Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing – May 22, 2024
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Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing – May 22, 2024
The Chesapeake Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 22, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The primary agenda item was a proposed text amendment (PLN-TXT-2023-013) to the Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances, aimed at adding definitions and standards for preservation divisions and updating development rules in conservation and agricultural districts. The meeting was continued from February 14 and April 10, 2024. After hearing public testimony and deliberation, the commission voted 6-2 to approve Version A of the amendment. A brief business item on a new multi-factor authentication process was also presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Eugene White (third-generation farmer, 1041 Ballock Road) spoke in opposition, expressing that permanent easements unfairly restrict land value and family land transfers, and that the proposal would make it impossible for family members to build homes on subdivided farmland. He argued that any unforeseen financial need (e.g., nursing home costs) would be impossible to meet under the restrictions.
- Jennifer Economy (citizen, Cedarville Road, Hickory area) voiced opposition, stating that the loophole allowing overdevelopment has harmed roads, schools, and rural character. She found the 85-page document confusing and questioned whether the amendment truly closes loopholes or merely facilitates development.
- Byron Stonecypher (Chesapeake Farm Bureau representative) opposed the amendment, criticizing the lack of compromise and the imposition of forever easements without compensation. He noted that an online survey showed 8 of 9 responses were against the amendment, and recommended a five-year use restriction easement that automatically lifts, rather than a permanent one.
- Tom Freeman (1900 Pocatee Road, former treasurer of Chesapeake Farm Bureau) opposed the amendment, arguing that lumping multiple issues together creates problems for farmers. He highlighted that farmers depend on selling small parcels for health, college, or retirement, and that the proposed five-lot limit with simultaneous development is cost-prohibitive. He also noted that OSAP (Open Space Agricultural Preservation) compensates landowners for lost development rights, but this proposal does not.
- Jeff Staples (1453 Boxwood Drive, Deep Creek) opposed, stating the 85-page document is confusing and that the voluntary aspect does not address growth. He requested information on how other cities handle similar issues.
- Jenny McPherson (3316 Ballahack Road) opposed for the third time. She criticized the process, noting that a 90-day continuance was promised but the item returned after only 30 days, and that no planning commissioners attended the Agriculture Advisory Commission meeting. She stated that Version A still requires uncompensated preservation easements and could conflict with OSAP eligibility.
- Linda Tyndall (1045 West Road) opposed, raising concerns about high-density development causing drainage, septic, and well problems. She advocated for increasing minimum lot sizes to ensure safe wells and septic systems, and opposed cluster subdivisions and agrihoods that place wells and septic too close together.
Discussion Items
- Staff Presentation: Blair Miller presented staff findings, stating the amendments would better align with the rural overlay district, prevent incremental divisions that lead to major subdivisions, ensure protection of agricultural land through easements, and continue to allow farmers to divide property for bona fide agricultural or conservation purposes. Staff recommended Version A.
- Commissioner Questions: Commissioners asked about comparisons with neighboring cities. Staff reported that Virginia Beach uses density controls (1 unit per 15 acres), while Suffolk has family subdivisions but faces similar issues. Regarding a proposed five-year easement alternative (from the Agricultural Advisory Committee), staff expressed concern that a time limit would allow the same problems to recur and that Version A better addresses the three guiding principles. It was clarified that minor subdivisions (up to five lots) are still permitted without an easement, and the preservation division is a voluntary tool. The commission noted that changes to minor subdivision policy were outside the scope of this initiating resolution, but the planning commission could request council to initiate a text amendment on that topic.
- Business Item: Planning Director McMurry introduced a multi-factor authentication process for city computer systems, effective the week of May 28 – June 4, 2024. Commissioners were instructed to register to receive a code via text message for login verification.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on PLN-TXT-2023-013: The commission voted 6-2 to approve Version A of the text amendment, as recommended by staff. The motion was made by Commissioner Cruz and seconded by Commissioner Stichler. Commissioners Hackworth and Sgueglia opposed (Commissioner Gilbert was excused). The amendment will be forwarded to City Council for a hearing on a future third or fourth Tuesday at 6:30 PM.
