Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing - July 9, 2025
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Chesapeake Planning Commission Public Hearing - July 9, 2025
The Chesapeake Planning Commission held a public hearing on July 9, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting addressed continuance requests, a consent agenda of five items, and updates on ongoing planning initiatives. All votes were unanimous (8-0) with Commissioner Gilman excused. The hearing adjourned at 7:22 PM.
Continuance Items
- PLN-USE-2025-019 (McDonald’s Drive-Thru South Norfolk): A conditional use permit for an outdoor amplified speaker system within 300 feet of residential property. Continued indefinitely at staff’s request (8-0).
- PLN-TXT-2025-003 (Parking Requirements Amendment): A text amendment to modify parking requirements. Continued indefinitely at staff’s request (8-0).
Consent Calendar
All items below were approved unanimously (8-0) with the proffers or stipulations listed in the official agenda.
- PLN-REZ-2025-006 (Unit 3 Hotel Proffer Modification): Approval to develop a hotel at Unit 3 of Debaun Plaza Condominiums with a chain not currently listed as “Midscale” on STR Chain Scales, subject to quality and cost proffers (minimum $75,000/room, nationally recognized chain).
- PLN-REZ-2025-007 (Hubbard Farm): Reclassification of approximately 22 acres of a larger 84-acre property from RE-1 Residential to A-1 Agricultural District at 4216 Ballahack Road.
- PLN-USE-2025-017 (Mrs. G’z Kidz In-home Childcare): Conditional use permit for a Level II Home Occupation daycare at 2702 Anna Maria Way. Stipulations include hours 7:00 AM–5:00 PM M–F, maximum 8 children (exclusive of provider’s own), 6-foot privacy fence, and a Right of Entry for lead/copper water testing.
- PLN-USE-2025-020 (Ms. Ty’s House): Conditional use permit for a Level II Home Occupation daycare at 3402 Cricket Hollow Lane. Stipulations include hours 6:00 AM–6:00 PM M–F, maximum 8 children, one additional non-resident employee allowed, and lead/copper water testing Right of Entry.
- PLN-TXT-2025-005 (Urban Overlay District Density): Amendment to increase permitted density in the urban overlay district under Zoning Ordinance Article 5, Sections 5-502 and 5-800.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Vic Nichols (1124 Mill Lake Quarter) spoke on multiple items: Opposed indefinite continuance of both continuance items (McDonald’s and parking text), requesting a time limit. She expressed support for the Hubbard Farm rezoning and both daycare applications. For Mrs. G’z Kidz, she questioned whether the 5:00 PM closing hour sufficiently accounted for rush-hour parent pickup. On the urban overlay density text, she asked whether the change applied only to specific areas (e.g., SONO) and noted infrastructure concerns (traffic, roads, water).
- Michael Sweeney (attorney for applicant, 1105 Madison Plaza) spoke in support of the Unit 3 Hotel Proffer Modification, describing the developer Halifax Highgate’s experience (30 years, 87,000 rooms worldwide) and the quality of the proposed “Stay Right Studios” product, projecting $11 million in construction and nearly 100 jobs.
- Owen Hubbard (applicant, 1436 Jury Road) spoke in support of the Hubbard Farm rezoning and was available for questions.
- Gilovonna T. Williams (applicant, 2702 Anna Maria Way) spoke in support of Mrs. G’z Kidz and was available for questions.
- Tyler Singleton (applicant, 3402 Cricket Hollow Lane) spoke in support of Ms. Ty’s House and was available for questions.
- Jeron Vanderhal (child care capacity coordinator, Radio Region Southeastern) spoke in support of Ms. Ty’s House, noting that increasing childcare access benefits Chesapeake families.
Discussion Items
- Comprehensive Plan Update: Planning Director Mr. McNamara reported that the draft Comprehensive Plan is nearly ready for posting (within 2–3 weeks of the meeting). A 60-day public comment period will follow, with open houses across the city. The Commission discussed scheduling a work session to review the plan; proposed dates were August 27, 2025 (second regular meeting) or a September date. The Chair agreed to poll members by email to choose a date that accommodates the most commissioners, emphasizing the importance of timely input.
- Deep Creek Area Plan: Staff and consultants are finalizing recommendations, including a study of the South Military Road feeder road closing. Axon drawings and implementation strategies are being refined.
- Greenbrier Area Plan: Scheduled for a City Council public hearing on July 15, 2025.
- Western Branch Area Plan: Funded; procurement for a consultant is underway.
- New Staff Introduction: Lydia Utten was introduced as the new Customer Service Planner, a recent Virginia Tech graduate (Smart and Sustainable Cities) and former intern.
Key Outcomes
- Continuance Votes (8-0): PLN-USE-2025-019 (McDonald’s) and PLN-TXT-2025-003 (parking) were continued indefinitely.
- Consent Agenda Votes (8-0): Items 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 were approved with stipulated conditions.
- July 23, 2025 Meeting Canceled: The regular public hearing scheduled for July 23 was canceled by unanimous consent due to lack of business.
- Next Steps: The Comprehensive Plan work session date will be finalized via email. The Greenbrier Area Plan goes to City Council on July 15. The public is encouraged to monitor for the Comprehensive Plan draft posting and comment opportunities.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. The Planning Commission pre-meeting for July 9th, 2025 is now in session. Welcome to our pre-meeting tonight. First order of business is our agenda overview discussion. Tonight we have a total of seven applications, of which two of them are for continuance or withdrawal. So Mr. Bostwick, would you please provide the Commission with an overview of the continuance applications? Yes. Good evening, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. We have two requests for continuance and none for withdrawal. The request for continuance are PLN dash TXT dash twenty twenty-five-zero zero three with staff requesting an indefinite continuance. And the last one is PLN dash USC-2025-019 with the applicant requesting an indefinite continuance. Thank you, Mr. Bosterwick. Commissioners, do you have any questions or uh comments regarding these items? All right. Without any objection, these items will be placed on the continuance portion of the agenda. Thank you. All right. So next we'll review the remaining items and we'll determine placement on either the consent or regular agenda. So the first item tonight is item number one, Unit Three Hotel Proffer modification. Mr. Hannigan. Any updates for us? Good evening, Commission. Uh, there are no updates to the staff report and there have been no public comment made or any letters received by staff. Thank you, sir. Commissioners, any conflicts with this application? Any questions for staff? Any discussion? Hearing none, is there any objection to placing this item on the consent agenda? All right. Seeing none, item one will be placed on the consent agenda. Mr. Sweeney, nice seeing you back there. Seems like you'll have an easy night. All right. Next item is item two, Hubbard Farm. Ms. Peebles, update for us. Good evening, Commissioners. I have no update at this time. I have not received any phone calls, emails, or inquiries regarding this, but you have received in the staff report the petition of support that the applicant provided signed by some adjoining property owners. Thank you, Ms. Peebles. Commissioners. Conflicts with this application. Any questions for staff? Any discussion?
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