We have a quorum.

Thank you.

Mayor, I would like to council is now in session, and I'd like to recognize Council Member Newens at this time for the invocation and to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

We acknowledge that in our weaknesses, your strength is magnified, and it is through our trials and tribulations that we discover the depths of your grace and your love.

As we come together in this meeting, we ask for your wisdom to fill our minds and your peace to cover our spirits.

Lord, inspire us to support one another, lifting each other up in encouragement and understanding.

Let our conversations be filled with grace, and may we leave this gathering strengthened in faith and renewed in purpose.

We commit this meeting to your hands, trusting that you will lead us towards insights that bring glory to your name.

In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Please join me in the pledge.

I pledge to the United States of America.

And to the Republican stands.

Thank you, Councilman Newens, for that beautiful prayer.

Councilmember Bunn.

Here.

Councilmember Jeffreys.

Here.

Councilmember King here.

Council Member Newens?

Here.

Councilmember Smith.

Here.

Councilmember Ward.

Present.

Councilmember Whitaker.

Present.

Vice Mayor Ritter.

Here.

Mayor West.

Present.

Next is the approval of the proposed agenda.

Are there any changes that council members would like to make to the proposed agenda?

See none.

Move approved.

Thank you, Ms.

Lewins.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Any discussion?

See none.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the agenda as presented is adopted by a nine-o vote.

I'm sorry, we're having a little technical difficulty up here.

I'm going to uh call a recess for about five minutes.

Mr.

Covey, would you please come to the daisy?

Council is now back in session.

Next is applicants, agents, citizens' comments on public hearing items.

The City Council meeting constitutes a limited public form.

Therefore, public comments must be relevant to the items on the council's agenda tonight.

When speaking on an agenda item, please make sure your comments directly relate to the merits of the application, which means you focus on the details and the facts of the proposed agenda item.

Focusing comments on the merits of the applicant application will ensure that this public hearing serves its intended purpose of gathering relevant information for the voting body.

Further, to strike balance between maintaining order and honoring the public's right to express themselves, and as established by the City Council's rules of order and order and procedure.

Any speaker that delays, interrupts, or otherwise disrupts City Council's ability to conduct its meeting in an orderly manner by disorderly, insolent, or disturbing actions or speech or conduct will be declared out of order.

Madam Clerk, are there any speakers who wish to speak prior to the presentation of the public hearing items?

No, sir.

Thank you.

Next is council's consideration of public hearing items.

Madam Clerk, would you please present hearing item A?

PLN use 2025-014 Bainbridge Boulevard South Norfolk Business Overlay District Residential Balance Builders Inc.

applicant balance builders inc and LOMA LLC owners for a conditional use permit to allow four single-family detached residential units in the South Norfolk Business Overlay District.

The property is located at 1312 and 1320 Bainbridge Boulevard in the South Norfolk Planning Area.

This item was continued from December the 16th, 2025.

The planning commission recommends denial based on the stipulations presented for consideration at the October 8, 2025 public hearing.

However, if City Council chooses to approve the application, the applicant has proposed revised stipulations dated November the 19th, 2025, as listed in the official agenda.

Planning Director Mack, the mayor, what is the planning staff's recommendation?

The revised proposal is consistent with good access management practices and will bring about continued redevelopment in the South Norfolk Business Overlay District.

Staff recommends approval with stipulations dated November 19, 2025.

Thank you, sir.

Madam Clerk, are there any speakers?

No, sir.

A motion is in order with revised stipulations dated November 19, 2025.

I would like to move approval with stipulations dated November 2025.

Thank you, Mr.

Whitaker.

Thank you, Dr.

King.

Is there any discussion?

Council members.

See none.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clerk.

Motion to approve PL and use 2025-014 with revised stipulations dated November the 19th, 2025, is adopted by an 8 to 1 vote.

Madam Clerk, would you please present item B?

PLN REZ 2024-020 Patrick Street.

El Novado Properties LLC applicant and owner.

Civil Engineering and Construction Services Agent for Conditional Zoning Reclassification of Approximately 0.27 acres from B1 Neighborhood Business District to R8 Residential District.

The property is located at 2228 Patrick Street in the South Norfolk Planning Area.

The planning commission recommends approval with the proffers listed in the official agenda.

Thank you.

Mr.

McNamare.

The proposed use is consistent with the 2035 comp plan as it utilizes an infill parcel that will maximize the use of existing public utilities and infrastructure and is compatible with the existing residential uses, reinforcing the character and quality of the neighborhood.

Staff recommends approval with proffers dated October 7th, 2025.

Thank you, sir.

Madam Clerk, are there any speakers on this item?

Yes, sir.

We have one speaker, Sam Barackie.

Thank you, Mr.

Baracki.

A motion is in order with proffers.

Move approval with proper.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Second.

Thank you.

Mr.

Bunn.

Any discussion.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record Madam Clerk.

Motion to approve PLN REZ 2024-020 with proffers as presented as adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk Item C.

PLN REZ 2025-008 Hanbury Manor Section 4.

Parish Lynn Design Group Agency GTO Judge LLC applicant and owner.

For conditional zoning reclassification of approximately three acres from A1 agricultural and R 10S residential to R 10 S residential.

The property is located on the southern side of Hanbury Road West between Kingsbury, Kingsbury Drive and Madison Lynway in the Great Ridge Planning Area.

The planning commission recommends approval with the proffers listed in the official agenda.

Thank you.

Planning staff recommendations.

The proposed residential development is consistent with the designation of low density and is located on an appropriate site in terms of size, access, and compatibility with its neighbors.

Staff recommends approval of the request with proffers dated November 19th, 2025.

Thank you.

And are there any speakers, Madam Clerk?

We have one Brian Lane, agent for the applicant for questions only.

Thank you.

Motion is in order with proffers.

Move approval with proffers.

Thank you, Ms.

Newell.

Second.

Thank you, Dr.

King.

Any discussion on this item?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote.

And Madam Clerk record.

Motion to approve PLN REZ 2025-008 with proffers as presented.

Is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Please present item D.

PLN REZ 2025-014 Royal Farms.

Two Farms Inc.

applicant.

Portsmouth Boulevard Enterprises LLC owner, Williams Mullen Agency for conditional zoning reclassification of approximately four acres from R 15S residential district, O and I, Office and Institutional District, and A1 agricultural district to B2 General Business District.

The property is located at 5028 Portsmouth Boulevard in the Western Branch Planning Area.

The Planning Commission recommends approval with the proffers listed in the official agenda.

Thank you.

Mr.

McMayer.

The proposed commercial use of the property accomplishes the desired outcome of City Council for economic prosperity by increasing the non-residential tax base and providing additional job opportunities in the city and the desired outcomes of connectivity by connecting the proposed development via sidewalks to integrate into a larger walkable network.

Staff recommends approval of this request with proffers dated November 24th, 2025.

Ms.

Madison, do the uh applicants plan to speak.

Are they signed up to speak?

Yes, sir.

We have one applicant and 13 citizens.

Okay.

We did have a letter requesting continuance.

So let's give the applicant an opportunity to speak.

And if he wants to request that, uh we could consider that matter.

Tyler Rosa, representing Royal Farms.

All right.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, members of City Council.

For the record, my name is Tyler Roset, attorney with the law firm Williams Mullen.

Business address is 222 Central Park Avenue, Suite 1700 Virginia Beach.

I would like to thank staff for the hard work on the application and recommendation of approval and also the planning commission for the recommendation of approval as well.

We think this is a great project for this site.

The comprehensive plan designates this property and this area for commercial redevelopment.

The area has already been partially redeveloped with a Starbucks on the corner, which is also a B-2 property, and the site will be thoughtfully redesigned to allow for future redevelopment of this area for connections in uh to Pennsylvania Avenue and Jolliffe Landing Parkway.

The site will be improved with a quality product in Royal Farms.

You may be familiar with their developments.

They have heightened our architectural designs and finishes, and it will be operated by an experienced operator.

We've proposed traffic mitigation efforts at Portsmouth Boulevard in closing the existing residential entrances on the property and moving the entrance back on the property to help mitigate and alleviate the traffic congestion at that intersection and having a dedicated right turn lane that will service the property.

And gas stations are better thought of as traffic interceptors rather than traffic generators, so we don't anticipate that there will be an increased traffic generation by this use.

Customers that are not intended to service trucks or tractor trailers, and the uh site is not necessarily intended for that, and there aren't amenities that would cause this to be deemed or thought of as a trap a truck stop with the regular amenities like a shower or anything like that.

So we're also proposing uh proof improved pedestrian sidewalks along Hampton Roads Parkway from Portsmouth Boulevard up to Pennsylvania Avenue.

There is currently no pedestrian access along that side of the road, so this will allow for safe pedestrian access and connect into the existing sidewalk systems on Pennsylvania Avenue and Portsmouth Boulevard.

We're also proposing enhanced landscaping along Portsmouth Boulevard and Hampton Roads Parkway to mitigate the visual effects of the project.

Um the project is proposed to be 24 hours in addition to providing convenience.

We think that actually enhances the safety aspects of the project because it will be monitored and occupied and operated on a 24-hour basis.

And Royal Farms actually offers uh free coffee for um emergency service respond first responders in uniform.

