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Record of Proceedings

Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing - August 14, 2024

Planning Commission — Wednesday, August 14, 2024
BodyChesapeake, Virginia
SessionPlanning Commission
DateWednesday, August 14, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:39:13

Original source
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3:24

Good evening, everybody.

3:25

The planning commission pre-meeting for August 14th is now in session.

3:29

Welcome to our pre-meeting tonight.

3:31

Thank you for taking part in the business of our city.

3:34

First order of business this evening is the agenda overview discussion.

3:38

Tonight we have a total of nine applications, and we have one that's being proposed for continuance.

3:55

Yes, we have one item for continuance, and that is Project Genesis.

4:07

And you probably noticed in the update that the letter from the Navy asked for ninety days.

4:28

Commissioners, any questions or comments regarding this item.

4:47

So the first item is item number two, PLN use twenty twenty-three zero eighteen Saint Joseph's Church.

4:54

Mr.

4:55

McKay.

5:00

I have no update on the application, then public contact.

5:02

All right, thank you.

5:03

Any commissioners have any conflicts with this application?

5:07

Any questions for staff?

5:11

Any discussion?

5:14

All right.

5:15

Since staff is recommending denial, this item will be placed on the regular agenda.

5:22

All right.

5:23

Next item is item three.

5:26

PLN use 2024 019 sewell massage therapy.

5:30

Ms.

5:30

Neal, any updates for us?

5:33

Good evening, Commissioners.

5:35

I have no updates.

5:36

We did receive one phone call, just general inquiries.

5:39

And other than that, I'll stand by for questions.

5:42

Okay.

5:43

Thank you.

5:44

I think the uh numbering might be off just a little bit.

5:49

So yeah, that's item number two.

5:52

That's right.

5:53

Okay, commissioners.

5:55

Any conflicts with this application?

5:57

Any questions for staff?

6:00

Any discussion?

6:03

All right.

6:04

Hearing none, any objection to placing on the consent agenda?

6:08

All right.

6:08

Seeing none, item two will be placed on the consent agenda.

6:14

Mr.

6:14

Chairman.

6:15

Yes, just to clarify.

6:17

So in the um staff report that is listed as item three, and it's only on it's only on the summary that's item two.

6:25

So you uh we might want to rectify that it's on the agenda as item on the agenda as item two.

6:37

Yes, because agenda item number five, I believe it was, was moved to number one.

6:42

It has a cascading effect on the remainder of the agenda, and due to the lateness of all the updates, not all of our documentation was able to be updated in time.

6:53

Okay.

6:53

So let me so that's just something we'll have to be aware of.

6:56

And Mr.

6:57

Martinez will help us as we move along through this to make sure we have the correct numbering.

7:03

So it should be St.

7:05

Joseph's church is two, sewell massage is three, Long Ridge Road Solar Four, Children of Valor five, and then we're back on track.

7:15

And then we're back on track with site plans, mandatory disclosures, etc.

7:20

All right, very good.

7:22

All right, so thank you.

7:24

Thank you.

7:26

Long ridges four.

7:27

Okay, so the next item.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Planning And Development██████████████████18%
Land Use and Zoning████████████12%
Active Transportation███████████11%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Energy Infrastructure███████7%
Agricultural Conservation███3%
Personnel Matters█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing – August 14, 2024

The Chesapeake Planning Commission held a public hearing on August 14, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The commission considered nine applications, including continuances, consent agenda items, and three regular public hearing items. All formal votes were 8–0 (Commissioner Harold Gilbert excused). The meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of July 10, 2024 were approved by unanimous consent.
  • PLN-USE-2024-019 – Sewell Massage Therapy (3320 Daystone Arch, Deep Creek): Approved 8–0. A conditional use permit for a Level II home occupation massage therapy business, limited to applicant Miranda Sewell, one workstation, and one customer at a time by appointment, with compliance with City Code Chapter 38-77 and Health Department permits.
  • PLN-USE-2024-021 – Children of Valour Christian Academy (126 Kempsville Road, Greenbrier): Approved 8–0. A conditional use permit for a child day care center with stipulations including landscaping buffers, EPA Lead and Copper Rule right-of-entry, vacating the interior property line, backflow prevention, no-flush signage, and state licensing.
  • PLN-TXT-2024-006 – Preliminary/final site plan deadlines: Approved 8–0. Amends Zoning Ordinance Article 18, Section 18-203 to reflect 2024 General Assembly statutory changes.
  • PLN-TXT-2024-007 – Fentress Airfield Overlay District mandatory disclosures: Approved 8–0. Amends Zoning Ordinance Article 12, Section 12-408.
  • PLN-TXT-2024-008 – Lawful nonconformity: Approved 8–0. Amends Zoning Ordinance Article 15, Section 15-108.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • St. Joseph Church (PLN-USE-2023-018): Twelve speakers appeared in support. Lisa Murphy (attorney) explained the church’s phasing plan and impasse with staff over the left-turn lane. Mark Ricketts (engineer) stated the traffic evaluation showed no need for a turn lane due to very low trip generation and signal platoon breaks. Several church members voiced support, including Vic Nicholls who argued that requiring a costly turn lane for a small church was unfair.
  • Long Ridge Road Solar (PLN-USE-2024-020): Four speakers supported the project, including co-owner Chris Weatherly, who emphasized environmental benefits and continued agricultural use, and Rogard Ross, who praised renewable energy and habitat benefits. One opponent, Vic Nicholls, cited a DEQ finding that nearly 70% of Virginia solar projects had significant stormwater/erosion compliance issues and questioned enforcement.
  • Trails and Connectivity Plan (PLN-COMP-2024-001): Chuck Macinowski and Rogard Ross (chair of the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee) supported the plan but offered recommendations, including near-term tactical projects and clearer priorities. Markiella Moore said she was "100% for" trails but wanted bike boulevard standards clarified. Jennifer Knight opposed routes in rural areas, citing incompatibility with rural lifestyles, safety, and lack of consultation with rural residents and the Historic Preservation Commission.

