recently spent the last year serving customers. And what we've heard is whether it's the Elizabeth River Ferry or Tad Light Rail, uh the Ocean Front Trolley to regular fixed route buses and commuter services in our six member cities, including Chesapeake. Uh our customers use transit for primarily access to employment. So one of the things that I try to emphasize, particularly when I'm meeting with uh the business community, is it is important that transit helps support the regional economy.
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