So oftentimes during those hours, there's actually first responders on site, um, police uh in particular.

So we think that would actually add some additional security elements to the project too.

So in terms of lighting, the project will be improved with directional downward lighting, so there won't be any glare to the adjacent property owners.

You obviously be able to see the project, but there won't be any light pollution coming from the property.

In terms of safety, there will be uh modern underground tanks that are fiberglass tanks that don't corrode, and there will be uh leak detection monitor systems and royal farms will have a response plan associated with any leaks.

Um and also during the um ARC review process, there's input from fire and police in terms of the site, and the site plan accommodates any of those comments from a public safety aspect.

So we think that this is a thoughtfully designed project that's consistent with the planned redevelopment of the area.

Um of course you mentioned that um we did um request a deferral.

There is opposition to the project.

So um we would request your approval here this evening, but um also would um request a deferral for 30 days to allow for further engagement with the community on the aspects that they've raised, um, in particular reevaluating um the 24-hour nature of the project to see if something that um Royal Farms uh can accommodate from a business standpoint.

So um I'll stand by for any questions.

We also have the project engineer here and a Royal Farms representative here as well, if you have any uh questions for me or for them.

Um so thank you for your time this evening.

Thank you, sir.

So given the the lateness of your request for the for uh referral, I'm not sure how council is going to feel about it.

I know how I feel about it, uh, but we are obviously didn't give all the people that are here uh ample opportunity to uh to be able to respond to that.

So I will ask for a motion.

If we get a motion, we'll give both sides a chance to hear uh arguments for the uh continuance and and against the con uh continuance.

We don't get a motion, we'll proceed with uh the the agenda item as it is presented.

Thank you.

Okay.

Do we uh have any uh is there a motion for continuance on this item?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, would you please call the next speaker?

Yes, sir.

The remaining 12 speakers will get three minutes each.

Tom Russian representing Royal Farms, followed by Greg Smith.

Hello, my name is Tom Russin.

I am the fuel and environmental leader for rural farms.

Um last spelling my last name is R-U-S-Z-I-N, address 3611 Roland Avenue.

Um I'm also a member of the development team for rural farms.

So um mainly I wanted to speak about uh some concerns that that have been brought up about safety and then uh touch on any environmental as well.

Um we use approximately 35 cameras throughout the property um that monitor the property 24-7.

Um we also uh use AI and analytics um to assist with the monitoring um and a crime prevention through environmental design is incorporated in our layouts and landscaping, so it gives clear line of sight for the cameras and for first responders as they're driving by the property.

Um there's also duress alarms located uh behind the registers.

Um also behind the registers, we use uh bars cigarette locks.

Um because oftentimes when you know thefts they're more interested in in cigarettes than cash, believe it or not.

So we we go through great lengths to make sure that we have all of that locked up.

Like I said, there's bars, there's and then the the cache is in a um in a digital safe that is locked.

Um we also have a a high um high door behind the uh to to prevent people from getting behind the cash registers that's locked.

Um we also have guard armored guard services that come and handles the cash on a daily basis.

Um then if if necessary, and this is only typically in you know urban settings, we can we have the uh the ability to give access to law enforcement uh to our camera systems.

Um as far as environmental any environmental concerns, as Tyler indicated, our our tanks are fiberglass, they're double-walled, they're continuously monitored.

Um we have a spill prevention plan that all of our stores are trained on.

All of our stores are trained to be uh UST, which is underground storage tank operators.

Um our systems are fully compliant with federal regulations, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Regulations.

Not only are the tanks double walled, our our product piping is double-walled as well as well as our vents and spill containment for any of the delivery drivers as well.

Um that's mostly you know what I prepared today.

If anyone has any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them as well.

Thank you, sir.

I appreciate you.

Greg Smith, two Farms Inc.

for questions only.

Followed by Bernadette Jackson Ford.

Mr.

Mayor, Madame Vice Mayor, members of council, my name is Greg Schmidt, and I am the civil engineer for Two Farms Inc.

Rural Farms.

My address is 4525 Suite 1000 in Virginia Beach.

I did want to highlight a few things, you know, around the intentionality around the design and some of the things that we work through with staff, some of that being uh the enhanced landscape offering that Tyler had touched on.

That does come with a three-foot-tall berm along both frontages, a solid hedgerow, and then associated uh street trees, canopy trees that will be located along both frontages.

Um, as Tyler had mentioned, we also are extending the sidewalk as a pedestrian amenity along Hampton Roads Parkway.

Um, and that was something that was conditioned out of close coordination with with uh planning staff as well.

Um we did locate the diesel fuel canopy as far from the neighborhoods as possible, and that wasn't a mistake that was out of intentional design to locate anything where larger vehicles could be maneuvering uh through that fuel canopy as far from residential neighborhoods as possible.

That circulation for how that canopy will function, um larger vehicles will come in off of Portsmouth Boulevard, they'll loop in and have to exit back out to Portsmouth Boulevard.

So again, trying to reduce and and mitigate any impact of larger vehicles using Hampton Roads Parkway is how that site was laid out.

Um in addition to what Tyler had touched on, while we are showing a right turn lane, um, the TIA that was reviewed by city traffic engineering staff and approved prior to coming um to council tonight does also include some enhanced signal timing, so coordination of signals post-development, and it's noted in the traffic uh engineering the traffic impact analysis that the level of service largely remains unchanged for all movements, and that's looking at Jolliffe Landing Parkway, Hampton Roads Parkway, and Jolliffe Landing Road, those three main signalized intersections along Portsmouth Boulevard, um, seeing minor delays and large, in some cases, improvements with those enhanced signal timings post-development, and that's analyzing it against projects that are already approved uh or under construction uh within the area.

Um a few other things, the the stormwater design.

Um, this site was master plan with much of the residential development around it for a max impervious cover of 80 percent, contemplating this to be developed as a commercial development.

Um we do have rights to outfall into that BMP with the development and this being a gas station, um we have started working through some of the detailed design to work through the details of the stormwater treatment.

We will have an outlet.

Sorry, sir.

If you have any questions, I'll be available.

Yep, thank you.

Bernadette Jackson Ford Ford representing self, followed by Tyrone Ford.

Madam Clerk, how long did you say each speaker has?

Three minutes.

Three minutes.

Just making that clear for the speakers, three minutes.

All right.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I thank you for the opportunity to speak.

I'm here representing part of my community, the Jolliffe Landing Town Home Community, which is located in West End Branch.

I want to get to logistics for a minute.

There are there is a gas station within two minutes of where we live.

Two minutes.

There are others that are within five, six, and eight minutes from where we live.

I believe that there are four to five, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm not understanding why we need another gas station when we have one that's within two minutes.

They spoke about security, and I appreciate all of that.

I haven't heard anything about the food.

I don't want rodents running around in our neighborhood.

You know, that's that's a possibility.

The other thing that I think that we need to take into consideration is the added pollution.

Is anybody thinking about our air?

We've got, like I said, a gas station, just a few feet from where we live.

Amazon is right across from us.

We have a lot of traffic up and down Port Smith Boulevard.

I don't feel, in my estimation, that that's the proper facility to be putting in our neighborhood.

The other thing I want to uh bring in uh to light is that it has been noted, documented, that when you put a gas station near a residential area, it devalues the homes.

We have worked hard.

We have a beautiful community.

We don't want that.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you.

So uh good evening.

Um I I think my wife really covered it well.

Um, I just like to add to that.

Um, rather than uh than having been surprised about uh first the Starbucks moving into the neighborhood and now this operation about to move into the neighborhood.

Um it would have been nice had we been notified early so that we would have um appeared in front of this council uh with many more people because I would imagine most people, if not everyone, is not uh happy or satisfied that uh fresh farms um along with Starbucks has now moved into our residential area.

We do have a commercial uh space, like my wife stated, that's it's that's all but two minutes away in terms of a drive.

Um, traffic in that area because of the Amazon, another huge commercial uh uh business that's just across the street from us, um, is going to have uh a ton of trucks that will now uh start to visit the West Farm.

Uh I'm sorry, the Fresh Farms operation because there'll be a gas station.

Um the residents are not happy at all about this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Corey Young, representing Celk, followed by Stacey Sherry.

Good evening, Mayor and the City Council members.

My name is Corey Young.

I'm here tonight to strongly oppose the approval of the zoning application, rezoning application, and a conditional use approval for Royal Farms location in inside our community.

This decision is not just about another store, it's about public safety, environmental responsibility, traffic congestion, crime, and the long-term value of our neighborhoods.

First, safety.

Adding a 24-hour convenience store and gas stations increases the risk of accidents, pedestrian injuries, and emergency calls.

We should be investing in safer streets, not creating new hazards for families, seniors, and children who live nearby.

Anyone who drives through this area knows congestion is already a problem.

I saw it when I was leaving out of the neighborhood today, this afternoon.

Royal Farms will attract heavy vehicle traffic at all hours, delivery trucks, late-night customers, and commuters.

This will create backups, increase road wear, and make it harder for residents to get in and out of our own neighborhoods.

Our infrastructure is not built for this level of volume.

Some of that was in the traffic impact analysis as well.

We talked about the the use levels going up and down during rush hour.