- Next Meeting: The next Planning Commission public hearing is scheduled for June 12, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chamber.
- Comp Plan Open Houses: The Planning Director reminded attendees of upcoming community open houses for the comprehensive plan update (Chesapeake 2045), with dates and locations available on the city website.
Meeting Transcript
Chimneys Trout Hatchery is leading the culinary resurgence of the brook trout, Virginia's state freshwater fish. We have a 3,000 gallon a minute spring that's feeding all of our raceways and our ponds. So we're basically raising the closest thing you could get to a wild trout. Um they're all raised outside in our earth and ponds. Um they're beautiful fish. We're in about a hundred uh restaurants and retail stores um on the east coast. Restarting a 1930s trout hatchery came with many challenges for Ty Walker and his family. We showed up, and water wasn't even on. A friend was like, this is a trout hatchery, and I get here, and I'm like, man, there's no water. Like, I don't really see how this is a trout hatchery. Long story short, we got the water on. It was just one of those, you know, one of those just like God moments, you know, you just feel like, dude, this is like where I'm supposed to be, and this is like what I'm supposed to be doing, and you gotta just go for it. And we did, and you know, it's we've had a lot of blood, sweat, and tears tied up in it. Reaching customers with their unique product required trial and error until they found the right market. If you make a sale to a chef or a restaurant and they like your product and they put it on the menu, then they're ordering every week. You're not having to try and sell them the same spiel every week, you know. So, and plus for us, we needed some um predictability just in our market and our production because we're planning a year out for what demand is gonna be. Just over Cataw Mountain in the city of Roanoke, Virginia, Chef Jeremy Smelzer enjoys sharing smoke and chimneys trout with his urban clientele. When I met Ty, uh he was working, he was selling some trout out at a uh farmer's market, and went up to him, struck up a conversation. I thought he was a really cool guy. I bought a couple fish, and then when I took over here at Lucky, one of the first things I had to do was call up uh Ty and Shannon and try to get uh some of their fish on the menu because we we had to have it. I had just hadn't tasted fish quite that clean before when I tasted it, and I knew uh I knew right then that we were gonna have a relationship and I was gonna sell their fish at some point. The walker's trout has been quite a catch with Lucky's fine dining patrons. Customers love it. Every different setup we do, uh they buy it. We typically do it whole. We've done uh lots of fillets as well though, and no matter how the fish is cooked or cut, they uh seem to enjoy it. While getting fresh trout to Lucky was one part of their marketing equation, Walker is focused on starting the next phase of their business. Around Christmas, we launched our direct to consumer, you know, trout to your door program where people order trout boxes, you know, they get like uh a couple fresh trout, a couple smoked trout, a couple of our smoked trout cakes. We box them up, ice packs, you know, styrofoam cooler, and bang the next day it's like at your door. Consumers can visit Virginia Grown.com or their local farmers market to find local meats and fish in small towns or big cities across the Commonwealth. Reporting from Page County, Virginia, I'm Elijah Griles. We're so glad you could join us to celebrate all the bounty Virginia has to offer. From the kitchen to your home and garden to our beautiful wide open spaces, we're proud to say that this is real Virginia. For everyone from the Virginia Farm Bureau, thanks for watching. Make it a great week. Last week, Brandon met a girl on a dating app. One day after work, he finally found the courage to ask her out. No answer. He started to panic. Was he being too pushy? Maybe it was too small. Hey, sorry I didn't respond. I was driving. I would love to go on a date. How does tonight sound? Brandon tried to play it cool, but inside he knew a girl so smart, so responsible. She must be a keeper. Hi, I'm Smokey Bear, and I made an assistant to help you out because only you can prevent wildfires. Hey, assistant Smoky Bear.
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