Discussion Items

  • PLN-USE-2024-026 – Project Genesis (Continuance): Staff recommended a 30-day continuance to September 11, 2024, based on the applicant’s request. The proposal seeks a height exception for a 685-foot building in the M-3 Waterfront Industrial District adjacent to Saint Julian's Creek Annex. Continued 8–0.
  • PLN-USE-2023-018 – St. Joseph Church: Staff recommended denial because the applicant did not support installing a left-turn lane on southbound Battlefield Boulevard before Phase I. After discussion, the commission approved with a revised stipulation #1 requiring a detailed traffic study and any warranted improvements prior to a certificate of occupancy for the Phase II building. Approved 8–0.
  • PLN-USE-2024-020 – Long Ridge Road Solar: Staff recommended approval of a 5 MW utility solar facility on ~41 acres of a 122-acre parcel at 1953 Long Ridge Road. Commission discussion focused on decommissioning bonding ($446,000 estimate plus $21,000 administrative cost), stormwater compliance, and road restoration. Approved with 19 stipulations 8–0.
  • PLN-COMP-2024-001 – Trails and Connectivity Plan: Staff presented extensive public comments and proposed changes, including replacing paved trails in southern Chesapeake with unpaved trails after further study. Commissioner Stickler requested a clearer, high-resolution map and additional cleanup. The commission voted to continue the item 30 days to September 11, 2024, to allow staff to refine the document and consult with stakeholders.

Key Outcomes

  • Continued to September 11, 2024: PLN-USE-2024-026 (Project Genesis) and PLN-COMP-2024-001 (Trails and Connectivity Plan).
  • Approved 8–0: Consent agenda (Sewell Massage Therapy, Children of Valour Christian Academy, three text amendments), St. Joseph Church (with revised stipulation #1), and Long Ridge Road Solar (with stipulations).
  • Cancelled August 28, 2024 Planning Commission meeting by unanimous consent.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody. The planning commission pre-meeting for August 14th is now in session. Welcome to our pre-meeting tonight. Thank you for taking part in the business of our city. First order of business this evening is the agenda overview discussion. Tonight we have a total of nine applications, and we have one that's being proposed for continuance. Yes, we have one item for continuance, and that is Project Genesis. And you probably noticed in the update that the letter from the Navy asked for ninety days. Commissioners, any questions or comments regarding this item. So the first item is item number two, PLN use twenty twenty-three zero eighteen Saint Joseph's Church. Mr. McKay. I have no update on the application, then public contact. All right, thank you. Any commissioners have any conflicts with this application? Any questions for staff? Any discussion? All right. Since staff is recommending denial, this item will be placed on the regular agenda. All right. Next item is item three. PLN use 2024 019 sewell massage therapy. Ms. Neal, any updates for us? Good evening, Commissioners. I have no updates. We did receive one phone call, just general inquiries. And other than that, I'll stand by for questions. Okay. Thank you. I think the uh numbering might be off just a little bit. So yeah, that's item number two. That's right. Okay, commissioners. Any conflicts with this application? Any questions for staff? Any discussion? All right. Hearing none, any objection to placing on the consent agenda? All right. Seeing none, item two will be placed on the consent agenda. Mr. Chairman. Yes, just to clarify. So in the um staff report that is listed as item three, and it's only on it's only on the summary that's item two. So you uh we might want to rectify that it's on the agenda as item on the agenda as item two. Yes, because agenda item number five, I believe it was, was moved to number one. It has a cascading effect on the remainder of the agenda, and due to the lateness of all the updates, not all of our documentation was able to be updated in time. Okay. So let me so that's just something we'll have to be aware of.

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