Then there's crime.

Let's be honest.

24-hour convenience stores often become hot spots and loadering for laundering theft, disturbances, and violent incidents.

We don't want our police scratched thinner.

We don't want our families feeling unsafe in their own communities.

Prevention matters, and improving this location sends the wrong message.

We must also consider the environment.

Gas stations increase the risk of fuel leaks, air pollution, and storm water contamination.

Our community deserves clean air, protected groundwater, not more tonsons and runoff entering our ecosystem.

And finally, property values.

Homeowners have invested their life savings into their homes.

Excuse me.

Studies consistently show that gas stations and late-night convenience stores can lower the property values of surrounding areas.

This hurts families, seniors, and anyone trying to build generational wealth.

This council has the power to shape the future of our city.

We ask you to think about the people who live here in this community, not the corporate profits.

Royal Farms will make money and potentially move on.

We will be here to stay in this community.

We want development but smart development.

Businesses that uplift our community, not burden it.

Projects that create jobs without sacrificing safety, peace, and quality of life.

Please listen to your constituents.

Please stand with the residents who live here every day and vote no on dislocation approval.

Thank you for your time.

Stacey Sherry representing South, followed by Robin Hayes.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Stacey Sherry, and I live in this community.

I am also opposed to the Royal Farms that is only 0.2 miles from my home.

I am asking you tonight to pause and truly imagine what this proposal would mean if this was your neighborhood.

Picture your children riding bikes, walking dogs, or waiting for the school bus, which is just steps away from a busy gas station that operates possibly 24 hours a day.

National crime data consistently shows that gas stations and convenience stores are higher risk locations for robberies and violent crime.

Now imagine explaining to your child why why strangers are loitering nearby, why trucks are idling outside your home, or why it no longer feels safe to play outside.

This is the reality we face if this gas station is built here.

Now let's consider some real incidents that illustrate the risks.

These are just a few of the thousands around the country or in our local area.

Recent headlines a pregnant 19-year-old in Michigan was shot and killed at a gas station along with her unborn child by a teen who walked into the store and opened fire.

A man was killed in a senseless shooting at a Phoenix gas station recently.

Chesapeake police investigated the death at the Gummerton Road gas station.

Also, suspects were sought in an armed robbery at another Chesapeake gas station.

An accused gas station robber was charged with attempted capital murder at a royal farms.

In Hampton, Virginia, an armed robbery attempt at a Royal Farms on West Mercury Boulevard led to a police officer officer shooting a suspect who was pointing a gun at the clerk.

And in Chesapeake in Portsmouth line, a 15-year-old boy was shot in a Royal Farms parking lot, sustaining non-life threatening injuries, and that investigation is still ongoing.

These are just some of the incidents, and the list goes on.

Across the streets sits a massive Amazon warehouse.

Residents fear that this gas station will become a magnet for delivery trucks, parking or idling along Hampton Roads Parkway.

This is where families live, walk, and raise their children.

This has also been a problem in the past, and it still is a problem today.

I am also concerned about property values.

I paid well over a half a million dollars to build my home, and as a real estate agent myself, I know that gas stations near single family residences residences statistically lower property values.

We chose this neighborhood because it was safe, quiet, and family friendly.

A high traffic, late-night gas station does not belong at the edge of a residential community.

I respectfully ask the council to protect our families, our children, possibly your children, and the character of our neighborhood.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Robin Hayes.

Followed by La Vita McIntyre.

Hello.

I can't really speak on anything other than what my community has already spoken on.

Basically, the 24-hour gas station is basically what they just said.

Crime, theft, late light, late night noise.

The traffic that we already have for the Amazon is crazy.

I mean, the trucks already park along our Hampton Mills Parkway, Portsmouth Boulevard.

We already have to call the non-emergency number to have the trucks removed with signs being there with peak hours with the 24-hour convenience store slash gas station is only going to be worse.

The values of our home will decrease.

I know that.

And I have been living here since day one as a homeowner.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Lavita McIntyre, and I stay in the Jollop Landed Townhomes.

Western branch is approximately 18 to 20 square miles in circumference.

We have approximately 45,000 residents.

Along that, we have one Wawa, four 7-Elevens, one Sams Club that has gas, one BJ's, one shale, and four miscellaneous gas stations already.

We used to have another gas station outside the Dun Eden community, and that townhome community became a very bad eyesore.

That gas station is now closed down, and now it's a big empty parking lot sitting outside the town hall.

We do not want that for our town hall community.

There's a Royal Farms right side right outside of Churchland.

No offense, but Royal Farms is not that good enough for us to even want it on the edge of our community.

The shale, there's one shale gas station.

That is the only gas station that has a community that sits right on the edge of it, where the entrance is where rural farms want to build for us.

And the only reason why that community has a shale on the outside of its community is because the gas station was there first.

The community took some of the space from the YMCA and they built a re um a senior living community.

We are totally and vehemently opposed of having the rural farms there.

Let's take a look.

The rural farms will sit on the outside of our community across from the park that was built.

With that being said, Royal Farms Wild Wild 7 Eleven always have panhandlers.

They always have homeless people.

Now you have these people sitting outside a gas station looking right across the street at the park.

What happens at the park?

The park has children there.

So we could have sexual assaults.

We could have pedophilia.

We could have people soliciting for people to buy liquor for them.

The key is to buy liquor for them and cigarettes.

That is a common factor when you're dealing with gas stations and children.

What do they do?

They throw their trash in and out the car.

So now you're saying at the edge of our community, we could possibly have a big trash buildup.

We are we are understanding of what they stated.

They stated at the last meeting, we're talking about jobs.

Economic growth for jobs.

That's not going to be sustainable, and that's gonna hurt our community.

We ask that you all do not approve this.

Give it some thought, give it some grace, understand where we're coming from.

This is our home, this is our community.

Please do not agree to this.

Thank you.

Kristen Bowman, Esquire representing Jolloff Landing neighborhood homeowners, followed by Jeremy Bowman.

I'm Kristen Bowman.

I'm a resident of Jolliffe Landing at 2220 Santa Bell Lane.

I'm also an attorney in the Commonwealth and in Chesapeake.

Um I've spoken to a lot of my neighbors, a lot of whom are not here tonight.

I'm actively involved in the community.

Um I'm on the events committee.

I'm the treasurer for the events committee.

I'm actively doing things with my neighbors and talking to my neighbors all of the time.

Umbody wants this 24-hour gas station at the edge of our community.

The people who aren't here aren't here because they don't think you care, and they don't think being here will make a difference.

And I've come tonight to speak out on their behalf and hopefully um be able to tell them that they're wrong.

I concur 100% with the sentiments of all my other neighbors, particularly um those in the townhomes that are literally, if they push that entrance um off of Hampton Roads Parkway back to where they want it, it basically you're gonna have semi-trucks, you're gonna have other heavy vehicles, you're gonna have a majority of traffic entering the Royal Farms Gas Station, literally almost across from where all of these residential folks are entering the entrance to those townhomes.

Um you're also gonna have just incredible ingress and egress coming off of Port Smith Boulevard.

Um I uh concur and did the research this afternoon in preparation to come here and speak to you all tonight.

There are five gas stations within a two-mile area of that address.

They are the Sicco, the Sinoco, the Millers, the Sam's Club, the Shell.

What is different about Royal Farms?

Royal Farms has this diesel canopy, and I suspect because of where it's gonna be placed across from the Amazon Fulfillment Center and have this dedicated diesel canopy, they are going to attempt to allure these massive semi-truck drivers to be continually trying.

If you drive down there at rush hour, it is absolutely terrifying, folks.

That road is massive.

You all are sitting here thinking of, oh, there's gonna be a cute pedestrian walkway.

How many of you want to come out here in front of my neighborhood between 5 and 6 p.m.

with a crap ton of semi-trucks and walk next to a four-lane highway?

This is this is not picturesque.

There's a park right nearby.

These semi-trucks, they are parking all over that whole area.

Lowe's lets them all park in their parking lot.

That's private property, can't do anything about that.

There's the park on the other corner.

And before our neighbors started calling the police non-emergency number, those semi-truck drivers without the trailers on the back, parked bobtail, were parking next to that community park all of the time.

It was making all the mothers nervous.

It was making all the people with children nervous.

People didn't want to take their kids to play the park, and because of the efforts of our community, single-handedly our residents, irritating the police non-emergency.

We got signs put up and they start parking there, but the parking will be a continuing issue.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Jeremy Bowman, followed by Brian Fagan.

Good evening, Mayor and uh count fellow counsel.

Uh I'm Jeremy Bowman.

I'm a realtor, I'm a right-of-way agent, real estate specialist.

Uh I work throughout the state as well as in other states.

Um I'm here to oppose the Royal Farms gas station, convenience store, however they want to phrase it.

Um as a real estate specialist, you know, you do research and you look at neighborhoods and determine where people want to be.

And um you bring in something like um a diesel canopy.

That's not where residential people are going.

That's where semi-trucks, trucks that are carrying cargo, big vehicles are gonna go.

So you're putting that right in front of a residential neighborhood where you already have people trying to come in and out.

Um there's no uh through ways.

This is uh one way in, one way out.

