Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing – June 14, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing – June 14, 2023
The Chesapeake Planning Commission held its public hearing on June 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Chairman Steiner presided. Commissioners Sgueglia and Forbes were excused. The meeting approved the previous month's minutes, granted continuances for three items, and unanimously approved all items on the consent agenda.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of May 10, 2023: Approved by unanimous consent.
- PLN-USE-2023-009 (SplasH20 Car Wash): Approved with stipulations (7–0; Gilbert/Mohrhusen). The conditional use permit modifies the site plan to allow self-serve vacuums, with prohibitions on self-serve wash bays and outdoor sound systems, and requires a landscape plan for a Buffer Yard F along Centerville Turnpike.
- PLN-TXT-2022-014 (South Norfolk Business Overlay District): Approved version dated May 15, 2023 (7–0; Gilbert/Mohrhusen). The text amendment modifies regulations regarding residential density, vertical mixed-use development, and other provisions to support commercial revitalization in the South Norfolk Business Overlay District.
- PLN-TXT-2023-004 (Caleb Williamson House – Arboretum Historic District): Approved version dated May 17, 2023 (7–0; Gilbert/Mohrhusen). The amendment updates architectural guidelines for the Caleb Williamson House in the Chesapeake Arboretum Historic and Cultural Preservation Overlay District.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke in opposition to any item. Chris Aebel (Timmons Group, applicant for the car wash) was available for questions but did not object to the consent agenda placement.
- Sam Baraki (Civil Engineering and Construction Services, agent for Lake Shore Terrace) requested an indefinite continuance for item PLN-REZ-2022-023, stating that changes were needed after meeting with adjacent property owners.
Discussion Items
- Pre‑meeting Parking Study (South Norfolk): Staff presented a parking study conducted in March 2023 over three weeks. The study found overall average occupancy of 34% across the study area, with the highest average at the noon hour (48%). Additional parking (a 300‑space garage, a 31‑space lot, and a 30‑space surface lot) is planned. Staff concluded that sufficient parking exists and that reducing off‑street parking requirements (to 1 space per studio/1‑bedroom unit and 1.5 spaces for 2+ bedrooms) will promote vertical mixed‑use development.
- Farewell to Staff: Planning Director James McNamara announced that Administrative Coordinator Jennifer Joseph is leaving the department. Commissioners thanked her for her service, noting she has been essential to the commission's operations.
- Planning Director's Items: No formal items; a reminder was given about the Greenbrier Small Area Plan community meeting on June 21, 2023 at Greenbrier Middle School.
Key Outcomes
- Continuances:
- PLN-PUDC-2023-001 (Springton at Grassfield): Continued to July 12, 2023 (7–0; Gerloff/Turner).
- PLN-TXT-2023-002 (Billboard text amendment): Continued indefinitely (7–0; Gerloff/Turner).
- PLN-REZ-2022-023 (Lake Shore Terrace): Continued indefinitely at applicant's request (7–0; Gerloff/Turner).
- Consent Agenda Votes: All three items (PLN-USE-2023-009, PLN-TXT-2022-014, PLN-TXT-2023-004) were approved unanimously (7–0).
- Meeting Cancellation: The June 28, 2023 public hearing was canceled by unanimous consent due to lack of business.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. The Planning Commission pre-meeting for June 14th, 2023 is now in session. Welcome to our pre-meeting tonight. Thank you for taking part in the business of our city. The first order of business is the agenda overview discussion. Tonight we have a total of six applications, of which two applications are for continuance or withdrawal. Mr. Bostwick, can you please provide the commission with an overview of the applications? Good evening, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. We have two continuances this month with the applicant for PLN-PUDC-2023-001 Springton at Grassfield requesting a continuance to the July 12, 2023 meeting. And also staff is requesting an indefinite continuance for PLN-TXT-2023-002 billboards, and we have no applications requesting withdrawal. All right, thank you. Do any commissioners have any comments or questions regarding these items? Without any objections, these items will be placed on the continuance or withdrawal portion of the agenda. Next we will review the remaining items and determine placement on either the consent or regular agenda. First item is item three, Lakeshore Terrace. Mr. Bell, do you have any updates regarding this application? Good evening, Commissioners. Yes, I do have an update. So they've requested that we did receive some citizen comments in opposition regarding traffic in schools. All right. So since it's delayed, I think what we'll do is we'll have the applicant come forward uh as part of the uh when we do the uh continuance portion of the agenda and uh have them uh request the continuance at that time. Yeah. All right. Any uh questions for the staff? All right. Next item is Mr. Bell with the splash H2O car wash. Yeah, and we have no updates on this application and did not receive any comments from citizens. All right, thank you. Do any commissioners have any conflicts with this application? Any comments or questions? If not, without objection, we will place item four on the consent agenda. Next is item five, and it's Mr. Bell's evening. So it's the South Norfolk Business Overlay District. Yeah, and we have no updates on this application. We did receive one comment form uh in support of the application. All right, thank you. Any commissioners there should be no conflicts with that. Um any questions for the staff. Hearing no objections, uh we'll this will be placed on the consent agenda. And next we have item six. Mr. Finn. Hey. How's it going? It's wonderful.
openpublica.com