And you're gonna have trucks trying to go through this subdivision, basically.

So, you know, they speak about oh, it's just uh to be for like RVs and stuff.

That's just that's just a kind of a glaze over of everything.

Um, you know, keep in mind that people have their kids out there running around.

These truck drivers already drive recklessly, they park aimlessly, they don't care, it's not their community.

So Royal Farms again doesn't care about the community itself.

Um, just three years ago, they withdrew from Suffolk on Bridge Road.

So that should tell you something right there about you know what they really care about.

Um, as a right-of-way agent, I deal with acquisitions, I deal with relocations.

I have to move people, and it's hard sometimes.

So they're they're kind of doing the same kind of thing.

They're acquiring something, and they're not really giving anything back to the community itself.

They're just looking at it to line their pockets.

Um, safety is a big thing.

Um again, I'm not gonna repeat what my fellow uh neighbors have said, um, but that's a big big concern.

And lastly, uh we live in the single family homes.

We weren't even given notice about any of this.

We just happened to find out through uh somebody in the townhomes that they were given notice.

So they didn't even do their due diligence in that aspect to give notification to everybody in that area.

So again, what what do they really care about at the end of the day?

So thank you all again, and I hope you will highly consider everybody that is coming here, has spoken and um you know, oppose this proposition that they have for us.

So thank you.

Brian Fagan representing South, followed by Yevgenia Taylor.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members.

Um, my name is Brian Fagan.

I'm a military member.

I've been here for a year and a half.

I'm a data scientist by trade.

But what I'd like to talk to you all about is something as a council member, you all look at strategic visions within the city and opportunity costs that present themselves within these decisions.

So you all have a choice to choose between a gas station or or defer it and deny this and choose for something else.

So something I'd like to make sure that you're you know is this neighborhood alone.

We have about 1,600 homes between what is currently there and then what is in plan between neighboring or adjacent areas such as the cove, uh Jolliffe Landing, we're gonna have 435 houses alone.

We're about halfway to three quarters of the way through building that.

Um the grove across the way is gonna have 84.

There's town homes that has over 110, and they're looking at 850 homes across the across the way, which is just on the other side of this road.

So that's something that I I think you should think about as well.

And then with that, I'd just like to point out that there are zero grocery stores on this side of Portsmouth Boulevard and 664.

I think this opportunity cost is a lot better for a grocery store, such as Trader Drove's, Aldi, Letl, something like that, that would actually fit those 1600 homes.

And then I'd just like to point out for the thoughtfully designed landscaping area.

The green area across the bottom is actually destroying a running path that we have that is uh very good that I I like to use all the time along there.

Um and then that it doesn't account for the expansion that's in your 2030 uh 2045 plan for for this area, which is going to be an eight-lane road.

So if you approve it as is, you're gonna have to tear down a lot of this stuff as is to actually expand.

So I just want to highlight that as an opportunity cost of what you have.

If anything, I think there should be delayed and there should be further research put into it if you just don't deny it as is.

So thank you.

I hope you all have a good night.

The final speaker is Yevinia Taylor.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor and City Council.

My name is Eviny Taylor.

I'm the homeowner at the Jolly London Town Homes community, and I'm here um to speak in the opposition of this project.

Um I'm not going to repeat all of the things that my fellow residents shared already.

Obviously, there's a lot of concerns about the noise uh pollution, traffic safety.

Um I do want to bring your attention once again to the fact that this is a very congested traffic light.

Uh we already shared this um traffic intersect this intersection with the Amazon distribution center, and that creates uh significant congestion.

So we as residents regularly observe track trail trailers backing up and safe U-turns and commercial vehicles parking in residential streets.

And adding this 24-7 um gas station would severely worsen the congestion and increase the accident risk and danger pedestrians and children and compromise emergency vehicle access.

We are a very active community.

We are um dog friendly, we have a lot of people who are exercise, um, we have a lot of children.

We use those side sidewalks a lot, and you can see a lot of us out there on the streets at all hours of the day.

So on top of that, I would like to bring the attention that right across the street from this uh suggested site on the side of the Amazon warehouse, there is Virginia's fifth largest live oak tree, beautiful large tree.

And um it's a rare and protected natural landmark and construction of the underground fuel tanks and stormwater runoff and increased emission threatens its health and longevity.

In addition, gas station also will bring air pollution, petty crime, noise, light pollution, potential soil, and groundwater contamination.

Um if you look at that circle right there, that is where the first line of the town homes.

So it's literally um just a few feet away from the entrance to the gas station, which means that the um station would shine directly into the bedrooms and the living rooms of um nearby homes.

With that being said, I urge you to deny this project.

And um I've heard the um remark about the jobs, and yes, it may create a few parts on positions, but these jobs are not unique or significant compared to the number of residents affected by this project.

So um just like my fellow residents stated, um, I respectfully urge you to deny their approval of this project and protect the safety and environmental integrity of our city and our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So before I ask for a motion, I do want to address a couple of issues.

Uh first of all, several speakers sort of apologize for not having more people here.

Uh this council does it make its decision on items based on the number of people that show up.

We make our this decisions and our votes based on the merits of the points that are made by the speakers, whether it's 10 or 10,000, doesn't matter, other than if it's fewer, we have more time to go uh get home earlier.

But uh having a lot of people here is not essential.

Secondly, as I said, we make our decision based on the merits, and you all have made some wonderful points, wonderful points.

There'll be there's only one that I would uh say that we cannot consider or should not consider, and that's uh the need for a particular uh a business.

It is not our position to say there are too many grocery stores or too many gas stations.

Uh that is that if we use that, then we'd be picking winners and losers, and we depend on the uh the marketplace to determine determine uh that that part of it.

So having said those two things, I would ask for a motion.

Um Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you.

Um based on the viable use of the property under the current zoning, which is split zoning and allows for extensively more development than if it was one zoning class.

I would move that this application be denied.

Thank you.

Do we have a thank you, Dr.

Ward?

We have a motion and a second for denial.

Is there any further discussion?

Ms.

Ritter.

Thank you.

I I echo what the mayor said.

This is not an issue of competition.

This is America.

Competition, we believe is a good thing.

It's not a question of the business not being valuable and good.

Um a certain council member sitting very close to me loves the fried chicken.

I've never tried it.

So it's not a question that this is a business we don't want in Chesapeake.

The question is citing the business.

I understand that staff's point.

Um later we're gonna preview folks in the back.

Um discuss the comprehensive plan and how easy it is to change that.

So I would just say uh we were very sorry you pulled out of the um location on South Battlefield and Hillwell.

Um that would have been a perfect site.

But when you cannot assuage or mitigate the concerns of the neighbors, and my point, folks, would particularly be the traffic issues.

Um in the very best of circumstances, the traffic could work well there.

I'm very familiar with the site.

But I would say there is no place in Chesapeake with good circumstances of traffic.

There just isn't.

And it's not the design, it's not the size of the road, it is drivers.

So you know, I I share those concerns.

I've been over there quite a bit.

Um I think the mayor and I were there when the road expansion, ribbon cutting took place.

So the traffic issues are really important.

I hope some of the other council people will weigh in.

And I hope that you won't abandon the city of Chesapeake.

Um we have many places where this would fit and fit very well.

And I'm sure the department, the planning department could give you a little bit better way to interface with the community.

Um the one thing I'd like to add to the mayor's comment.

For those people who don't feel they were notified adequately, the state code requires certain notification processes for an applicant.

This applicant followed those, but they are limited to adjacent properties.

So people right across the street would be notified.

And you know, that's the state requirement, and so as not to put a burden on applicants.

Most of them stick to that, and they can't really be faulted for that.

So that's where your neighborhood communication comes in in such a positive way.

Um I'll defer to Dr.

Ward, Ms.

Newens, and um hope that other council people will weigh in.

Other people may have opinions different from mine.

Thank you, Ms.

Ritter.

Excellent points.

Oh, Dr.

Ward.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And I do uh certainly want to thank uh Royal Farms for your efforts.

But um question branch, um is a vibrant uh well-planned, well-developed community.

Um I live there and lived there for 30, almost 36 years, we'll be in October, and I'm just very, very excited uh that the community has stepped forward to let uh let us know.

And I'm just very, very excited that the community has stepped forward to let uh let us know.

I do know because I live there what the traffic is like, uh what those other gas stations are like, uh what the beautiful neighborhood is uh like, but also what Amazon, and we are glad to have it there.

Um friends who work there, but the traffic, the truck traffic, uh already it really puts the damper on the community, the safety.

The trail you talked about, that's beautiful.

Uh I think one of the most beautiful ones in Chesapeake.

Uh I've lived here 53 years.

So I thank all of you for coming for voicing your opinions and very valid opinions.

You know, our neighborhoods are we are people in person.

We always talk about the small town building that's still here, even though we have 250,000 plus people.

But our vibrant, active, safe neighborhoods for families and children.

Um it's important, very, very important, and sometimes it outweighs uh possibly you know, more and more uh traffic and businesses.

But I thank you for coming, and I was going to motion to deny, so I seconded that motion because I just think it's the right thing to do for our citizens and for our beautiful neighborhoods.

Um I love Western Branch.

We've been there 36 years, and I do know about the other stations and BJs and the Sams Club and the Amazon, and I too was there with that ribbon cutting.

Um, but uh our neighborhoods and your neighborhoods are most important in this decision.

Thank you so very much for coming, and I'm happy to second that motion to deny.

And I hope my other city council members will agree uh that this is just not the right location for Royal Farms.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Uh Mr.

Jeffers.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Again, I'd like to echo the sentiments of my fellow uh council members, and thank you for coming out tonight.

Those representing rural farms and those representing your community.

Uh I came in with an open mind tonight, uh, having reviewed the packet fully, having read every email uh multiple times with the concerns that were voiced uh from the residents.

Um I I recognize that uh the detached diesel fuel island was characterized for residential vehicles.

However, I believe in looking at the plans that would accommodate uh the refuelment of tractor trailers.

Um I don't have any concerns that Royal Farms would become a truck stop.

I my concerns are that this residential neighborhood would become the truck stop.

That these tractor trailers would come in, refuel and eat somewhere to stage or take a nap until it was their turn across the street at Amazon.

Uh and that was a concern that I had coming in tonight, and that was only reaffirmed by the information that was provided.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Dillons.

I just want to thank everyone as well for speaking.

I'm not going to repeat everything that was said.

I agree with my fellow council members.

But one thing I did want to say was one of the speakers indicated that their neighbors didn't feel like their voice mattered or that they wouldn't be heard if they came to council.

Um I I just want to assure you that that is not this council.

This council will read your emails like Councilmember Jeffries indicated.

Um we try to respond to your emails.

Most of us do.

We listen to you when you're here.

We give thoughtful, thoughtful input um when it comes to making our votes.

So for those that are here, we appreciate you being here.

Your voice is heard.

We do listen to you.

For those who can't be here, and maybe are watching on TV, please come because we do listen to you.

Please email us, call us.

A lot of our cell phones are public, text us, um, reach out to us if you are interested in voicing your concern because we do listen.

So that is not this council.

I just want to make sure you know your voice will be heard on this council, and we appreciate you all being here.

Thank you, Ms.

Newens.

Uh Dr.

King.

Well, I wanted to say first of all, thank you to Royal Farms for coming out and doing your research.

Very much appreciate it.

Um, to all of the citizens who have spoken this evening, thank you for your input.

Um I too came in with an open mind, and you made some very valid points, and and I appreciate it.

And I have the same concerns that all of you share.

And not only do we need the buy-in of those who will be impacted, but in order to have a successful business in that neighborhood, you need the buy-in of the people who live there.

And quite obviously from the discussions tonight, we don't have that.

So I will not be supporting this as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

King.

We do have a motion uh from Ms.

Ritter, seconded by Dr.

Ward for denial of this applicant of this item.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record Madam Clark.

There might be some confusion.

We have a motion for denial.

Clear to board, please.

The vote for denial.

If you're in favor of denial, vote with your green button.

If you are not in favor of denial, vote with the red button.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote.

And record, Madam Clark.

Motion to deny PLN REZ 2025-014 is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Next item, Madam Clerk.

We will skip item E at this time.

That's the use permit.

The next item will be F PLN use 2025-042.

American Legion Grassfield.

Applicant and owner, Williams Mullen Agency for a conditional use permit to operate a private membership club within an existing shopping center.

The property is located at 648 Grassfield Parkway, suite 20B in the Grassfield Planning Area.

The planning commission recommends approval with the stipulations listed in the official agenda.

Thank you.

Mr.

McNameyer.

The proposed use as stipulate does not pose more adverse impacts to the adjacent uses, such as noise or glare than those uses generally permitted in the zoning district.

Staff recommends approval with stipulations dated November 18th, 2025.

Hey, and Madam Clark, do we have any speakers on this item?

Yes, sir.

We have two speakers.

The first speaker is Grady Palmer, representing American Legion, followed by Jay Call.

Good evening, Mayor West, Vice Mayor Ritter, members of City Council.

My name is Grady Palmer, my business address 22 Central Park Avenue in Virginia Beach, and it's a real pleasure to be here tonight on behalf of the American Legion.

280, as you know, they've operated uh in Oak Grove for many, many years.

Uh the this application, uh, if approved, will allow them to remove the social quarters uh from uh their current location uh to it to a commercial um shopping center.

And so really the the point is to separate out for the Legion the social quarters from the community and service uh aspects of it, which we would continue to remain uh at the Oak Grove site.

So this use permit would allow them to operate within the shopping center uh for for their social quarters only.

So with that, we'll we do ask for your approval.

I'll stand by for any questions that you have.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next speaker, please.

Jay Call for questions only.

Thank you.

Motion with stipulations is in order, Ms.

Newlands.

Move approval with stipulations.

Thank you.

Mr.

Jeffries, second.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clerk.

Motion to approve PLN use 2025-042 with stipulations as presented is adopted by an 8-0 vote.

Next item.

PLN text 2025-009.

Involuntarily removed billboards.

An ordinance amending appendix A of the Chesapeake City Code in Title Zoning, Article 14, Section 706, to allow City Council to approve modifications to setbacks and other design requirements for involuntarily removed billboards as part of the conditional use permit approval.

The planning commission recommends approval of version dated October 24, 2025.

Planning staff recommendations.

The proposed text amendment provides clarification on different standards for existing non-conforming billboard signs and gives city council the ability to provide flexibility and setback requirements and design standards for those that are to be relocated.

Staff recommends approval of version dated October 24, 2025.

Thank you.

And do we have any speakers?

We have two speakers for questions only.

Steve Romine and Ted Sarrell.

Thank you, gentlemen.

A motion, please.

Move approval.

Thank you.

Mr.

Vunn.

Second.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

Either.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve PLN text 2025-009.

Version dated October 24, 2025.

As presented, is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Next item.

PLN Comp 2025-003.

2045 Chesapeake Comprehensive Plan.

A resolution to amend the text correlating maps and technical document of the 2035 Chesapeake Comprehensive Plan as necessary to repeal the Chesapeake 2035 Comprehensive Plan, including all studies, maps, and plans incorporated therein and adopt the Chesapeake 2045 Comprehensive Plan with all attachments, maps, and appendices included therewith.

The planning commission recommends approval.

Thank you.

Mr.

McNamare.

Chesapeake 2045 will be a robust action-oriented plan to guide the city for the next 20 years.

Community engagement was conducted throughout the planning process in order to involve as many residents and stakeholders as possible.

Staff recommends approval version dated January 20, 2026.

Thank you, sir.

Do we have any speakers?

Yes, sir.

We have six speakers.

They will be allowed five minutes each.

The first is Rogard Ross, representing the Sustainability Network, followed by Melanie Plough.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, and members of the City Council.

It's been a long journey, but we're here with the Comp plan tonight.

My name is Roger Ross, I live at 3800 Rivercrest Place.

And I am here to speak in support of the revised Comp Plan with some reservations.

Overall, the draft COMP plan presents a strong vision for creating a high-quality future for the city that's proactive about developing necessary infrastructure, protects green and open space, and works to connect people and respects the unique character of different parts of the city.

The policies presented adopt principles of smart growth and focus on moving people on complete streets and provide safe access for all, including pedestrians, bicycles, motorists, and transit users.

From an environmental perspective, the document has some good policies related to wetlands, living shorelines, and trees.

It includes planning for projected sea level rise.

It looks for to address environmental justice concerns of communities.

It looks for the municipal properties to model renewable energy and energy efficiency, and as a policies to establish a city and fund a citywide policy for planting and maintaining street trees.

For rural areas, it speaks of preserving hedgerows and tree lines and natural vegetation to protect these landscapes.

It recognizes that light and noise pollution impact both humans and wildlife.

There are many very good environmental qualities in here.

The document could have done better in a few areas.

While it emphasizes the importance of trees, healthy green spaces more than just trees.

We need fewer lawns, more bushes, more flowering plants, and the kind of plants matter.

We need native plants that support local biodiversity, and we need to encompass the whole urban landscape.

The city currently supports these conservation landscaping efforts by supporting efforts from the Virginia Extension Office, the Elizabeth River Project, the Soil and Water Conservation District, and the CEIC and PRT's healthy landscapes programs.

Although the staff did not include a policy on this in the document, I dearly hope that the city will continue to support these efforts.

The old 2035 Comp plan had policies to educate residents about protecting wetlands, identifying city-owned land that could be set aside for tree preservation, and encouraging the establishment of farmers' markets and community gardens.

We still need these policies.

From a process perspective, the planning department did give a lot of time to collect feedback on the plan.

We had 60 days to review the final draft, but then the department only gave itself seven business days to incorporate the feedback that they got before they went to the Planning Commission.

We in the Sustainability Network read the document very carefully and submitted 19 pages of comments.

Many of our substantive substantive comments were not included, and none of our editorial comments were.

Thank you.

Mr.

Roth.

Melanie Plough, representing Plantation Lake, speaking in opposition, followed by Bill Young.

Hello, Mayor and City Council.

Excuse me, but I'm very nervous.

My name is Melanie Plouf, and I live on Volvo Parkway.

My concern tonight is about the 2045 comprehensive plan that I believe you're voting on approving today.

Hopefully, maybe make some adjustments.

My concern is how are you gonna do it?

I know the plan it said you're gonna do it, but I never saw how you're gonna make that happen.

Um I live in a community plantation lakes, it's uh 296 homes with 124 being town homes right on Volvo Parkway.

I have no idea how you can make a six-lane highway on Volvo right in front of our our our community.

Um I ask that maybe you postpone voting on the 2045 until you can maybe show us more about the egresses and the regresses that are planned, and how we can actually exist uh with a six-lane highway out in front of our homes like that.

Um it's already over where we feel already over a lot of people.

So um just hope you consider us in that decision.

Bill Young, representing the Chesapeake Alliance, speaking in support, followed by Laura Poll.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, members of council.

Uh, my name is Bill Young.

I'm the chief innovation officer at Four Kids located in South Norfolk, but I'm here tonight to uh act as the chair of the housing task force of the Chesapeake Alliance.

I'm pleased to share the Chesapeake Alliance's support of the housing chapter and the draft comprehensive plan under consideration this evening, and specifically to express our thanks to the planning staff uh for their Herculean efforts to bring this to to council this evening.

Housing and specifically the affordability of housing is an issue at the forefront forefront of the Chesapeake business communities agenda as we try to attract and retain workers to grow our local economy.

You may have heard that housing is where jobs go to sleep at night.

That's why it's so passionate.

We are so passionate about supporting the improving the supply and diversity of Chesapeake's housing stock.

Our support of the housing chapter is based on the chapter's alignment with the Chesapeake Alliance's recommendations shared in late 2024.

Those six recommendations were to one align economic development, education and housing policies, two to increase multifamily zoning in urban and suburban overlay districts, three to provide density and affordability bonuses, four to support low-income housing tax credit, LITEC projects, five, dedicated local funding for affordability, and six to track our progress towards the housing plan with the community dashboard.

Each of these recommendations is either explicitly or implicitly referenced in the housing chapter, uh, and the alliance urges you to adopt the comprehensive plan as drafted, and more importantly, to implement the plan to create a brighter future for Chesapeake.

The members of the Chesapeake Alliance stand ready to support those efforts.

Thank you.

Laura Pohl representing Sales speaking in opposition.

Followed by Vanessa Butler.

Good evening, Mayor and Councilman.

I'd like to tell you my name is Laura Pohl.

I live at 1715 Volvo Parkway, which is in the Plantation Lakes neighborhood.

If you ever driven from Greenbrier to Centerville, you've seen how beautiful it is there.

We have a median with flowers and birds and eagles.

You are trying to take away our beautification of our neighborhood.

It's a two-lane highway now.

You want to make it six.

We're going to lose our median.

We're going to lose our feeder road.

We're going to lose where we park.

We're afraid to even cross the street these days.

It's a 35 mile an hour, and the people are not doing 35.

If you know any of the police, you can ask them.

People are doing 50 and 60 miles an hour.

You have children waiting at school buses on that road.

And they're still doing 50 or 60 miles an hour.

So if you expand our road, you're gonna the noise, the pollution, we're gonna lose all our trees and all the beauty of Chesapeake.

That why we all moved here.

Virginia Beach will not put a train going from Chesapeake to Virginia because they don't want that riff rap coming here.

We don't need six lanes in that certain area of where we live.

Thank you.

Vanessa Butler speaking in opposition, followed by Elizabeth Ayers.

My name is Vanessa Butler.

I live at 1021 West Road, and I'm opposed to the comp plan as it is, specifically the South Central Water Line from Dominion Boulevard to Drumcastle.

As per December 99th meeting of the City of Council, it was noted that uh it would not be a mandatory hookup to city water or city sewage as it is currently.

We are still under the map for the PUFA currently, and we are under the intended for service clause.

I ask at this time that this we would be removed from that PUFA from Dominion Boulevard to Drum Castle to remove the 44 properties along West Road specifically, and to send out a letter that states it will not be a mandatory connection.

I also request that if any time in the future that these properties would need to drill a new well or and or a new septic system, that these properties will not be penalized in any way by any authority, and will be given access to the needed permits and help as indicated under these future situations.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Ayers representing CELF speaking in opposition.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Miss Vy uh Vice Mayor, and City Council.

My name is Elizabeth Ayers.

I live on 204 Westmoreland Court in Chesapeake, right off of Oak Grove Road.

And my concern with the comprehensive plan is yes, they have good ideas about housing, but there was not a lot written about roads.

Ritter, I hate to um hate to contradict what you said earlier, but I've lived here since 1989, and you said that we have adequate roads, that it's the drivers.

Now you said that some of the roads we were fine, we don't need to make them wider.

Um, but since I've lived here in 89, Battlefield Boulevard, Volvo Parkway, Greenbrier Parkway, and Kempsville Road have not gotten any larger.

But the housing in the area has grown exponentially.

The businesses in the areas have grown exponentially.

Um and yet I understand the concerns of the plantation lakes folks with making Volvo a six-lane high well highway, six-lane roadway.

Uh sorry, I'm from New York.

If it's less than eight lanes, it's not a highway.

Sorry.

Um, but I also have the concerns about the roadway, and I think it was on the 2035 plan, which I didn't see if it got to the 2045 plan.

The bus lines taking a I'm and I'm sorry if I'm talking that it wasn't if it wasn't brought ahead.

Um, taking a bus lane or making a bus lane on some of the major roads will just mess up traffic worse than it is now.

And I do agree, some of it is the drivers.

Um, I've seen accidents in good weather, bad weather, all sorts of weather.

Uh people don't pay attention to the rules, they drive down battlefield with their phone in their hand, even though I know that you know you're not supposed to have a it's all supposed to be hands-free.

But when I drive in the morning or in the evening, I see people on their phone, I see them reading the paper, things like that.

Um, but my concern is all of the roads around the Greenbrier area and West Greenbrier are very congested.

And it's really difficult when we have Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, we have an urgent care on Volvo.

We have multiple, sorry, multiple urgent cares on Volvo, that the ambulance crews cannot even get through because of the volume.

And I understand multifamily housing is much more affordable, and housing in the area is very unaffordable.

I have two children who are still living at home because they can't get a job that pays well enough to move out, and they are in their 30s, and they both have degrees.

Um, so that is another concern.

But the we need to do something about the crowdedness of the roads.

Um I know in the past, when I've brought this up at city council meetings, they say that the um traffic group that does the traffic evaluation says that the roads are adequate for the amount of traffic.

But if they're looking at 24 hours, and you're on the road during rush hour, you're comparing apples to oranges.

You need to actually look at the time when those roads are being used to see if the roads are actually adequate for the number of people who are on those roads.

So I I think unless there's that is something that's really addressed in the 2045 new plan, that plan needs to be looked at again.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes the speakers.

And before I ask for a motion, I would like to ask the city manager.

We did have some concerns about the plan and the plans for roads in the uh Green Bar area.

Would you uh take a moment and address that, sir?

Yes, sir, and I thank you, and I really appreciate those comments.

The um the widening of um Volvo Parkway exists in the comprehensive plan today.

It's existed in previous iterations uh uh of the plan, and so it is being carried forward in this plan.

Um so it's not a change from the from the existing plan.

However, um this plan for the first time is trying to identify alternatives um to our existing major thoroughfares.

So right now, if you think about Greenbrier and a lot of the traffic issues, uh part of the problem is because there's very few east-west connections.

Almost everything has to go on Greenbrier Parkway, or if you're further west, um Battlefield Boulevard, and you have to go really north and south on those um major uh corridors before you get an east-west connection.

So council a few months ago approved a plan for greenbrier that would add more east-west connections, particularly between Greenbrier Parkway and um and Battlefield Boulevard, but also other improvements throughout Greenbrier to try to relieve the need to widen Greenbrier Parkway, similarly is planned for a pretty significant expansion, but we're trying not to do that.

So there's no active plans um to expand Volvo Parkway or um Greenbrier Parkway.

Um we're gonna try to do it with more east-west connections in places that make sense.

Um and and then hopefully um you know we might be able to right size some of that infrastructure in the future, but there this plan does not um change what's already existed for a long time on Volvo Parkway or um or some of those other roads, but we're very mindful of what you just said, and um and we're not advancing any CIP projects to to widen those roads, and in fact, we're gonna try to look for alternatives to avoid that at all costs.

I appreciate you saying that.

And and I'd certainly you know live down the street from this neighborhood that they're concerned about.

And then I would that would be a nightmare trying to make that uh different than what it is.

And obviously it would come before council, would have to be funded, it's a whole lot that would take place prior to uh taking such drastic actions.

And I should have mentioned we have a 20-year capital uh improvement program.

Um we're look we're looking out 20 years for those projects.

It's done in five years increments.

This hasn't even ever been presented as a candidate project.

So it's it's not even on the radar screen as a candidate project.

I appreciate that.

Uh appreciate that information.

The motion is in order.

Could we have another motion, please?

Mr.

Meyer.

Thank you.

All right, yes, to the manager.

Can we get a motion for you want to talk about it would you like to make a motion?

Oh, yeah.

Who would like to make a motion?

Thank you.

Move approval.

You got a motion for approval.

Thank you.

Now, uh any discussion.

To the motion.

Yes, if I may.

Um first of all, I just want to thank Mr.

McNamara and the staff.

You all did an excellent job on this.

I know this was a labor of love.

You did a significant amount of community outreach, and you really did an excellent job in presenting us a very fine comprehensive plan for 2045.

So I just want to give you guys an opportunity a moment of thanks, that this was excellent, all the hard work you put in.

Um, I also just wanted to offer a couple of comments as it relates to some of the recommendations that are listed in the appendix.

So um specifically, and I went through them uh a little bit in depth.

So um the streetscape as it relates to there's two 44 and 45.

It'd be at least my preference that we add some attention to conservation landscaping practices.

In 44 and 45, it talks about just general landscaping.

It would be ideal.

I think this council has had a um strong outlook on conservation practices and an intent to um do better with conservation practices.

So if we could consider adding attention to landscaping practices that promote conservation.

Um, I noticed that there is a um significant focus on education just as it relates to recycling and avoiding uh increasing landfill.

If uh generally with environmental practice, it would be nice to have a general education practice.

So increasing education altogether on all these different topics.

There are so many, I would say subsets of edu environmental that I didn't even know much about until I got into reading some of these things that exist.

So if we could consider just increasing our educational realm for the entire environmental, not just recycling, that would be, I think, ideal with council's vision.

A couple of just other things.

Under quality of life, we include under number 29 to encourage developers to provide public recreation amenities.

I think this is an opportunity for us to also encourage developers to include public art amenities.

So we look at just recreation.

I know we've had pickleball and dog parks and things of that nature that are enjoyable to the public, but we've had a big call for increasing our public art as well in the community.

So if that's something we could consider in our one of our recommendations, just a couple more.

Under growth management number 28, we include evaluating potential expansion of our rural.

Under this, it doesn't say it specifically, but I think it's the intent of this recommendation that we promote programming and resources to expand agritourism and agribusiness.

We spoke about in a previous council retreat having a web page that we would offer that would promote um agritourism and agribusiness opportunities.

I think this would be directly in line with that recommendation.

And although I think it's encompassed, I just want to make it clear that that would be something I think would be appropriate under that recommendation.

And then not necessarily a policy, but I think it would just be most appropriate under the acknowledgement.

Um we indicate and acknowledge uh all the council members that were involved as well as the late um Dr.

Dietrich.

I think it would be most appropriate if we included his title as the late Vice Mayor, Dr.

John Dietrich.

Um, include the Vice Mayor title as well.

But otherwise, I appreciate this is excellent.

Um very, very, very hard work, and it does not go on notice to all of you.

And the fact that you all are here at 8 o'clock at night on a work day too does not go on notice.

We certainly appreciate that as well, and for all the hard work you did in this.

Uh thank you, Ms.

Nois.

Ms.

Mr.

Jeffries, did you have any comments that you wanted to make?

You were the second or the motion, Mr.

Major?

I believe.

Do you have any?

Okay.

Before with that, so I open it back up to council uh Dr.

King.

Uh I'm sorry, I saw the wrong light.

Ms.

Ritter.

I'm missing my board here.

These names up here are yours all messing me up.

Um every time we review this, I wish I had more time available in my speaking time.

Um I would echo Ms.

Newan's thank you to the staff.

I also know we had considerable input from consultants.

And thank you very much for your hard work.

This is not an easy thing to do.

I can't count the number of iterations of the comprehensive plan that I've been involved with.

So I I would like to ask a few questions to the manager and the attorney.

These are actually questions I used to ask with almost every application in many years ago when I served on the Planning Commission.

So first of all, would to the manager as opposed to the attorney, because you have a planning background also.

You and I have we have some very exciting conversations that nobody in the world would be interested in but us.

Um would you characterize a comprehensive plan primarily as aspirational?

Yes, ma'am.

It's it's uh, you know, it's required by State Code, but it's it sets uh sort of from a land use and capital facilities perspective what we're trying to achieve in the future, and it's a guideline for future um um um uh decisions and choices we make.

So it's not uh it's not a law, um, it's an expression of uh expression of what we would like to see in the future in sort of policy form.

Right.

So aspirational is a good word for it.

Um and then you already stated the answer to my next question, but I'm gonna ask Ms.

Lindley to give us her opinion.

The comprehensive plan does not follow the law.

It is not a required law that must be followed.

Is that correct?

Correct.

Okay.

So tonight, as an example, we had at least four applications that did not comply with the comprehensive plan, and yet they received an approval recommendation from the staff and the planning commission.

Is that correct?

Correct.

Okay.

Actually, I I would differ from that because the comprehensive plan is not just a land use map.

It's a set of policies that includes things we're trying to achieve, like business development, infill development, mitigation of different types of impacts, enhancements to quality of life.

So I'm not sure I would agree that they were inconsistent with the plan, but to some extent inconsistent consistent with the land use map.

And this is why you never want to sit in a conversation with the two of us.

I I don't disagree with that at all.

But what I do disagree, I mean I think people put reliance on the land use map and in applications.

So anyway, I want to move on.

I am tired of saying this.

First of all, I think I'm the only living survivor of the first widening of Vuffa Parkway.

It was extremely difficult.

It went from two lanes not divided to the four-lane divided it is now.

I think this that your question was answered.

This has not even risen to the capital project.

But it is aspirational as opposed to I hate to use this term realistic.

That's on the list too.

I don't see that happening during my lifetime.

And let's see, it was Ms.

Ayers.

You came from New York?

By way of Florida, uh South Carolina.

Okay.

All right.

So I'm originally from Europe.

All right.

So I would just point out roads really, it's hard to change them.

The Merritt Parkway in Connecticut has not been improved or widened since I was in college, and I'm not going to go to what decade that was.

So roadways are hard, but I think we have come to the conclusion, as the manager stated, we're looking for alternative routes, not necessarily to try to build out the major roadways.

So I think that's a concern.

I don't even want to wade into affordable housing.

That also, in my opinion, is aspirational.

That's market-based.

So there's no amount of supply that will guarantee prices get lower.

They never do.

And of course, any building owner or property owner wants to make a profit.

This is, as I said before, America.

So you can see I'm a little bit on the fence on this, because there are many good things about the plan, and there are many things I would like to see changed.

And over the years, what concerns me the most is that policies outlined in these plans never seem to get completed.

Mr.

Manager, we've had that discussion quite a bit, right?

And we need to see that those policies are actually looked at, whatever they may be and whatever the council's opinion may be in the majority.

And one more detailed question, if I could.

The West Road connections.

When can these folks expect the options be presented to them?

They come faithfully every week almost.

And if we can give them some options, I think they would like to explore that.

Yes, so we appreciate that.

We will be dispatching a report to council to outline all of the things that need to be changed to effectuate uh sort of the certainty that they're looking for.

So I think it was mentioned PUFA changes, utility policy changes, possibly changes in public facilities manuals, so that you have a comprehensive list that at one time can take all the actions necessary so that someone, if they were concerned in the future, could say, look, this is the record of everything changed to make that happen.

So I believe the staff work is nearly complete.

We'll dispatch that to council, and should council so choose, which we would recommend, we'll put that on an agenda for council's consideration.

I just hate having them live under that uncertainty.

They need to know what their options are.

And I'm going to echo Ms.

Newan's two of us live in the rural area of the city.

We have yet to make those plans, but those are important.

We're such a large city.

We have an urban, a suburban, and a rural area.

And I think many of you will be pleased or not, as the council moves forward to better define those three areas.

But we also have to be careful that we can provide the infrastructure.

And we can fulfill the policy promises that people expect from this plan.

But if I can leave you with anything, my opinion, and I've really been on the fence about this, and I'm gonna support this, but much to the chagrin, I'm sure everybody is sitting up here.

I'm gonna continue my watchful eye.

And I've asked repeatedly for a list of policies and when they're going to be addressed.

So that is important, and it's important to me, but it's important to our citizens.

They, you know, the people who have taken the time to answer the questions, they've participated.

They've gone to meetings.

I I think the engagement has been great, but I do think the comment about wondering if they were listened to is also appropriate.

So I want to assure those of you with concerns.

This is a living document.

As you could see tonight, I mean it gets changed every almost every meeting.

So bring your input, communicate with the council, keep coming, and this is the city that you envision.

Not that the we're the voice of 250,000 people and their disparate opinions.

But please continue to stay up with us and uh I I don't want you to think I'm criticizing our manager.

I think the world of him, but we do have some pretty spirited discussions.

Um nobody wins and nobody loses.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Miller.

Any other discussion on this item?

Mr.

Bond?

Dr.

Ward, didn't you hear your light on?

Mr.

Bond?

Okay, yes, sir.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to follow up with um another comment.

Um the vice mayor brought this up too.

Should there be any substitute motion because the I know Mrs.

Butler and Ms.

Tyndell spoke to you earlier today, so I don't have to worry about that.

Because that concern, okay.

Just want to make sure that was right.

So they're they're gonna be fine.

Okay, it's public is you're gonna be fine.

Thank you.

No other discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please.

We do have we do have a motion for approval.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record Madam Clark.

Motion to approve PLN Comp 2025-003 as presented is adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Madam Clerk, are there any speakers who wish to speak uh on uh agenda items only?

No, sir.

Thank you.

Next is our regular agenda, Mr.

Price.

Item one is a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a right-of-way agreement with Virginia Electric and Power Company, a Virginia Public Service Corporation doing business in Virginia's Dominion Energy Virginia to convey an exclusive franchise utility easement on a portion of city-owned property located at 5221, Glencoe Street in the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, recommended by Parks Recreation and Tourism.

Thank you.

A motion is in order.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Second, please.

Second.

Thank you, Mr.

Whitaker.

Any discussion, Dr.

Ward?

Yes, a brief comment.

And thank you, Mr.

Manager, and uh for this item.

And you know, Glencoe Street is extremely important to me and the Cornland School Foundation and to the citizens in the history of Chesapeake.

So I was truly truly excited to see this on the agenda because even though I live in Western Branch, I make that trip out there to Glencoe Street at least once a week, and that's about I don't know, 40 miles round trip.

But I am glad to see this on the agenda.

That means that we are going to have the real lights, you know, not the temporary lights uh for the historical village of the Great Dismal Swamp coming up really soon, and that is truly exciting.

I know we were hoping to get uh February dates and things accomplished for African American history or Black History Month, and it still might happen.

But I want to thank you for all that you've done and to Mike Barber and Jessica Cosmos and to uh Brian Solis, that deputy manager, and all the work they've been put into getting us this far.

And I'm truly excited that it really does seem as though it's going to happen in 226.

So thank you, thank you.

I definitely support this motion.

Well, I made it, didn't I?

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Any other discussion?

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Motion to approve the resolution as presented as adopted by a 9-0 vote.

Thank you.

Any council members have any unfinished business at this time?

Ms.

Dr.

Ms.

Ritter?

Thank you.

It's only old business because it was from an item tonight.

Um I'd like the staff, please, to look at the billboard issue and whether or not 15,000 square feet is necessary for a freestanding billboard.

I mean, I think you all can be creative enough that you can figure out how we don't have a proliferation, but in case that might hamper the expansion of building coverage or parking for a successful business, and we wish businesses all the success so they can grow.

So just take a look and send that information back to us, please.

Um and one other thing, please don't take this as a complaint.

Mr.

Wright.

I'm a library user pretty regularly.

And I had reserved a book.

There's only one copy in the library system.

It's a 500-page book.

I got notification today, but I couldn't wait, and I bought the book.

There's no way to cancel a hold.

So whoever waiting behind me has to wait five days.

Is there some way we can address that through?

I mean, we're so electronically advanced anymore.

I'd like to be able to click so that people behind me are able to get the book.

Thank you.

I'm pretty sure there's not too many other people waiting for a 500-page book.

Thank you.

Ms.

Ritter.

You're very welcome.

Well, next is new business.

Thank you.

Anybody have any new business they'd like to bring up?

I'm not sure who was first.

Dr.

Ward, I believe you did.

I don't know if you're going to be able to do that.

Just quickly to the manager.

I don't think Mr.

Sorry is here tonight.

But because I was going to think about it, we're talking about it a little bit with the compliment, but enough, you know, say it.

But with traffic engineering and all, is there have we ever looked at trying to um synchronize the lights on Battlefield Boulevard?

There are so many residents that have talked about how long it takes to get down Battlefield Boulevard in the morning in the afternoon, and trust me, I tried it, and it's a nightmare.

I know synchronized lighting can be nightmarish too, but it can help even on Portsmouth Boulevard.

Um, because I've been now that it has been brought to my attention, how many minutes, I mean, really minutes, maybe a half hour that people are trying to get down battle for just to go to work at 7.30 in the morning or 8 o'clock.

And uh is that something that uh Mr.

Sawyer could even look at or consider, or we could consider at least trying for Battlefield Boulevard, maybe Greenbrier, maybe Portsmouth Boulevard.

I'm just saying synchronizing lights, and I travel a lot.

Um in some places where they are it does matter.

So if we could just maybe think about it or talk to Mr.

Sorry about it, see if there's any way because at least try it in Chesapeake.

I surely do it with appreciate it because traffic is well, we all know it's it's getting worse.

Uh thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Ward.

Uh Mr.

Whittaker.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

It has come to my attention that our solid waste management facility ordinance does not permit outside storage of non-inert material, even on a temporary basis.

There are certain circumstances where the storage of a particular material, such as trees and debris, may be appropriate provided certain standards are met.

I'd like to request that staff explore an avenue where the city council may consider approving temporary outside storage of materials as part of a conditional use permit process given certain requirements are met.

Thank you.

We've had two requests for the city manager to take action.

Are there any uh uh disagreement as the all agree on those two?

Request.

Mr.

Manager, we appreciate you, sir.

Any other new business dispatch?

We do have one speaker that um we do have a travel long ways.

I'm sorry, I apologize.

I thought you were going to call them.

Go ahead.

J.R.

Ferguson.

He is speaking on a non-agenda item.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor and members of council.

My name is J.R.

Ferguson.

I grew up on my family's property on Albermall Drive, a half a mile from here, where the pond and the old mule pasture is at the hard curve in the road past the Bell's Mill Park entrance.

Tonight I'd like to tell you about an elder abuse case that happened in my local family at that very same location.

They're at 508, 472 and 476 Albermall Drive.

I say elder abuse because I don't know a better term for what I'm going to tell you about.

My grandfather Joe Ferguson, a shipyard welding supervisor, bought that undeveloped farm to about 1949.

He and his wife are Chesapeake Public Health Nurse and kids and grandkids.

We all live, worked and played all our lives on that land in our three houses we built over the decades.

As time wore on, my father, Bob Ferguson, went to extreme financial effort to pay for and keep all those parcels together, buying them back as the family estate as our relatives died or moved away.

My dad eventually got Parkinson's disease, as I do too, and that further developed into dementia, ending in his death in a nursing home.

He was unable to handle his own affairs, and so he had as his trusted power of attorney his second wife.

She kept a secret diary that was later found among some of the boxed-up household goods, in which she actually wrote by long hand how much she hated and despised my father during their marriage.

Before he died, she betrayed his trust.

And behind his back, there's a POA conspired with a tenant who was renting my grandparents' waterfront home number 476 in the back end of the property on the Elizabeth River Creek.

She arranged to give away to this tenant renter by deed of gift for free.

All three brick homes and all the land of my father's estate.

The tenant willingly cooperated with this plan, and now that tenant is the owner of all our family's entire estate valued at over 1.3 million dollars.

This is all done secretly behind our backs.

When I became aware of this egregious situation, I was assigned as administrator of my father's estate by the Chesapeake Court.

Unfortunately, I discovered all this shameful mess was technically done legally and cannot be undone.

My father's power of attorney, his wife, was shortly after his death also failing mentally and assigned a legal conservatory to handle her affairs, and now she has also died.

It is clear neither was a competent, was competent to handle their own affairs in this story, not competent.

So I'm here tonight to inform the council and the public that this horrible thing happened to our family and could happen again to any of you.

It is a fact that the former tenant now turned instant property owner and landlord in this story, was and still is a Chesapeake City Superintendent employee who I will not name.

A public servant.

This employee apparently took advantage of the trust of not one but two elderly people on the insanity spectrum and clearly unable to protect their rights and interests for his own personal gain.

I hope we can all agree that this sordid story is not in keeping with the high Chesapeake ethics and care standards demanded of city employees, and somebody in charge needs to say so.

Chesapeake deserves better.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Ferguson.

Sorry for your experience, sir.

Uh Madam Attorney, I do believe we have some language for an upcoming closed meeting.

Yes.

Thank you.

Um, sir, I'm going to get the list up so I have that ready.

All right.

A motion to conduct a closed meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 5 p.m.

in Chesapeake City Hall, to discuss, consider, interview prospective candidates for appointment to City Boards, Commissions, and authorities.

For the purpose of considering candidates for the Airport Authority, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board, Chesapeake Redevelopment Housing Authority, Economic Development Authority, South Norfolk Revitalization Commission, Chesapeake Commission on Health and Wellbeing, Chesapeake Community Criminal Justice Board, Chesapeake Interagency Consortium, Chesapeake Land Bank Authority, Chesapeake Other Post Employment Benefits Finance Board, Eastern Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority, Fine Arts Commission, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Natural Event Mitigation Advisory Committee.

All as permitted by Section 2.2711 A1 of the Code of Virginia.

Thank you.

A motion is in order.

What will be the council's procedure should the um predicted but questionable?

I don't know how you ever talk about a weather prediction.

Right now, it looks like we may have some significant weather event.

Under council's rules of order and procedure, if the city is closed, then the city council's meeting moves to the next business day, in which the city is open.

And so the closed session would move to the date of the meeting.

Okay.

Thank you.

Any uh other discussion.

Seeing none, please prepare to vote.

Please vote and record.

Madam Clerk.

Motion to conduct a closed meeting on January the twenty-fifth, twenty twenty-six at five p.m.

is adopted by nine oh vote.

Uh Councilmember Newens, would you please do the benediction?

Heavenly Father, we thank you for our time here today.

We are grateful for your guidance and the strength we find in you.

As we go forth, may we carry your love, your grace, and find glory in our weaknesses, strength in our trials.

In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Council is now adjourned.